Ajijic

Ajijic (Ah-hee-heek) offers an unparalleled and surprisingly sophisticated quality of life in a quaint, discreet Mexican village…with all the world-class services and amenities of the nearby metropolitan city, Guadalajara. This pre-colonial town on the sunny northern shore of Lake Chapala in Western Mexico’s Sierra Madre Mountains was founded by the Nahuatl Indians in the early 1400’s under their chief, Xitomatl. It was later colonized in 1652 by Fray Martin de la Coruña of Spain, leading to a unique integration of native and European cultures.

Eclectic Village Living
Artists and writers from around the world “discovered” Ajijic in the mid-1900s, lured by the ideal climate, the unspoiled quality of the village, and its festive, hospitable culture. The compact village is considered the “jewel” among the Lakeside villages, and maintains its charm through narrow cobblestone streets dating from the Colonial era, and walls decorated with colorful murals in the classic Mexican style. The streets are lined with vibrant-colored homes of every color imaginable, and a diverse range of small boutiques, galleries, candy stores, restaurants and shops.

Natural Beauty
The tranquil lake shimmers in different colors between dusk and dawn, while horses graze and snowy egrets fish along the shoreline. The streets overflow with lush Bougainvilleas of every shade and huge specimen trees including majestic palms, pine trees and flowering specimens such as Jacarandas, African Tulips, Royal Poinciana, Magnolia and many others.

Arts and Culture
Since expats make up nearly 50% of the population during the winter season, the village offers a far greater and more sophisticated variety of shops, arts, crafts, leisure activities and healthcare facilities than other Mexican towns. There are three theater companies, a large performing arts center which can accommodate an 80-piece classical orchestra, and a funky nightclub/music venue with a wide range of acts each week. In fact, it’s a world-class assemblage of cultural amenities disguised as a quaint, unassuming village.

Sophisticated Food & Dining
If fine foods and dining out are among your passions, then you’ll be content here. There’s a surprisingly wide range of specialty food markets, spice shops, organic markets and cafes, bakeries, coffee shops, ice cream parlors, and deli shops, plus a dizzying range of restaurants to suit any taste or budget. You’ll find French, Italian, Mexican, Continental, Vietnamese, Indian, Chinese, sushi, and steak houses restaurants along with numerous food trucks serving cuisines from Mexico to the Middle East. There are even three Thai restaurants within a five minute walk of Ajijic’s central plaza!

The Lake Chapala Society (LCS)
Founded in 1955, LCS is a non-profit organization in the heart of Ajijic dedicated to enriching the quality of life through the exchange of knowledge, expertise, culture, heritage and language. It offers a wide network of services for the expat community, as well as ongoing Spanish classes. LCS also assists the Mexican community with education in art, computers, English and academics. At its beautiful and extensively landscaped grounds, LCS also offers top notch speakers, exercise classes, a world-class English language lending library, and information about legal services, health insurance, immigration, and voting from abroad, among other topics.

Convenience and World-Class Amenities
Unlike most other expat havens, you don’t need to speak Spanish to get by perfectly fine, as there are so many U.S. and Canadian residents as well as locals who speak English. The village is about a half-hour drive from Guadalajara’s modern international airport, making travel to the U.S. and Canada as fast and easy as possible. This also means that you can enjoy all the benefits of an exciting world-class city that’s less than an hour away, while remaining blissfully separated from the hustle and bustle in a unique, exotic village environment.

Ten top reasons for owning a home in Ajijic:

  1. The natural beauty of the area includes miles of shoreline along the calm, shimmering waters of Lake Chapala, along with the majestic Sierra Madre Mountains that ring the lake.
  2. The warmth and hospitality of the local residents is contagious – not to mention their rich, festive culture which features year-round festivals, holidays, parades and fireworks displays.
  3. The exceptional semi-arid/tropical climate, tempered by a mile-high altitude, offers moderate temperatures throughout the year.
  4. Safety: Ajijic boasts a relatively low crime rate, with expats consistently reporting the feeling of being very safe – including the many single, retired women who walk to and from restaurants many evenings to meet friends, without fear.
  5. Ajijic is easily accessible: Guadalajara’s modern international airport is just 30 minutes away, with convenient, direct flights to many U.S. and Canadian cities and other international destinations.
  6. Ajijic’s culture is neither materialistic nor competitive, and boasts a relatively inexpensive standard of living – with property taxes less than $300 USD a year for most homeowners.
  7. With so many English-speaking residents it’s possible to get by without speaking Spanish.
  8. A wide variety of leisure activities including golf, tennis, and hiking, plus gardening and other clubs, organizations, academic lectures, and more – not to mention the thriving community service and social organizations that welcome the participation of all Ajijic residents.
  9. Despite the small-village atmosphere, Ajijic offers a wide range of world-class services and amenities, including many fine restaurants.
  10. A strong, welcoming and supportive expat community

Overall… an unparalleled quality of life