At sunset, a boat returns to the pier with its passengers.

Lake Chapalpa is the largest freshwater lake in Mexico and the village of Chapala has been a  popular weekend and holiday destination for both Guadalajara residents  and international tourist since the 1920’s. The lakefront promenade or malecon has 2 scenic piers, boat rides, restaurants, hotels, playgrounds, skateboard park, mariachi’s, retail vendors and yacht club. One of  the malecon’s landmarks, seen below,  is the old Victorian style mansion built in 1906. It is now a restaurant called Cazadores but was  formerly  owned by the Braniff family of airline fame and fortune, In addition to tourist, ,many local people come to the malecon on a regular basis for picnic’s, see the sunsets or watch the birds who migrate here in the fall.

Cazadores Restaurant, formerly the Braniff family home

Birds start migrating to the shores of Lake Chapala in the falll

The main pier and lighthouse

An old boat is used as a planter in the garden on the malcon.

The Lake Chapala Inn on the malecon

There is a skateboard park on the malecon

On Sunday’s many families bring the kids to the playground on the malecon

Here’s a few of the restaurants at the east end of the malecon along with some strolling musicians

another pier is found at the east end of the malecon

Here’s the ever present Mariachi’s entertaining some visitors

The malecon is also the location for annual events such as Day of the Dead and Carnival