Mazatlan Malecon

Easy to travel to Mazatlan on a luxury bus. Taxi to the ETN bus station in Guad, then for $40 USD one way, you kick back and enjoy as the drive is about 8 hours from Lakeside. It has the longest malecon in Mexico which is great for biking. We have stayed at three different hotels in Mazatlan and we prefer the quiet historical district where this hotel is located. The Freeman Posada Best Western Hotel is NOT an all inclusive hotel, but for about $75.00 USD, for an ocean view room, you will also enjoy a buffet breakfast daily.  The beds

are very comfortable and the service staff is excellent.  The Freeman is near the end of the malecon, and you can rent a beach bike for 100 pesos per hour and cruise the long malecon.  Historically,  this was the first hotel in Mexico to have an elevator and it catered to the Hollywood stars who loved to go deep sea fishing.  John Wayne and many other famous people have stayed at the Freeman.  Our thanksgiving trip was voted a winner by all. Except we could not find the elusive NEW highway that Mike and Barb travelled on, so we wondered through every tiny village along the way! The Hotel Freeman is convenient to many fine restaurants within a few blocks of the hotel.  Just down the malecon is a unique slide into the ocean, but we highly recommend extreme caution due to a personal experience of painful falls caused by the slippery moss covered steps to the slide.

We had a golf cart taxi take us to an evening of FUN for a mystery dinner. We walked all over, rode bikes along the malecon in the early COOL, and loved the pizza place directly up the hill from the natural waterslide. The hotel has a private beach directly across the street and the pool is on the top of the building.  Great views, excellent location, supreme service, with valuable pricing.  Explore all Hotels.com hotels. Eddie and Betty, Dan and Joy and Mike and Barb enjoyed a fabulous full blown turkey meal at a quaint local cafe. There is so much to see, and being retired, well we take full advantage of exploring the country we live in. VIVA MEXICO!

LetraCH - Restoran del Mar

Enter into the old style charm of Mexico as you ramble down the cobblestoned street from Guadalajara down Pepe Guizar to the Boutique Hotel and restaurant LetraCH which is right next to an OXXO and across from Lake Chapala.  This is a favorite spot for the Tapito's from Guad, they love the food and convenience to Christiana Park, the malecon (without the noise) and the old railroad museum. Newly revamped to include luxury suites and a fabulous SPA. An hour massage for 900 pesos, a refreshing facial that deep cleans as it adds moisture only 750 pesos. Why drive all the way to San Juan Cosala?  Enroute to Mezcala, this family owned and operated JEWEL offers lots of history, and less traffic. 

ADDRESS for TAXI: Carretera a Mezcala, Gonzalez Gallo 4 - Las Redes, 45900 -Chapala, Jalisco. Book online or call 376-765-3004.  Newly remodeled with pool, massages, air conditioning.  Follow them on Facebook.  Letra CH - Restoran del Mar.

Hotel Lindo

With only 8 rooms at this boutique Hotel, you are guaranteed to get excellent service. You can book online on Hotels dot calm, and give the address to your Taxi driver. The best way to drive from airport is to take the Libriemiento towards Ajijic, turn RIGHT at Wal-Mart, drive through 4 stop lights, just past Colon in Ajijic, turn RIGHT up mountainside at the corner at PIZZA place LaSerenata - up one block, turn RIGHT on Angel Flores. Hotel Lindo front door pictured.  GREAT beds, sheets, breakfast included. Walk to Ajijic Plaza in 5 minutes down Colon.  Eat at Tango's facing the malecon.

ADDRESS FOR TAXI: Angel Flores 17A - Las Salvias, 45920 Ajijic, Jalisco.  CALL: 331-865-4766 EMAIL: reservas@hotellindoajijic.mx

The Blue Rose Bistro

The Blue Rose is a spot that works hard to give all guests a fine dining experience to include food, service and atmosphere.  Comfortable seating was made for a party of 20 in their new location in Ajijic. Just past Colon, pass the Waffle House, turn LEFT towards LAKE like you are going to Dental Express. NEW location right on the corner.  This Bistro has an excellent chef and wine selection. The female owner pays attention to the atmosphere and provides great music, flowers and every detail to enhance your dining experience. Her menu offers a variety of flavors that will astound your taste buds. The chef uses fresh ingredients and many couples reserve tables for those special occasions. Depending on the season and weather, outdoor seating around a fire pit with friendly service. An expat favorite with a taste of finery from home. Like them on Facebook and make a reservation on messenger, or call 376-766-2948 (English Spoken fluently) The Blue Rose exceeded my expectations as they catered to a fun gathering on my birthday 2022.  

Local Spa

Just past restaurant row in San Juan Cosala at the base of the Racquet Club area residents can enjoy a spa day at the Grand Cosala Resort, or the boutique hotel next door for under $20 USD.  Dip into hot pools that are 110 F, thermal waters, cooler waters, get a facial, a massage - and choose NOT to drive 3.5 hours to the beach --- get-refreshed quick in just 40 minutes from home. The Grand Cosala allows you to enjoy the pools from 10 am - 6:00 pm - even if you check into a room visitors are allowed to change into bathing suits on site, bench it, enjoy a meal at the garden cafe, then check bags into room at 3 PM. The front desk staff speak English and you can book by phone or online.

Attached to Grand Cosala is a Italian Cafe, and in the same shopping center is a garage of Costco goods and a second boutique hotel for a day in the sun with a lovely cafe and view of the lake.

Grand Cosala contact info in comments.

Book facial or massage a few days prior to Spa day.

Jalisco Sounds and Vistas

Luis Miguel's presentation colorfully boasts of all that one can experience in the beautiful state of Jalisco, Mexico! For a short one week visit there is so much to taste and see. Enjoy a full day in central Guadalajara with a bus tour of all the historical buildings. Plan another fun day in Tlaquepaque which is in the middle of Guad. A fantastic place to shop and then dine at El Patio where the famous female Mariachi Band entertains! Day three and four visit the Lake Chapala area which is an hour drive from the middle of Guad. Around the lake there are several pueblos to explore. Chapala, Mirasol, San Antonio, La Floresta, Ajijic and the famous restaurant row which is in Jocotopec. It is a 4 hour drive to Manzanillo or Barra de Navidad beach. All the workers in the various beach cities in Mexico come to Lake Chapala or Mazamitla to cool off in the months of May-Sept.

Puerto Vallarta

Thanksgiving at the beach! Puerto Vallarta is the destination of many ETN bus loads to stay at all inclusive hotels. In November 2014 we traveled by luxury bus for six hours with many great friends from Lakeside to PV and we stayed at the all inclusive RIU Hotel Resort.  At the RIU we body surfed, rented jet skis and strolled a half mile down the beach to receive a great massage for half the price that the RIU spa offered.  In October 2014 Mike arrived as a permanent resident in Mexico, we bought a new car in Guadalajara and drove to PV for Mikes Bday. We stayed at the 5 star rated Garza which is NOT an all inclusive.  Too much food and too many people crowd the pools at all inclusive hotels. It is perfect for a family reunion, or whenever you want to focus on the FUN and not the FOOD.  At the Garza we enjoyed a suite that overlooked the ocean.  The infinity poolside service and food was marvelous.  The Garza is located up the hill from the downtown PV Centro in the midst of a forest.

If you travel by bus or fly into PV, the all inclusive RIU HOTEL would offer you the luxury of not renting a car to go to in town restaurants.  As we don't drink all the free liquor offered at all inclusives, we prefer the quieter five star hotels that offer luxury accommodations with less population.  Driving uphill from Garza is a best western hotel with a private beach that rents jet skis.  Puerto Vallarta is best visited in December - February due to the high humidity and heat. Both hotels are on tripadvisor.  Happy travels.

Villa 1927 Chapala

Mike and I stayed at this boutique hotel for July 4, 2019. We had an upper room facing the lake with air conditioning. This hotel is great for visitors for their first night in Chapala.  View and book a room using Hotel.com and transport from Airport is included. Villa 1927 Chapala Hotel

Arrive, check into your room, take a swim, enjoy a glass of wine at the lakeside elegant bar, then stroll the malecon and wind your way across the bridge out to the Fisherman Jesus. Walk out on the pier, hail a boat ride out to Scorpion Island, or just enjoy people watching. Every weekend Chapala fills with people from Guad as there is always something to do. There are many wonderful restaurants at the end of the malecon. "Al Kafe" or the "Beer Garden" for the bomb sunset!

Depending on when you arrive, it tends to be noisy on the weekends on the malecon. Villa 1927 is great because of the LOCATION for visitors. Enjoy the charm of this 800 year old fishing village. This hotel used to be a grand hacienda that took the owner took 2 years to restore.  The rooms have quality sheets and the location is excellent for a night. Miguel and his parents arrived Dec 22, 2022. Hooray!

The splendor of an era. History + Luxury + Style

Click for Reservations www.villa1927.com

Tel. (52) 376 765 5571

Tour Mazamitla

When it gets too balmy hot in Chapala, Mike and I circle to the other side of Lake Chapala, up the mountain into the tall, tall pine tree forest of Mazamitla. It is a refreshing change of scenery which reminds us of California trips up highway 88 to Silverlake and Lake Tahoe. This small Mexican jewel is visited by Mexicans who work in the humidity of Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, and Guadalajara. The draw is the cooler weather, and the landscape and vistas from atop the mountain. Mazamitla has lots of folk art and it is highly maintained as a Pueblo Magico. A simple day trip around the lake by car and up the hill takes about 2.5 hours one way. You can always expect that Mazamitla will be at least 10 degrees cooler so depending on the month you visit, just toss a sweater in your overnight bag.  Visit the waterfalls, go wine tasting, ride an ATV or just browse the quaint shops. . In the plaza you will bump into tour guides that will sign you up for an interesting tours of the waterfalls, the historical sites, the wine makers and the zip lines. Inquire and discover that you have many options from various vendors. If you enjoy shopping at the Farmers market, Mazamitla hosts theirs on Mondays. Zip lining fans have

a blast and the lines are safe as you swing very low across the deep valley.  We have stayed at Sierra Vista Cabins, and at the Monteverde Cabins. Our favorite, easy to find location for an overnight stay is at the Best Western Lodge which has the Quinta Bosque Restaurant on site. When you stay at the BW you can walk to town. Right around the corner is the new "Ribba" which is famous for their steak and selection of wines. This BW hotel has quaint cabins that include fireplaces. We like going to Mazamitla from October to March because the temp is perfect "Sweater Weather".  Mike loves Tex Mex food and we enjoyed this unique Tex Mex flavor at a famous local La Troje. You can walk there from the hotel too. In October 2019 Luis Amado García a pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels and Héctor Neris of the Philadelphia Phillies visited the famous Tex Mex Restaurante La Troje, in Mazamitla. Mikey will spend his #67 birthday enjoying his wish for Tex Mex food in Mexico. A baseball fan 😎 dream come true. We book all our stays on Hotels.com so that we can rack up points for a FREE stay somewhere on our next adventure. The ATV riding facility is on your way in or out of town.  It does not require an appointment, just stop in, pay the guy and crank up your guts to climb up and over the small hills along the track. The Best Western Sierra Mazamitla phone is 331-378-9200 #6 Mazamitla Hotel. The address for your GPS: Vicente Guerrero 100

Fracc. Pueblo Bonito

Mazamitla, JAL 49500

Lakeside, Jalisco

The artistic center of Guadalajara is known as Tlaquepaque. Female Mariachis serenade through this unique village. Excellent art shopping and fine dining. The old Train Station in Chapala below is now a place for musical events. Click pic to enlarge.

Lakeside is where the Tapatios (locals from Guad) come on the weekends to get away from the heat, traffic and congestion of Guadalajara. We are privileged to live in the place where people come from around the globe to rest and relax.

The cobblestones make it seem like authentic "old" Mexico and the small villages around this side of the lake include: San Nicolas de Ibarra, Santa Cruz, Chapala, Riberas del Pilar, San Antonio Tlayacapan, La Floresta, Ajijic, Jocotopec, San Juan Cosala. One can also drive around the lake up the mountain to Mazamitla to cool off. Lake Chapala is the main attraction and it is fun to take a boat ride out to Scorpion Island, or just circle the shore up to Riberas. During our summer months May, June, July, Aug, Sept it mostly rains at night with temps during the day of 85 F with humidity. Our fall weather begins in October with temps of 75 F without rain and less humidity. The best time to travel to any beach PV, Manzanillo, or Mazatlan is during November - February. This picture was taken on the Chapala malecon in the month of February when the purple blooms come out. Our favorite English speaking Taxi driver's name is Miguel cell phone: 045-333-808-8038 - unless you have international ability on your cell phone, it will be difficult to make calls. People at your chosen hotel can easily assist you. At Lakeside, I have many choice places ready to recommend on older posts on this blog. Villa de Angel is awesome or you can rely on Air B n B link on the side.

La Vita Bella

 

A very special place to stay that offers thermal spas, massage, a gourmet restaurant, a lake view, and luxury linens. La Vita Bella is located in San Juan Cosala, Jalisco, Mexico. Instead of driving 4 hours to the beach, we are blessed to arrive in less than an hour from our casa.  Check in at 3:00PM.  Book a  Jr Suite overlooking the lake, and enjoy a massage, and lunch on the terrace.  Stay overnight and explore all equiste new eateries just in front of the Grand Cosala Hotel.  Italian, Sushi, Mexican, Seafood - all brand new in 2022.

www.lavitabellasoulspa.com

+52-387-761-1145

Address: Rafael Ozuna 250

Raquet Club San Juan

Cosala C.P. 45820 Jalisco

CELL 331-704-3999

VISIT the WEBSITE to view the restaurant and menu.

EMAIL: lavitabella@live.com.mx

Private Hot Tub for Two

Get grounded and walk across the lawn

To reserve a room via email or on the website

you pay one night up front by credit card.

Reservation La Vita Bella

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RESERVATIONS VIA TELEPHONE

NO ENGLISH SPOKEN

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387 761 1145

WhatsApp 331 704 3999