The Floating Gardens of Xochimilco: Visiting Xochimilco From Mexico City
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BYOB and take a colorful boat ride through a UNESCO World Heritage site on the outskirts of Mexico City.
Mexico City Xochimilco Tour: (Jump To)
Brief History of Xochimilco
Xochimilco is a network of prehispanic canals south of modern-day Mexico City. The canals were built in Aztec times and were used as one of the main ways to transport people and goods around the ancient city. The islands, a combination of man-made and natural land masses, were used for farming. The use of hydro-cultivation by farmers yielded enough food to sustain their growing empire. Today what remains of the canal system is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Much Xochimilco is still used for farming, though a portion is reserved for celebration. Primarily on Sundays locals take to the canals on colorful boats called trajineras. The wooden, flat-bottomed boats are propelled through the canals with a long pole stuck into the muddy canal floor.
How To Get to Xochimilco From Mexico City
Before departing we picked up some alcohol and snacks from a corner convenience store. From our hotel in Zona Rosa, we hopped an Uber to Embarcadero Nuevo Nativitas Xochimilco. Uber is surprisingly affordable in Mexico City. The 21-mile/45-minute trip with tip cost about MX$260 (about US$11.50). The Embarcadero is the launching point for the traditional trajineras boats.
Trajineras at Xochimilco (Xochimilco Boat Rental)
From other traveler's journeys we read about online, we knew that the rental price for the boats would range between US$20-30 per hour, including the boat captain. It’s really easy to get a boat and find someone willing to take you from the Embarcadero. There are hundreds of boats and plenty of people around ready to negotiate. The haggling started at US$50 per hour, but we ended at US$45 for two hours, paid at the end of the trip.
Xochimilco Tour
Our young captain helped us climb into our boat and off we went as he guided us down the river. The trajineras are painted in bold colors, each named for a woman. They have a table and a row of chairs and benches on board. There were only three of us, but the boat had seating for at least 20 people.
As you float down the canals merchants float by selling anything you could want. Some had roasted corn, some had beer, and some just souvenirs. We brought our own food, but it would have been very easy (and fun) to pick some up as it floated by. There are also Mariachi bands who will board your boat and play a song or two for you (for a fee.) We floated through the beautiful canals drinking the Mexican beer and snacks we brought on board.
At the halfway point our captain docked at a small canal-side shop that had cold drinks, food, and paid restrooms.
The trip was equal parts raucous party and calm tranquility. The busier, wider stretches of the canals can be packed with other boats. It’s really amazing to see all the beautiful colors as they pass while listening to the sounds of Mariachi and smelling the smells of the fresh food being cooked boatside.
The more narrow passageways allowed us to see small canal-side homes and enjoy some of the calm beauty of Xochimilco. We even passed under some pedestrian bridges that were so low they had to flip down the roof of the boat.
And just as quickly as it had started, we rounded the corner and were back to a recognizable spot, the Embarcadero where we departed a mere two hours prior. We squared up the fee for the ride rounding up for a tip. We spent a few minutes browsing the adjacent souvenir stands, before hailing an Uber back to central Mexico City.
Check out more great things to do during your stay in Mexico City.
