Things to Do at Xochimilco

Complete Guide to Xochimilco in Mexico City

About Xochimilco

The colors hit you before anything else - trajinera boats painted every shade of neon imaginable, each with a girl's name arched across the bow in flowers: LUPITA, MARIA, GUADALUPE. They line the canal bank like parked cars, flat-bottomed and wide, and the moment you board one, a man with a pole pushes you into the last remnant of the Aztec canal system that once covered the entire Valley of Mexico. Boat hire costs MXN 500-600 per hour for a trajinera that seats 15-20 people (split the cost with your group). You'll be immediately approached by floating vendors: mariachi bands on their own boats (MXN 200-300 per song), women selling elotes and tamales from canoes, men with coolers of beer (MXN 30-40 each). The whole experience is gloriously chaotic, especially on weekends when Mexican families arrive with speaker systems, picnic spreads, and enough beer to float the boat. What most people miss: the chinampas (floating gardens). These aren't decorative - they're 700-year-old agricultural islands still growing flowers, corn, and vegetables for Mexico City's markets. Ask your boatman to pole down a quieter canal away from the party boats, and you'll see farmers working plots surrounded by water, exactly as the Aztecs did. Best time: weekday mornings (10:00 AM start) for peace, or Sunday afternoon for the full Mexican fiesta experience. Allow three to four hours minimum. Only a local would know: Embarcadero Cuemanco is quieter and cheaper than the main Embarcadero Nuevo Nativitas. Worth it? It's unlike anything else in Mexico City - half party, half time machine.

What to See & Do

Trajinera Boat Rides

Flat-bottomed boats painted in neon colors, steered by a man with a long pole. MXN 500-600 per hour for a boat seating 15-20 - split costs with your group. The boats have tables and chairs, so bring food or buy from floating vendors. Mariachi bands pull alongside for MXN 200-300 per song. Sundays are pure fiesta

Floating Gardens (Chinampas)

700-year-old agricultural islands built by layering mud, reeds, and vegetation until trees rooted them in place. Farmers still grow flowers, herbs, and vegetables here for Mexico City markets. Ask your boatman to navigate the quieter back canals - you'll see the chinampas up close, some with small houses and dogs on porches

Mercado de Xochimilco

The traditional market near the embarcadero sells flowers, produce from the chinampas, and the best blue corn quesadillas in southern CDMX for MXN 15-25 each. Visit before boarding your trajinera to stock up on snacks and supplies. The flower section is spectacularly colorful - Xochimilco means 'place of flowers' in Nahuatl

Dolores Olmedo Museum

A colonial hacienda housing the largest private collection of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo paintings. MXN 120 admission. The grounds have roaming Xoloitzcuintli dogs (Mexican hairless breed, pre-Columbian) and peacocks. Less crowded than Casa Azul and arguably a better art collection. 15-minute walk from the embarcadero

Island of the Dolls

Hundreds of decaying dolls hung from trees on a chinampa by a now-deceased caretaker who believed a drowned girl's spirit haunted the island. Genuinely creepy - plastic heads with missing eyes stare from every branch. Reaching it requires a 2-hour boat trip each way. Not for everyone, but unforgettable if you go

Practical Information

Opening Hours

Embarcaderos (boat docks) typically operate daily from around 9 AM to 6 PM, though weekends tend to be much livelier. The area is generally accessible year-round, but boat availability might be limited during heavy rain.

Tickets & Pricing

Trajinera rides cost around 500-600 pesos per hour for the entire boat (up to 20 people), though prices can be negotiated. Individual spots on shared boats might run 100-150 pesos per person. Food, drinks, and mariachi serenades cost extra.

Best Time to Visit

Weekends are the most atmospheric but also the most crowded. Sunday afternoons are particularly festive. For a quieter experience, weekday mornings work well, though you might miss some of the authentic local energy.

Suggested Duration

Plan for at least 3-4 hours total - 1-2 hours for the boat ride itself, plus time to explore the market and get oriented. A full afternoon here is quite reasonable.

Getting There

The main embarcadero (Nuevo Nativitas) is in Xochimilco, about 28 km south of Centro Historico. The cheapest route: Metro Line 2 to Taxquena, then Tren Ligero (light rail) to Xochimilco station (MXN 5 total), then a 10-minute walk or MXN 20 taxi to the embarcadero. Uber from Roma/Condesa costs MXN 150-250 depending on traffic (45-75 minutes). For a quieter experience, use Embarcadero Cuemanco instead - accessible from Tren Ligero station Periferico. Many tours include transport from central hotels (MXN 400-800 per person).

Things to Do Nearby

Anahuacalli Museum
Diego Rivera's pyramid-like museum housing his extensive collection of pre-Columbian art. The building itself is striking - built from volcanic rock and designed by Rivera himself.

Frida Kahlo Museum (Casa Azul)
About 20 minutes away in Coyoacán, this is Frida's actual childhood home turned into a museum. Worth combining with Xochimilco for a full day of distinctly Mexican cultural experiences.

Coyoacán Historic Center
A charming colonial neighborhood with cobblestone streets, weekend markets, and excellent cafes. It's got a completely different energy from Xochimilco but they pair well together.

Ciudad Universitaria (UNAM)
The massive university campus with impressive murals and modernist architecture. The Olympic Stadium and Central Library are particularly striking if you're interested in mid-20th century Mexican design.

Tips & Advice

Weekday mornings are peaceful and you'll have the canals mostly to yourself. Sunday afternoons are the opposite - packed with Mexican families, floating mariachis, and beer vendors. Both experiences are valid, just very different

Bring your own food and drinks. A cooler with beer, snacks, and water saves money and tastes better than what floating vendors sell. The market near the embarcadero stocks everything you need for MXN 200-300

Use Embarcadero Cuemanco instead of the tourist-heavy Nuevo Nativitas for lower prices and quieter canals. The chinampas are better preserved in this section and you'll see real agricultural activity

Wear sunscreen and bring a hat - there's zero shade on the trajineras. The highland sun at 2,240 meters burns fast even on cloudy days. A light rain jacket is smart during rainy season (June to September)