Xochimilco: The Venice of Mexico with a Fiesta Vibe
If you are looking for a unique and festive experience in Mexico City, look no further than Xochimilco. Often referred to as the Venice of Mexico, Xochimilco offers a one-of-a-kind experience on the water with a lively fiesta atmosphere. Xochimilco is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To Get There
The port to these canals is about an hour car ride from Mexico City.
Address: C. del Mercado 133, San Jerónimo, Xochimilco, 16420 Ciudad de México, CDMX, MexicoParking
Entrance Fee: This highly depends on your negotiating skills, we paid 750 pesos for an hour and a half on the boat. It seems for most of the research I’ve done it should be around 500 per hour so that checks out. (2023)
The History
Xochimilco is a system of canals and artificial islands, or chinampas, that date back to pre-Hispanic times when they were used for agriculture. Today, visitors can rent colorful boats, or trajineras, to cruise around the canals while enjoying food, drinks, and music with family and friends.
The Experience
One of the best things about Xochimilco is that it's BYOB, so you can bring your own booze, snacks, and music to enjoy on the boat. If you forget something, there are plenty of restaurants right off the river where you can grab affordable food and drinks, including the popular micheladas, a spicy beer cocktail. There are also boats floating around offering snacks and drinks for purchase. You can try some local delicacies like grilled corn on the cob, tacos, and quesadillas.
While Xochimilco offers a laid-back atmosphere to relax and take in the scenery, there are also boats with full party mode happening. These boats have loud music, colorful lights, and partygoers dancing and singing along. Even if you're not on one of these boats, it's fun to watch them go by and join in on the party atmosphere.
As we cruised down the canals, we admired the beautiful scenery and colorful buildings lining the waterways. We passed by families having picnics on the chinampas, locals selling goods from their boats, and musicians serenading passersby.
One particularly eerie part of the canal that involves passing by several dolls strung up along a fence with signs in English reading "no pasar" or "keep out". It goes without saying that we didn’t trespass.
Overall, Xochimilco is a must-visit destination for anyone looking for a unique and lively experience in Mexico City. Whether you want to party on the water or relax and enjoy the scenery, Xochimilco offers something for everyone. So grab some friends, some beer, and some snacks, and get ready to fiesta on the water!
