Ajijic Travel Tips
Don't leave Home Without Them

Ajijic travel tips keep you informed about the weather in Lake Chapala Mexico, car rentals, money exchange and so much more.  Check it out when are planning your Ajijic Vacation to Mexico.

Ajijic Travel Tip: #27
What time of the year is the best weather in Lake Chapala?

All year the Lake Chapala weather is delightful. There are seasons, all are mild and bring their own look and feel. National Geographic ranked top weather for retirement in the world, Lake Chapala is at the top of the list.

Starting in June and ending in October is the rainy season in this part of Ajijic-Chapala. Summer is the favorite time of the year for all of us who live here full time. The mountains turn an emerald green, the gardens are lush and the flowers bloom everywhere.

The ideal part of this time of year is it rains mostly late at night so our day time activities are not interrupted. The humidity stays relatively low and the temperatures are mild.

From November through May is our dry season. Winter through spring, brings mild temperatures in the day and cooler mornings and nights. A sweater or light jacket takes the chill off of the mornings and evenings. The exception to this is May and June. These are our warmest months, balmy nights and it can get quite warm in the mid day sun.

Travel Ajijic Tip: #23
What clothing, shoes, etc should I pack for my Ajijic vacation?

Casual is the dress code in Lake Chapala, no need to dress up unless you want to. Pack shorts for the day and casual pants or dresses for the evenings. Short sleeves in the day, light sweaters at night will keep you comfortable. If you are visiting in the summer bring an umbrella.

A must bring are comfortable walking shoes with good support for walking on the cobblestone streets and uneven sidewalks.

Sun screen, hats and sunglasses are a must to bring. Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico's altitude is a mile high at 5,200 feet elevation. That means the sun is intense but the temperature is mild. Don't let the mild weather fool you. Protect yourself from the sun to avoid a nasty sunburn.

Don't forget your camera, especially for walks on the lake. Early mornings and evenings provide perfect lighting for your best photo shots of Lake Chapala.

Lake Chapala Travel Tip: #35
Cash is the name of the game in Ajijic, Mexico

Very few shops or Ajijic restaurants accept credit cards in the Lake Chapala area. Different story in Guadalajara, many restaurants and hotels will gladly accept most plastic.

The good news is there are ATM machines everywhere. They are in the grocery stores, in the famicia's (drug stores) and of course at the banks. In addition to Automatic Teller Machines, you can exchange your dollars for pesos at the Casa de Cambio's, a place to exchange money where you will get a good exchange rate. If you are carrying traveler checks they can be cashed at most banks. Or you can pay with your American dollars, they will accept that everywhere you go to eat or buy something, but you won’t get the best exchange rates..

But the best advice is to exchange some dollars for pesos a soon as you arrive and as often as you need to during your visit. Upon your arrival, the Guadalajara Airport does have a Casa de Cambio or money exchange, right near the exit on the international arrivals part of the airport terminal. You may want to get pesos for your taxicab ride to Lake Chapala and for the first couple of days on your Ajijic vacation.

Travel Lake Chapala Tip: #17
Best way to get around when visiting

If you make a smart accommodation choice for Ajijic lodging, then you do not need to rent a car during your visit to Lake Chapala. Many vacationers consider it a waste of money and a source of frustration trying to find parking, diving the very narrow cobblestone streets. Parking is a challenge in the village of Ajijic on the narrow coble stone streets so you end up taking a hike from where you parked the car to where you are going.

If walking is not your thing then you can easily get a taxi. They will take you anywhere you want to go, and it is inexpensive. Also, buses are very accessible and go just about everywhere.

But walking is the best way to really see the Ajijic village and all the special shops, gardens, outdoor café's and the beautiful sights of everyday live in this colonial setting.

Tours are a great way to visit and get to know all the areas surrounding Lake Chapala. There are Lake Chapala tours around the lake and also tequila tours to the town of Tequila. There are tours to Guadalajara historical district and tours to see the Ballet Folklorico on Sunday’s.

Ajijic Travel Tip: #5
What about the drinking water?

While it is true that many Ajijic hotels, Lake Chapala bed and breakfasts, and homes do not have purified water systems and must use bottle water.

There are a number of Ajijic accommodations that do provide filtered and purified water from the tap for your safety and convenience. Ask the establishment before you make your vacation reservations.

For those properties that have provide purified and filtered water, leading edge technology is used in Mexico to polish and sterilize the water. Purified water is used for drinking in the better establishments.

Mexico is one of the best places to be assured that the purified water is safe to drink. It is also a law that commercial ice cubes are made with purified water.

Clue: Before drinking from the tap, make sure there is a water purification system installed and working. If in doubt, drink bottled water.

Casa Presiosa Ajijic Vacation Home Rental provides water that is filtered and purified water for your peace of mind and comfort.

Travel Ajijic Tip: #16
What foods are safe to eat when visiting South of the Border?

It is not about the food itself, it is how the food is prepared and kept cold. Street vendors offer great smelling, great looking eat food to go. Many street vendors offer safe to eat food.

However, for street vendors hygiene and keeping perishables cold can be a challenge.

As a visitor it is impossible to know which vendors are ok and which ones are not. If you want to play it safe during your Ajijic vacation, pass on buying food from the vendors on the street.

On the other hand, you can feel comfortable eating at any of the established Lake Chapala restaurants. The café's and dining establishments are very aware of the importance of serving food that is properly prepared and cooked. News travels fast if a customer gets ill from eating at a particular restaurant and that may be the end of a good business.

Although, Lake Chapala, Mexico is not considered a typical tourist destination like Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas or Cancun or other beach areas, many travelers discover the magic of an Ajijic Vacation adventure. Lake Chapala, located inland on the largest lake in Mexico, this area is also a very popular English speaking expatriate retirement community in Mexico.

Ajijic travel is most enjoyable when you do a little research and come prepared to enjoy your Ajijic, Mexico vacation.