Firstly, what is a capirotada? Capirotada is very similar to a pudding that is made with bread dipped in piloncillo (sugar in its most natural state), with ingredients such as cinnamon, cloves and sheets of aged cheese, at least in its most traditional preparation. Contrary to the Mexican dessert as we know it today, which has a sweet touch that contrasts with the cheese and other ingredients, this dish...

erbena Jamaica del Pasado is an annual traditional event held at the plaza in Ajijic and it has been going on for over a century. Today, this beautiful tradition is all about doing things the old-fashioned way. You will find a wide variety of typical foods and drinks from the region such as tamales, sopes, tacos, pozole, fruit punch, atole, and more, all served on clay plates and cups instead of...

Most people know or have heard of La Isla de los Alacranes (Scorpion Island), but there is another island not everyone has heard about.  Prison Island, also known as Mezcala Island, is a testament of a long history where cultures, legends and ghosts collide. It is believed that it was a center of worship for the civilizations of Jalisco since its founding in the year 1280. There have been pre-Columbian...

You have probably seen the island from the shores of Ajijic or Chapala and wondered what’s there and why it’s called that… Are there a lot of scorpions there? No, it is not an island full of scorpions. This little island got its name because its shape is similar to that of a scorpion.  Isla de los Alacranes is a ceremonial center of the Wixáricas. For them, the island serves as a union of the...

Being at the foot of this mountain range, it makes it easy to get into nature without having to drive anywhere. There are many trails that lead you to different points in the mountains. There used to not be any signs or markers at all, one had to know their way around. Not until a few years ago the signs were put up to help guide you. Some trails cross one another, there are different trails to get you...

Most towns in Mexico have a street market that sets up usually once a week, rain or shine. They are called tianguis (pronounced tee-ANN-geese). The origin of the word comes from the Nahuatl tianquiz(tli), meaning “market.” In pre-Hispanic Mexico, bartering was the common system between vendors to get products or services needed. Today bartering might happen between vendors, but they are there to sell...

When you think of Spring break you probably think - college students going all out on a wild week of debauchery in some touristy beach town. But in Mexico, it is also very much tied to the Catholic celebrations during Holy week and Easter. School is out for two weeks and it is a time to take the whole family out on vacation.  Even though the beach is a typical destination, many nationals come to...

Charros What comes to mind when you think of the Carnival? You probably think of New Orleans’ Mardi Gras or Brazil’s Carnival, right? But if you ask someone from Ajijic, they will tell you two main things - Sayacas and flour, lots and lots of flour. The origins of the Sayacas has many versions. That it originated in Ajijic, that much is true. But what on Earth are Sayakas? They are, mostly...

Malecón Ajijic What we know today as the popular destination named Ajijic, was once nothing more than a sleepy little fishing village not many people knew about. Founded in 1531, its name comes from the Nahuatl Axixic which means "where the water spills" or "where the water springs", and it is one of the oldest towns in Mexico. Ajijic was considered a “Pueblo Mágico” long before it got its...

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