The remarkable surge in Lake Chapala’s water level this rainy season has coincided with a boost in local tourism, Chapala Mayor Alejandro Aguirre reports.
“This year, thanks to favorable weather and Lake Chapala’s recovery, we can see a 50-percent increase in visitors compared to years when the lake faced challenging conditions,” Aguirre said in a recent interview with Guadalajara daily Milenio.
Tourist boat captain Jorge Silva echoed the mayor’s sentiment on the economic benefits. He told Milenio that Chapala’s 40 boat operators often make two to three trips per day due to a substantial increase in demand from out-of-town visitors looking to explore the lake.
“We’re seeing very busy Sundays with a lot of tourism, thank God, and most people who come want to see how much the water has risen,” Silva remarked.
Blanca Ibarra, head of the Malecón Merchants Association, noted a similar trend. Despite a period of slow sales a few months ago, most of her 600 colleagues have managed to stay in business without relocating or shutting down.
“God doesn’t leave us without a sale. Even if it’s just a little, we sell enough to cover personal and family expenses,” she said. “So I invite all tourists to come to Chapala and enjoy our typical sweets, handicrafts, hats, charalitos, and nieve de garrafa ice cream. There’s plenty here to give you a good taste of our town!”
According to official statistics, Lake Chapala closed October at 63.9 percent of its full capacity, a significant rise from 36.5 percent recorded on June 30.