Sailing is a must if you want to experience Lake Chapala to its fullest. The biggest lake in Mexico, measuring 82km long and 20km wide with historical islands, hidden bays and marinas, it lends itself naturally to sailing.
Best time of the year is during the winter months when the wind is more constant and not too strong, but you can sail almost all year around. If its blowing hard from the east (El Mexicano) in the morning, it probably will not blow in the afternoon and if there’s no wind in the morning, it will probably blow from the West (El Bajeno) in the afternoon).
There are several yacht clubs, harbors and other places to dock in Lake Chapala (see map). A popular destination is the charming little Scorpion Island (Isla de Alacran), where you can eat charales (a tiny fish and a local specialty). Another great adventure is to anchor in a bay over night, have a small boat party and sail back home next morning.
Once a year (November), there’s the “regatta de la Luna” where several sailboats gets together and race across the lake, in the middle of the night! The possibilities are endless and everything between cruising boats like Hunter and McGregor, to J24, Hobiecat, Laser, Optimist, Windsurf and Kitesurf shares the wind and waters of Lake Chapala.
A popular choice in Chapala is the MacGregor 26, a perfect weekend cruiser and daysailer. Well equiped for family outings with a galley, head, berth, safe lifelines and emergancy equipment. Here you will find more info about our day cruise, bareboat or skippered
Sailing in the sunset is of course, a very rewarding experiance. Add friends, music & drinks while the stars appear one after one over a darkening sky. In Chapala, the wind is often the best for sailing around sunset. Click here if you want to find out more about our sunset cruise.
View Lake Chapala boating map in a larger map
