Ajijic on Lake Chapala: Art, Market and Nature

Ajijic is located along the shore of Lake Chapala and offers a variety of reasons to stay: time at the beach, a boat ride, art in town or trails into nature. At the pier, you can rent a boat and head out onto Lake Chapala. If you’d rather stay on land, the Malecón offers places to enjoy a walk outdoors. The lake and outdoor activities sit alongside the town’s cultural attractions, without prescribing a single pace for your vacation.

Lakeshore, Waterfalls and Trails

A hike to Cerro de Chupinaya follows a route with impressive panoramic views. El Tepalo also offers its own natural highlight: during the rainy season, from June to September, it becomes a stream with several waterfalls and small pools. At a normal pace, the walk from the entrance to El Tepalo to the last waterfall, also called the third waterfall, takes about 20 minutes. This estimate applies to the section of the trail leading to the last waterfall.

If you enjoy having a guide on your hikes, you can consider the guided outings offered by Brigada Xupinayatl. It offers hikes to Chupinaya, El Tepalo, Mesa del Ocote, Tecuan and other places in the protected natural area in the zones of Ajijic, Chapala, San Juan, Trojes and Cañada. You can choose from different landscapes for your outing: the panoramic views along the route to Cerro de Chupinaya or El Tepalo’s seasonal waterfalls and small pools.

Art, Townscape and Culture

Ajijic’s townscape features cobbled streets and colorful houses. Art galleries and shops selling handicrafts add to the scene. One particular focal point is the Mural de los Muertos on Calle Marcos Castellanos. If you’d like to focus on art and local creativity, these different attractions offer a range of options: murals in public spaces, works in galleries and handicrafts in shops.

The Centro para la Cultura y las Artes de la Ribera is located at Boulevard De JinXi 110 in the Ajijic Centro neighborhood. It offers a variety of artistic activities and diverse programming for local residents and visitors. The Centro Cultural Ajijic is in Jardín Norte, opposite the main square. Its artistic activities include classical concerts featuring young musicians, puppet theater and stage performances. It also hosts changing exhibitions of painting, photography and sculpture.

The Ajijic Museo de Arte is dedicated to preserving, restoring and exhibiting art from Ajijic. During its first phase, part of the permanent collection was displayed there. The town offers several different cultural themes for your stay: exhibitions, performing arts and Ajijic art at the museum.

Market, Malecón and Lakeside Experiences

The Tianguis de Ajijic takes place on Wednesday mornings. Vendors offer fresh produce, fish and seafood, handicrafts, jewelry, clothing, shoes and other goods. Food and drinks such as tejuino, pizza, tacos, tostadas and tamales are also available. The market combines shopping for a variety of goods with a selection of food and drinks. If you’d like to visit the Tianguis, plan for Wednesday morning.

Along with places to walk outdoors, the Malecón has sports courts and a skate park for skateboards and bicycles. In the municipality of La Floresta in Ajijic, there is a place where you can go horseback riding and rent horses. Rides go through Ajijic or along the lakeshore. For active outings, you can choose between walks, sports and skating, or a horseback ride; the beach and boat rides offer other ways to enjoy the lake.

When looking for a vacation rental or holiday home in Ajijic, the mix of experiences you want can guide your decision: Are you most interested in Lake Chapala, art and the market, or hikes and horseback rides? These options describe different sides of a stay in Ajijic and can help you decide what you’d like to focus on during your vacation.

More Places to Discover

Talpa De Allende, La Laja, Ixtapa, Mascota, San Isidro Mazatepec, Atotonilco, Puerto Vallarta and El Tuito.

For the broader travel overview: Jalisco.