About the Area

Lake Chapala is Mexico’s largest lake, located in the state of Jalisco. It is approximately 50 minutes south east of downtown Guadalajara “The City of Roses” and 35 minutes south of Guadalajara International Airport.

Local residents refer to the towns and villages along the north shore of Lake Chapala - from Mezcala in the east to Jocotepec in the west- as “ Lakeside.” The Country Club de Chapala is nestled in the mountains overlooking the lake, just east of the town of Chapala. Click here for directions and maps to the Chapala Counry Club.

Climate & Altitude

The Lakeside area does not conform to the vision many people have when they think of Mexico. It is not hot, not humid, and there is no ocean surf. The climate is very temperate most of the year as the lake sits in the mountains at an altitude of 5,200 feet, approximately that of Denver, Colorado.

The altitude and the lake moderate the weather year round. There is a rainy season from mid-June to mid-October when most of the annual rainfall occurs. The rain usually occurs in the evenings or early mornings, therefore CCC is open and pleasant to play in excess of 360 days per year.

Publications generally rank our climate in the top half dozen in the world. It is a paradise - particularly to the golfer.

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Lifestyle and Cost of Living

The interior of Mexico is a conservative, family-oriented area. The area is a unique mixture of the very old and the very new. The small communities surrounding the lake are considered safe for drivers and walkers and are home to 10,000-15,000 expatriates.

The streets are filled with a constant stream of parents walking children to and from school, residents walking to local markets and shops of all kinds, visitors touring the local restaurants and galleries, etc. This is an area where people know their neighbors, both Mexican and expatriate. There is a true sense of "community" here.

The cost of living generally runs well below the U.S. and Canadian rates for similar lifestyles. The thousands of expatriates who live in this area benefit from both the lower cost of living and the strength of their dollars when converted to pesos.

Learn More About Lakeside

There are numerous resources for learning more about the Lakeside Area. The following links are provided: