The most obvious day trip from Ajijic is Guadalajara, Mexico's second city, about 45 minutes north by car or bus. Guadalajara has excellent museums — the Regional Museum of Guadalajara, the Instituto Cultural Cabañas with its José Clemente Orozco murals, and the Mercado Libertad (San Juan de Dios), one of the largest covered markets in Latin America. Tequila country begins just west of Guadalajara: the town of Tequila itself, the Herradura hacienda, and the agave fields of the Jalisco highlands are all within a half-day round trip.
East along the lake shore, the town of Chapala is a 15-minute drive and worth an afternoon visit for its waterfront restaurants and the traditional atmosphere that Ajijic has largely traded away for expat comfort. Jocotepec to the west is similar — quieter and more traditional.