Lake Chapala & Ajijic tour: Rancho Los 3 Potrillos
The boardwalk of Mexico's largest lake, then a working ranch that spans 500 hectares.
This 8-hour Lake Chapala and Ajijic tour from Guadalajara includes hotel pickup, a professional guide in English or Spanish, and entrance to Rancho Los 3 Potrillos. You walk the boardwalk along Mexico's largest natural lake, visit the French-facade train station built around 1920, stop in the town of Ajijic for free time, and tour the legendary 500-hectare ranch. Lunch at Piedra Barrenada restaurant on the lakeshore is at your own expense.
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore Chapala Lake and Ajijic
- Stop at Tres Potrillos Ranch
- Visit old French facade train station
- Walk along Chapala Lake boardwalk
- Learn about 1955 drought and pilgrimage
- Free time in Ajijic town
- Enjoy meal at Piedra Barrenada restaurant
- Return to meeting point
What’s included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off at one of three Guadalajara locations.
- professional guide in English or Spanish.
- entrance to Rancho Los 3 Potrillos and Piedra Barrenada restaurant.
- guided visit of Lake Chapala's boardwalk and the French-facade train station.
Times
- Every day 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Amigo Tours
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The experience
The tour starts with hotel pickup and heads first to Rancho Los 3 Potrillos, a working ranch built in 1980 across more than 500 hectares. From there, the route moves to Lake Chapala itself, beginning at the old train station, a French-facade building completed around 1920, before walking the boardwalk that runs along the water. This is where you get the full view of Mexico's largest natural lagoon, and the guide will explain the lake's history, including the 1955 drought so severe that a pilgrimage was organized with the Virgin of Zapopan. When rain finally came in June 1956, a thank-you mass began that still happens every July 1st.
After the boardwalk, the tour moves through the Floresta area (a neighborhood where many foreign retirees have settled), and then stops in Ajijic, a town on the lake's edge where you get free time to walk around. The group then transfers to Piedra Barrenada, a restaurant right on the lakeshore where you can eat on your own (not included in the tour price). The day concludes with a return to one of three drop-off points in Guadalajara: Glorieta La Minerva, Expo Guadalajara, or Centro Histórico.
The guide speaks English or Spanish and handles all the logistics: pickup from your hotel, entrance fees to the ranch and Piedra Barrenada, and the route itself. Note that entry to Rancho Los 3 Potrillos is not guaranteed since it is private property, though the itinerary is built around visiting it. Infants sit on an adult's lap, and the tour suits all fitness levels.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want a full day exploring the lake and countryside in a guided group: the stops (ranch, boardwalk, Ajijic town) move at a pace that works best with others rather than solo.
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Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English and Spanish.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 10 years); Infant (under 4): free.
What is Rancho Los 3 Potrillos?
Rancho Los 3 Potrillos is a working ranch built in 1980 that spans more than 500 hectares. It is owned by the legendary Vicente Fernández and is one of the stops on the tour, though entry is not guaranteed since it is private property.
How much time do I get in Ajijic?
Ajijic is a free-time stop where you can walk around the town on your own. The exact length is set by the guide based on the day's schedule.
Is lunch included in the tour?
Lunch is not included. The tour stops at Piedra Barrenada, a restaurant on the lakeshore, and you pay for your own meal there.
What is the train station stop?
The tour visits the old train station at Lake Chapala, a French-facade building completed around 1920, which marks the start of the boardwalk walk along the lake.
Where will I be dropped off at the end?
You can choose one of three drop-off points in Guadalajara: Glorieta La Minerva, Expo Guadalajara, or Centro Histórico de Guadalajara.
Lake Chapala & Ajijic tour: Rancho Los 3 Potrillos
8h · EN · ES · at your hotel
from US$ 80 per person
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