Who are the residents of Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico? Who lives in Chapala and Ajijic, Mexico?

Ajijic is a village with a population of 13,000, of which 30% are American or Canadian expats. The other 70% are the Mexican nationals, some of whom have been there for quite a few generations, so there is quite a history within the families of the Mexican nationals there.

 

There is a wonderful diversity amongst those expats who have moved down to Ajijic. The village of Chapala, which is about 10 miles directly east of the village of Ajijic, has a higher...

Ajijic is a village with a population of 13,000, of which 30% are American or Canadian expats. The other 70% are the Mexican nationals, some of whom have been there for quite a few generations, so there is quite a history within the families of the Mexican nationals there.

 

There is a wonderful diversity amongst those expats who have moved down to Ajijic. The village of Chapala, which is about 10 miles directly east of the village of Ajijic, has a higher concentration of Mexican nationals. There are a lot of people who enjoy a little larger village who prefer in that environment.

 

Depending on your specific desires and goals, you can embrace the traditional, old Mexican village and/or a little more cosmopolitan area in Chapala. I opted to live outside the village of Ajijic in a larger and more residential community or area called La Cristina, a suburban village located about 4 kilometers from the center of the village.  

 

(Professional reunion in Lake Chapala, Mexico, pictured.)

Mexicans, expats, and foreigners from all over the world live here in Chapala and Ajijic. There are Asian people who live here, too. We have Chinese and Germans here. There are people who are originally from Zacatecas City in Mexico but they come to Ajijic because they know that they have work here. (People from Zacatecas usually work as gardeners or pool cleaners.)

 

Around 80% of the people who live in Ajijic are Mexicans and the other 20% are expats. It...

Mexicans, expats, and foreigners from all over the world live here in Chapala and Ajijic. There are Asian people who live here, too. We have Chinese and Germans here. There are people who are originally from Zacatecas City in Mexico but they come to Ajijic because they know that they have work here. (People from Zacatecas usually work as gardeners or pool cleaners.)

 

Around 80% of the people who live in Ajijic are Mexicans and the other 20% are expats. It is hard to make generalizations but most of the Mexicans who live in Ajijic are very polite people. They always like to help out. I like Ajijic more than I like Chapala because in Ajijic, everybody knows everybody else since it is a small place. In contrast, when you live in Chapala sometimes you wouldn’t know your neighbors. In Ajijic, you would think that nobody knows you but they do know you. 

 

In my opinion, it is better to retire here in Ajijic because it is the nature of the people here to help. They don’t look at you as someone from the US or Canada. If they see that you need help, they will help.

 

(Mirna Sigura and her helpful staff at Ajijic Rentals and Management, Ajijic, Mexico, pictured.)  

Mostly Canadians and Americans live in Ajijic and Chapala. There aren’t a lot of Mexicans in Ajijic. If we say Ajijic, the town, there are more Americans and Canadians than Mexicans. I would bet on that.  

 

I have a customer who lives in a gate-guarded community to the north of the carretera (main road) in the foothills. Out of 112 homes, only two are for Mexicans. 110 are for Americans and Canadians.

 

Towards the...

Mostly Canadians and Americans live in Ajijic and Chapala. There aren’t a lot of Mexicans in Ajijic. If we say Ajijic, the town, there are more Americans and Canadians than Mexicans. I would bet on that.  

 

I have a customer who lives in a gate-guarded community to the north of the carretera (main road) in the foothills. Out of 112 homes, only two are for Mexicans. 110 are for Americans and Canadians.

 

Towards the village, there are the Mexican people that got here first, and they will not leave, although there are still a lot of homes that Americans or Canadians have bought in the area and fixed to their liking, and now the Americans and Canadians live there. Some Mexicans have had to move because they found a good opportunity, or because they were offered a good amount of money for their land or homes that maybe no one else would offer them. Those kinds of people have had to move out of Ajijic, and they have gone much farther away. 

 

The vast concentration of Americans and Canadians are right here in Ajijic, and if you move further away from Ajijic, in the various villages including Riberas del Pilar, San Antonio, and San Juan Cosala then all the way out to Chapala, you’ll have fewer and fewer Americans and Canadians, and more Mexicans.  

 

(Birding association in Lake Chapala, Mexico, pictured.)

Just as there are temporary expats who come down to Chapala and Ajijic for part of the year, there are also Mexicans from other parts of Mexico who come to Chapala and Ajijic temporarily. Most of them are "Tapatios" who are Mexicans born and raised in Guadalajara, and many of them have weekend/retirement homes in Chapala and Ajijic. 

 

During the Holy Week and the week after, the Chapala and Ajijic areas would be like a large metropolitan city...

Just as there are temporary expats who come down to Chapala and Ajijic for part of the year, there are also Mexicans from other parts of Mexico who come to Chapala and Ajijic temporarily. Most of them are "Tapatios" who are Mexicans born and raised in Guadalajara, and many of them have weekend/retirement homes in Chapala and Ajijic. 

 

During the Holy Week and the week after, the Chapala and Ajijic areas would be like a large metropolitan city with roads, restaurants and stores are choked with lots of people and heavy traffic. Residents need to stock up and plan for their money, booze, and food. A lot of Mexicans from Guadalajara come to Chapala and Ajijic during the Holy Week.

 

My husband and I live in La Villita, a community that is put together by a group of Mexican professionals who bought a chunk of land and built weekend homes. These are professionals like doctors and lawyers. It’s just on the other side of the water park and at upper La Floresta.  

 

(Entrance to La Villita, Ajijic, Mexico, pictured.)