Top Things to do in Chapala
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10 Things to Do in Chapala That You Shouldn't Miss
Discover the best top things to do in Chapala, Mexico including Chapala Malecon, Ajijic Malecon, Rancho San Francisco, Abuelinda's Cusine, Chapala Plaza, FusionArt Gallery, Isla de los Alacranes, Ajijic Cemetery, Diane Pearl Collecions, Lake Chapala Golf Carts.
Restaurants in Chapala
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 340 reviews
Reviewed By burls1 - Sacramento, California
We visited this lovely lakefront community during our "Day of the Dead" visit. This lakefront area is a nice place to walk and enjoy the view. There are several good looking places to eat in the immediate area.
2. Ajijic Malecon
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 595 reviews
Reviewed By JoeNotTheDog - Oregon Coast, Oregon
Beautifully landscaped and maintained, the large boardwalk and adjacent park are never as busy as nearby Chapala’s. Rather than the large buildup of vendors at Chapala, there are a few vendors, none aggressive, Playgrounds, a decent sized cement skate park, and plenty of mostly locals fishing, cooking, picnicking and socializing, just having lots of peaceful, family fun. Restaurants are up the Main Street from one end of the Malecon, as well as several along the waterfront at the same end. The smaller number of foreigners (like myself) feel welcome to just enjoy this slower pace along the waterfront. I made the 3/4 mile or so stroll at least twice daily the couple of months I was there, and never tired of the waterside sights. Sunsets here are incredible, and rarely crowded.
3. Rancho San Francisco
Overall Ratings
5 based on 21 reviews
Rancho San Francisco is a private estate adjacent to the Chapala Golf and Country Club. We offer 1-2 hour guided trail rides on country roads or mountain trails which we tailor to your ability and experience. Helmets provided. The ranch has many farm animals for kids to pet and feed: horses, donkeys, guineapigs, peacocks, rabbits, hens and pollitos, fresh eggs, humming birds, doves, songbirds, ducks, dogs and cats, and even iguanas!! Cross a hanging bridge, have a campfire in a petrified wood forrest grotto. View the lake and Mountains from the pavilion, where you can arrange to have your picnic and bar for up to 25 people. With special request we can have croquet and bocce ball on our picnic lawn! Arrangements can be made ahead for a BBQ. This venue is great for weddings, with our views, Gardens, ponds and the romantic hanging bridge. The entire Rancho is available for events of any kind! Monday-Friday 9-5, Saturday 9-1. Sunday visits are by appointment only.
Reviewed By RobGarciaSJ - San Jose, California
Lovely afternoon on the trails of San Nicolas in Chapala.
The crew of Rancho San Francisco is great and we loved our stay with them. They prepared the nicest and calmer horses for our younger kids.
Take your time, don't rush, just enjoy the trip. Savor every moment. You won't find a wholesome family activity like this any where around.
4. Abuelinda's Cusine
Overall Ratings
5 based on 47 reviews
Abuelinda's Cuisine shares Mexico's culinary culture one delicious meal at a time. Both the cooking school and culinary adventures showcase authentic traditional Mexican cuisine of Mexico's many cultures. Enjoy learning and working with traditional ingredients during the hands-on cooking classes. Abuelinda is fluent in English and Spanish and has over 20 years experience teaching Meso-American cuisine. All skill levels are welcome.
Reviewed By oreguild02 - Ajijic, Mexico
Abuelinda's kitchen is a welcoming and cheerful place where 6 of us shared the experience of preparing a great Mexican meal. Abuelinda herself is charming and so willing to share her knowledge. We chopped and listened while Abuelinda slipped in details about Mexican cuisine and...MoreThat you so much Denise for the lovely review. Hope your visit was enjoyable and that you will return soon!
5. Chapala Plaza
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Reviewed By Denise M - Guelph, Ontario, Canada
Chapala's main plaza is a serene and welcoming spot to rest and take in the sights of daily life. The plaza has lots of Seating and is a great place to strike up a conversation with locals. Many shops, restaurants and sidewalk vendors are on all sides. Side streets are filled with shops where residents do their shopping. A, stone's throw from the bus terminal and a short walk to the beautiful malecón.
6. FusionArt Gallery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Fusion Art gallery, we take collecting fine art to a whole new level. offer a complete line of fine art and costum home/ office design services additionally,
Reviewed By cristianjaime26 - Tepic, Mexico
Una galería con obras en vidrio y canvas, una combinación para satisfacer a los gustos más especiales.
Los artistas, siempre atentos a las preguntas y con te atienden con una súper atención, recomiendo ampliamente este Galeria. Sin la lugar a dudas un lugar que debes visitar.
Gracias Ana y Ted
7. Isla de los Alacranes
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 49 reviews
Reviewed By Ken1949 - Bowmanville, Canada
My friend took us on his sail boat from Chapala to the Isla de los Alacranes and it was a great experience. We enjoyed exploring the small island and had lunch at a nice little restaurant which featured great sea food. I can not wait to take my family there again in three months.
8. Ajijic Cemetery
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 58 reviews
Reviewed By trinitas03 - Chapala, Mexico
Mexican village Cemeteries are different in Mexico than Cemeteries in the U.S., Canada or Western Europe. The graves are placed helter skelter throughout the property and there are tombs that are difficult to walk around. You definitely must be sure footed unless you stay on the main path--but then you miss the colorful statues, paintings and toys or an occasional beer bottle to help family to remember the deceased in the tombs. The Cemeteries are owned by the government but they are filled with religious mementos. You see family religious patrons as statues and they represent the family's desire for their loved ones to be happy with God in heaven. They certainly do not expect the dead to play with the toys, soccer balls or to drink the beer. These "grave goods"are all symbols of their hope for their family's eternal happiness and represent the things that made the deceased happy in life.
There are two large flat stones in the back of the cemetery where you find the graves of the author Dane Chandos and his father. Chandos (pen name) was a British visitor who lived near Ajijic on Lake Chapala for 40 years and built the first inn (posada). He may have been the first foreigner living in the area. He died in the late 1940s in Guadalajara of TB and his father died within a year of Chandos' death. The graves are near the chapel and nearly against the back wall. The foreign community owes much to this gentleman but his grave is a bit neglected except for an old inscription on the flat stone naming his books. "House in the Sun", his history of his life in the area and the interesting visitors from other parts of the world, can still be found sometimes on eBay. It is a fascinating account of life in the early 1900s for anyone visiting or living in the area.
9. Diane Pearl Collecions
Overall Ratings
5 based on 30 reviews
Reviewed By PapaMarkie - Ajijic, Mexico
If you come to Ajijic to visit or live, you'll get to know Diane Pearl.
First, it is a great store filled with eclectic collections of jewelry, household items, and the like. Great gifts to bring home.
But Diane is also a centerpiece to know what is going on around town. Need tickets to shows at the Bravo Theatre or the Auditorium or a tour of homes in Ajijic, you'll find them all at Diane Pearl's along with great words of wisdom.
10. Lake Chapala Golf Carts
Overall Ratings
5 based on 38 reviews
We rent golf carts to visitors so they can more easily explore Ajijic and the surrounding area. In a golf cart, you'll be able to tour around town in comfort, all the while enjoying the spectacular climate and the intimacy and friendliness of our village in the open air. It's the fun way to get around town!
Reviewed By Clyde C - Corpus Christi, Texas
Renting a golf cart to see more of Ajijic sounded like a great idea. We had a great time and got to see a lot more of this quaint little village and beyond than we did on foot. Well, we did have a great time exploring Ajijic.
The pleasant surprise was the excellent service by the owner Travis. He was very professional during the entire transaction and experience. I would recommend this rental to everyone that is looking to explore
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