Ajijic (ah-hee-hee-k) is a small village nestled on the north shore of Lake Chapala in the Sierra Madre mountains. Because of its elevation, 5000', it enjoys very moderate temperatures all year 'round. It's become home to over 10,000 North Americans who decided that retirement should be the beginning of truly loving your life, not just living it!

          The color of the flowers, the laughter of small children playing on the quaint cobblestone streets, or the occasional braying of a burro, these are the sights and sounds of Ajijic.

 
   
 
From your home in Ajijic, you'll actually see the stars, enjoy the summer rains, and breathe clean air, but if you feel the need for "big city", you're only a 45 minute drive from Guadalajara , Mexico's second city.

          In Ajijic there are many things to do and see.  You can wander through the shops and art galleries that line the downtown streets, visit the open air market every Wednesday, stop for a cup of coffee or soft drink at any one of many small cafes, or, do nothing at all except breathe in the fresh air and let your senses come alive. Ajijic will do that to you!

 
 

 
          Living outside of one's home country can be the most rewarding and enjoyable time of one's life. Gathering information in advance and planning ahead will help you avoid frustration. The ability to adapt is a quality that will help greatly, but preparation is the KEY. Most people who consider living in Mexico do not want to duplicate their past environments. A part of the excitement of the adventure is doing something completely different and enjoying the constant stimulation of a new culture. The Mexican people are open and friendly, and you can make life-long friends. And, speaking for the thousands in the expat community who have made central Mexico their home, we think that we are a special group.
 
 

          If you are planning for retirement on a vacation home and thinking about Mexico , consider the sunny northern shore of Lake Chapala , Mexico 's largest freshwater lake. With a community of more than 10,000 seasonal and full time foreign residents who call " Lakeside " home, Ajijic has one of the world's two best climates and a low affordable cost of living. This pre-colonial fishing village in Western Mexico 's Sierra Madre mountains makes for unparalleled living in a quaint Mexican village, and all the services and amenities of Guadalajara , Mexico 's second-largest city, only about 45 minutes away.

 
 
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