Around Lago de Chapala

Mexico's largest natural lake is a one-hour drive southeast of Guadalajara. Surrounded by jagged hills and serene towns, Lake Chapala is a favorite Tapatío getaway and a haven for thousands of North American retirees. The name probably derives from Chapalac, who was chief of the region's Taltica Indians when the Spaniards arrived in 1538.

The area's main town, Chapala, is flooded with weekend visitors and the pier is packed shoulder-to-shoulder most Sundays. Eight kilometers (5 mi) west is Ajijic, a village that's home to the bulk of the area's expatriates. Farther west is San Juan Cosalá, popular for its thermal-water pools.