AJIJIC; FOR THE OLD AND THE YOUNG

Ajijic is another beloved city by Lake Chapala; the town is less than 15 minutes away from Chapala by bus and around 1 hour and 15 minutes walking distance. The direct bus leaves Chapala every 30 minutes and costs around 12 pesos. A smaller bus leaves town every 15 minutes and although it is a little cheaper it takes longer to get to Ajijic.

Ajijic is known mainly for its American-Canadian population who come to this town in search of the perfect weather; during the winter the town is full of the so called “snow-birds” who get away from the harsh weather conditions in their native land. The summer also brings travelers who are trying to escape the intense temperatures of places like Florida and Texas. Many of these seasonal travelers have made of Ajijic their new home thanks to the beauty of this town.

Although very similar to Chapala in nature—cobblestone streets, specialized stores, a lake promenade, and a charming atmosphere—the American-Canadian population has definitely altered the character of this town. The main street, leading directly into the lake promenade, is full of American-owned boutiques, real estate offices, art studios, restaurants, hotels, and bazaars (this street is where the action is). The bazaars in Ajijic are very “yard-sale” like without the yard-sale prices; from linens, to coffee makers, to plasma TV’s, and antique furniture in the thousands of dollars, you can find anything you can think of at a bazaar.

The Lake Chapala Society (LCS) is another addition done to the town of Ajijic; an oasis for American-Canadian expatriates this is the place to go for those who want to socialize with other retirees. LCS organizes hundred of activities for the foreign population of Ajijic; afternoons in the Opera, tours, music events, and fundraisers, are some of the activities organized by LCS. The LCS building also counts with a restaurant, an English library, English movie rentals, and a main office where people can renew their passports, send letters, apply for volunteer work, and much more.

Because of its foreign population, it is at Ajijic where people can find restaurants from around the world; Chinese, Japanese, Argentinean, German, Italian, and Indian food restaurants can be found throughout the town. This is also one of the few towns in the Rivera with a movie theater.

Next to Ajijic you can find the towns of San Antonio and La Floresta; La Floresta is a luxury house complex and aside from expensive houses there is little more. San Antonio on the other hand is more similar in nature to Chapala, however, because of it closeness to Ajijic, a mall, a casino, a modern movie theater, and a Walmart have been built right next to the main highway.

Ajijic is definitely the perfect place for retirees; the weather, the “walk-able” surroundings, the low-priced lifestyle, the economical real-estate, and the English-speaking population offer and facilitate a high-end lifestyle compared to the Mediterranean but without spending the big bucks.

There are dozens of accommodations in both Chapala and Ajijic for those who want to travel to these beautiful towns. In the next blog I will tell you about the types of accommodations available, their prices, locations and ratings so make sure to check back next week.