A combination of tropical location, high altitude and a large body of water produce a climate in the Chapala area that is second to none in the world. 

Although National Geographic magazine has done the full analysis and declared Lake Chapala to have the second best climate, those who live here are quite content to be that close to the ideal.

Other prime retirement locations cannot come close to matching the climate in the Lake Chapala area. High humidity, searing summer heat, hurricane and tornado threats and miserable winters are all foreign to the lakeside. Temperatures are consistent year round. The sun shines all day almost every day.  Consistently low humidity adds to the comfort level.  The wind is very gentle or non-existent.  Sunrises and sunsets vary only about an hour from winter to summer. 

Rainfall occurs primarily during the summer months – June through September. An occasional cloudy day may produce a quick shower, but most of the precipitation occurs during the night, and will usually be a short downpour. Rainstorms are often accompanied by thunder and lightening and strong winds. The average annual rainfall is 921 mm or 36 inches per year. 

The hottest part of the year is May, before the rains start, and the dry season has been in effect for 7 months.  The coolest part of the year is the period between mid-December and mid-January when the sun is at its lowest. Some evenings during the Christmas season may call for a space heater or firepit, and the mornings may suggest a light jacket.