The malecon is a paved promenade along the lakeshore at the foot of the town, the natural gathering place at sunset when the light on the Sierra Madre mountains across the lake turns orange and the pelicans drift overhead. The views are genuinely beautiful — Lake Chapala is Mexico's largest freshwater lake, and the combination of water, mountains, and sky has drawn artists here for over a century.
The malecon has a small beach, boat landings for fishing trips, and a cluster of restaurants and cafes at its east end. In the evenings, locals and expats mix on the benches and in the waterfront bars. The Sunday artisan market by the pier is worth a look.