ajijic, taxco, where?
 

We are planning a short trip 7-8 days to mainland mexico...been to baha, totos santos, now trying this. want something off the beaten path, looked at Yelapa, but dont need beach (too much like other vacations) saw Taxco, but recovering from sprained ankle makes the "steep hills" warning taken seriously. found lake chalapa and a rental house near Ajijic. what is this like, in early march. crowded? touristy? what to do about getting around? didnot rent car in baha, Totos Santos, need one here?
we are couple in our 50s, like to walk and hike and photograph. dont need shops, some casual but good restaurants are good, authentic experience being sought, but easy due to car issue and ankle.
thanks for all thoughts and help.

Would urge you to head for Michoacan & the Cities of Morelia, Patzcuaro & Uruapan plus literally dozens of smaller special Craft Villages through out the area. Incredible architecture in a safe sophisticated city of Morelia. Wonderful crafts & art at bargain prices in the small city of Patzcuaro but an hour away with lovely plazas & the Home of Dia de Muertos festival. Uruapan with it's marvelous National park filled with waterfalls, rapids & great fauna/flora. In between cities buried in Lava, others filled with mask carvers Etc. Butterflies preserves, Ballet, Ancient aqueducts ON & ON. Check it out.

THANK YOU!
yes i did some more research into the Ajijic area, not for us. These other places look really interesting. tell me , few people are talking car rental, can you get around enough by foot, bus to see much if you dont have a car..
really the question is can you survive by just hanging out in Mor.. or Pac. with enough to do, books camera, cafes etc or do you need to really go afar to get more. looking for a relaxing place but not full of Americans.
have you been to Yelapa? is this just a nother gringo place?

Buses are very cheap & Taxis very reasonable. You can actually rent a cab in Patzcuaro for 110 pesos a hour (about $10 US). a trip from Morelia to Patzcuaro or Patzcuaro to Uruapan are just 200 pesos or about $18 US. As far as walking around Patzcuaro Yes most is walkable as is the Historic District in Morelia. bus or cab elsewhere.

PS Patzcuaro gets a fair amount of tourists but is not Touristy. Nothing like the beach cities or Ajijic. Morelia is a large sophisticated safe clean city with lots of great Plaza outdoor coffee spots, eateries & parks.Very few tourist there. In Uruapan almost all of the tourist are Mexican visiting the marvelous National park. It's Plaza is only a half block wide but 3 blocks longer & the city is definitely Mexican.