Nearly everything you can find to do at home is available here ... golf, tennis, bicycling, horseback riding, hiking, boating, fishing, kayaking, and ... of course, Tequila sampling.
There are two country clubs on the north shore and two others in Guadalajara, offering golf and tennis facilities ... there are numerous other tennis facilities ... many people belong to groups who play on private courts at the homes of friends, and they're always looking for new players--novice or advanced.
Chapala Country Club
Chapala Country Club (CCC) is a semi-private country club in Vista del Lago, offering a challenging golf course with beautiful surroundings. The golf course is built along the side of mountains. Therefore, many holes have varied elevation which provide almost every lie imaginable. In addition, the course challenges the golfer with blind shots, water shots, tree-lined fairways, and doglegs. And, they provide a full-scale practice range with pitching area, putting green, and sand trap practice area.
There are regular golfing group activities 6 days per week – more than one activity to choose from on at least 3 days per week. You can choose to participate in socially-oriented competitive golfing activities several times each ek.
Chapala Country Club's golf course is a 9-hole layout. However, the creative placement of the two sets of tee boxes gives players of any caliber the satisfaction of playing a full round of 18 different holes.
Water Sports
Although Lake Chapala was suffering from low water levels and pollution some years ago, it has made a substantial recovery. Water levels are now the highest they have been in three decades, most of the Lirio (water hyacynths) which were choking the lake have been removed, and pollution levels are greatly improved.
There has been a concerted effort to improve not just the lake itself, but the shoreline, as well.
Wonderful new parks, beaches, walkways and picnic areas are springing up, and more are planned. Recent environmental tests show the lake safe for swimming and other aquatic activities.
It's a good bet that with all the positive things happening with the lake, there will be more activities centered around the water.
Excursions
From the Chapala pier, a number of excursions are possible, from a one-hour ride along the lakeshore to extended lake and island tours.
It's a two-hour visit to Scorpion Island (Isla Alacranes--named for its scorpion shape), with its regional food restaurants and bird watching.
If you prefer a longer trip, head to Mezcala Island (Isla Presidio), a national monument with the remains of a fort around which the historical Battle of Mezcala took place.
