Xochimilco Floating Gardens: Day Trip From Mexico City

Last Updated on October 17, 2024

The Xochimilco floating gardens are a lovely day trip from Mexico City.

Xochimilco is a neighborhood of Mexico City, but it has a small town feel. That’s because it actually used to be a small town. Mexico City was once a quiet valley inhabited by several different Indigenous groups.

When my partner and I decided to visit Xochimilco, we went with no expectations. We’d heard mixed reviews from other tourists as well as some locals. Some found the canals crowded, others said Xochimilco was very touristy, and on the verge of overtourism.

Travel experiences and perspectives tend to vary between people, so we wanted to check Xochimilco out ourselves before drawing any conclusions.

We decided to make the trip there by taking public transport rather than a tour. We went first thing in the morning and spent a full day exploring the town, enjoying street food, and taking a boat ride through the floating gardens.

While yes, the canals especially are very touristy, we enjoyed our visit.

If you’re headed to Mexico City and considering a visit to Xochimilco, read on! And while you’re at it, read my Essential guide to 5 days in Mexico City and my guide to Visiting the Pyramids of Teotihuacan.

Xochimilco Gardens: A Quick History

Over time, the region developed into a populous city. The city underwent a Spanish colonial period (1535-1821), which positioned it as one of the most important cities in the Americas. 

When Spanish colonialism ended, Mexico’s Distrito Federal (Federal District, also known as Mexico D.F.) was created in 1824. The district originally encompassed Mexico City and several other municipalities. Since then, the city has rapidly expanded.

With its fast growth, Mexico City has swallowed up boroughs that were once considered their own towns, and that’s what happened to Xochimilco. Xochimilco is a district of Mexico City in the Valley of Mexico.

The name Xochimilco means “where the flowers grow” which is fitting, because Xochimilco is famous for its floating gardens. 

Why You Should Day Trip From Mexico City to Xochimilco 

Despite being part of Mexico City, Xochimilco has a small town feel. And that’s exactly why a day trip to this neighborhood is so popular for visitors to Mexico City. We enjoyed Xochimilco’s relaxed vibe, and found that it was a nice spot for a break from the bustling centre of Mexico City.

There’s plenty to do in Xochimilco, from a trajinera boat ride (don’t worry, I’ll cover this in detail later in this guide) to exploring the nearby markets, and visiting local museums. While alot of tourists head there specifically to take a boat ride on the canals, I do recommend dedicating a whole day to the area so that you can explore more than just the floating gardens. 

What Are the Xochimilco Floating Gardens?

To understand what the Xochimilco floating gardens are, lets start with some history. The region of Xochimilco was once a pre-Columbian town, settled by the Xochimilca people around the 9th century. 

At the time, the area was entirely lake and wetlands. The Xochimilca could see that the region was fertile, and so they wanted to make use of the area for farming. Traditional farming methods would not work because of the lake. And that’s why they engineered a creative solution: Chinampas.

Chinampas is a type of Mesoamerican agriculture which used small, rectangular areas of fertile land to grow crops on the shallow lake beds in the Valley of Mexico. The Xochimilca created the chinampas by constructed rafts out of reeds so that they could float on the water. 

They then covered them with mud pulled from the bottom of the lake, and used that fertile mud to grow fruits, vegetables, and flowers.

Over time, the rafts took root and became human-made islands, which also formed the canals that Xochimilco is famous for today. The floating gardens refers to the chinampas which continue to be used for farming, even today.

What is a Trajinera?

A trajinera is a traditional Mexican boat. They are typically made of wood, flat-bottomed, and colorfully painted and decorated. Each trajinera has it’s own name, which can be read from the top of the iron frame at the front of the boat.

According to Blog Xcaret, the Spanish verb “trajinar” means “to carry goods from one side to another,” and that’s how these traditional boats earned their name. While at one point in history they were used for transport (and they still are today), over time evolved to have a second purpose. 

In Xochimilco specifically, trajineras became a way to give scenic and comfortable tours of the floating gardens. A classic trajinera ride includes a meal, drinks, and music. This is exactly why most of the boats are outfitted with a long table down the centre and chairs. 

How to Visit Xochimilco Floating Gardens

There are two ways to visit the Xochimilco Floating Gardens as a day trip from Mexico City: independently, or by tour. The rest of this guide covers how to visit the town, and go on a trajinera ride, without a guide. This is easily done, and doing it independently will cost less than a tour.

Going with a tour will make for an easier day. Logistics are taken care of, and you won’t need to navigate Mexico City’s public transport system. Most tours to Xochimilco include a trajinera ride, as well as stops at other places of interest around Mexico City, like Coyoacán. Below, I’m sharing a highly rated, well reviewed tour that you can book if you prefer to go that route over making the daytrip on your own.

Mexico City: Xochimilco, Coyoacán and University City Tour

RATING: 4.4 out of 5 stars | TOUR LENGTH: 7 hours.

On this Xochimilco, Coyoacan, and University City Tour you’ll enjoy a guided tour to Coyoacan and Xochimilco. You’ll ride a trajinera through the Xochimilco Canals, and before indulging in local food and Mexican music. You also have the option to visit the Frida Kahlo Museum on this tour.

This tour includes pick up and drop off in Mexico City, a tour guide, transport to all sites, and a 1 hour trajinera ride.

Taking a Trajinera Ride Through the Xochimilco Floating Gardens

A trajinera ride is definitely a touristy experience. You’ll notice lots of vendors selling classic souvenirs, both at the embarkation spot and on the canals as well. If you book to go for a longer trajinera ride, you’ll be able to ride further out into the expansive canal system, which gives you a bit of a less touristy glimpse of the gardens. The canal system is very expansive, but most tourists just see the area near the embarkation spots.

Despite how touristy it was, we had a great time! We enjoyed drifting down the canals, watching the scenery go by. All around you are smaller boats floating around, selling tacos, empanadas, hats, beers, and more. Other trajineras will be packed with mariachi bands that hop from boat to boat playing their music for smiles and tips. 

There are so many bands, you can always hear the faint sound of mariachi, regardless of if you’re near one of the floating bands.You can hire the band to come aboard your boat for a private concert, or just do as I did and listen from afar. 

We noticed that the canal trips are very popular with local and visiting Mexicans. There were many boats on the canals filled with students and families having a lively fiesta.

As you float down the canals, there are also opportunities to pull off to the side and explore the gardens. Just let your captain know you’d like to stop, and they’ll pull over. We didn’t opt to make any stops because we were enjoying the views from our trajinera.

How to Reach La Isla De Las Munecas: The Island of Dolls

We’d heard about an eerie island that is on the Xochimilco canal system, called the Island of Dolls. The island is apparently home to hundreds of old, and sometimes scary looking dolls. According to local lore, the caretaker of the island tied a doll he’d found to a tree to pay homage to a young child who’d died.

My partner and I decided not to commit to visiting the island because the trip there and back by trajinera is over four hours long. Because we did not go, I can’t comment on what the island is like or if it is worth visiting.

To visit the Island of Dolls you’ll need to ask your trajinera guide to take you there. Expect to pay more for your boat ride because of the distance. Some tourists report that there is a fake Island of Dolls that people are brought to rather than the real one, because it is closer to the embarkation spot. So, if you plan to visit the Island of Dolls, be sure to pin the island’s location on your Google Maps app (or another GPS app on your phone). This way, you can make sure you’re headed to the legitimate island.

Tips For Visiting the Xochimilco Canals

Tips to keep in mind for your trajinera ride down the Xochimilco Canals: 

Bring cash with you

Brings lots of cash in case you would like to buy food, drinks, or hire a band while on the boat. Beware that because of the touristy nature of the canals, the prices on the water are higher than the typical on-land prices for food and drinks. 

Consider what time of the week you go on a trajinera ride

It can be very crowded on the canals, especially on the weekend, and during holidays. We loved how busy the boats were. It made for a vibrant and energetic experience. If you’d like your trajinera ride to be more tranquil, I recommend going to Xochimilco on a weekday morning. 

Spend a few hours on a boat

A one hour trip is rather short. I recommend taking a 3 hour (or more!) trip. This takes you further into the gardens, giving you a better sense of the region. It also allows you to escape the touristic nature of the canals that are near the embarkation spots.

Know the pricing for a trajinera ride

The cost for a boat ride is per hour, per boat. If you’d like to save on your budget, you can team up with other travelers or visiting groups to hire a boat together. The price is around 500 pesos per boat, per hour. I would verify this price by checking signage before hiring a boat. Signage showing pricing was very clearly displayed at Embarcadero Nuevo Nativitas. 

Know the embarkation locations

There are about 11 different embarkation spots from which you can hire a trajinera in Xochimilco. The most common one is called Embarcadero Nuevo Nativitas, this is the one that is recommended for tourists. 

Other Things to See in Xochimilco

A daytrip to Xochimilco is worth doing for more than just the canals. On our trip, we really enjoyed walking all around the town. It’s a lovely place to discover on foot, and you’ll find yourself stumbling upon cute restaurants and busy markets. 

Our favourite spot was the Mercado de Xochimilco. Yes, there are tons of markets to discover in the centre of Mexico City, but we found Xochimilco Market had a more authentic feel to it. There we saw locals shopping for their groceries and examining goods. We also found unique souvenirs to take home with us, and, enjoyed delicious tacos and tortas (sandwiches!)

Here are a couple other spots worth checking out in Xochimilco:

Museo Dolores Olmeda

The Museo Dolores Olmeda is one of Mexico City’s great art museums. There you’ll see some lesser known works by the famous Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, as well as a pretty big collection of pre-Hispanic pieces. Admission is about 5 USD, with another small fee on top of that if you’d like to take photos. It’s free to visit on Tuesdays, but you can expect more crowds that day.

San Bernardino de Siena Church

San Bernardino de Siena church. This 16th-century church includes a former monastery complex. The last Indian governor of Xochimilco, Apoxquiyohuatzin, is buried here, and in the church you’ll see a main altar, a skull from a pre-Hispanic skull rack, and other beautiful architectural aspects. 

How to get to Xochimilco from Mexico City

It is also possible to visit Xochimilco on your own, which is what my parter and I did. It’s simple and efficient to get around on Mexico City’s public transport system, and Xochimilco was no problem to explore on foot. For those reasons, we decided visiting without a tour was the right choice for us. This gave us the added benefit of taking our time exploring Xochimilco. Here’s how to reach Xochimilco:

Get to Xochimilco from Mexico City on public transit

Getting to Xochimilco by public transport is simple and costs very little! Take the metro from the Centro Historico station to Tasqueña Station and then switch to the TL-1 train to Xochimilco. The trip will cost 8 pesos each way. 

If you have any trouble finding your way during the trip, ask an attendant in the metro for help. You’ll also notice there are many signs indicating where to go if you’re headed to Xochimilco, they are easy to spot because they’re intended for tourists. The trip takes about 90 minutes total from Centro Historico. It’s a long trip, but we really enjoyed our adventure on local transport!

If you are heading straight to the canals, from Xochimilco station you can walk to “Embarcadero Nuevo Nativitas,” the main embarkation spot for the boats. The walk to the embarcadero is about 20 minutes. Most of the sites in Xochimilco are walkable, but if you prefer, you can get around by bus or Uber. 

Get to Xochimilco by taxi or Uber

I recommend picking up a SIM card for your trip to Mexico City so that you can use mobile data for navigation and calling Ubers. Tourists aren’t recommended to use public taxis in Mexico City, Uber is considered safer. For instructions on how to purchase a SIM card and how to stay safe while in Mexico City, read my Essential guide to 5 days in Mexico City.

Is it safe to visit Xochimilco?

I don’t believe in fully designating a place as completely “safe” or “unsafe.” Everywhere you go in the world, including your own hometown, there are risks. As with traveling anywhere, do your research, understand the unique risks that a particular place might pose, and prepare for them. The key to traveling in Mexico City is awareness. Here are a couple things you should know to keep your trip to Xochimilco, and Mexico City, safe and enjoyable.

Avoid exploring Xochimilco after dark

Our hostel advised us to avoid being in Xochimilco at night, and so we were sure to head back to the centre of Mexico City before the sun began to set. There’s plenty of time to visit Xochimilco during daylight hours, just be sure to keep an eye on the time.

Avoiding pickpockets in Xochimilco

Like in many cities, petty theft and pickpocketing does happen in Xochimilco and Mexico City. As long as you keep an eye on your things and keep aware of what is happening around you, you should have no problems.

Hot tip: Always be sure to have your bag zipped shut. I always keep my bag on my front, and if it’s on my back, I lock it shut with a small travel lock. This might be safety overkill, but it keeps me feeling secure, especially when I choose to wear my backpack on my back instead of front. 

Stick to taking Ubers

Cabs in Mexico City are plentiful, and it’s difficult as a foreigner to identify whether they are “legit” or not. As a result, it’s recommended to use an app like Uber or Cabify when ordering a car for getting around Mexico City. This removes the need for agreeing on a price, it ensures your drive is logged online and your driver is identified and registered.

My partner and I heeded the safety advice from fellow travelers and our hostel while in Mexico, and we had a positive experience. We had no problems taking public transport from the city centre to Xochimilco, and then taking an Uber back. Overall, we felt safe.

Visiting the Xochimilco Floating Gardens by Tour

There are tons of tours available to take you to Xochimilco from Mexico City. There are different combinations available, for example, some just bring you on a trajinera to tour the canals, and others combine more stops around Xochimilco or other tourist sites in Mexico City. 

For example, it is possible to take a full day tour that combines a couple sites like the Frida Kahlo house and the canals of Xochimilco (as well as round trip transportation). Tours range from 30 USD to over 100 USD. 

Because we didn’t use a tour ourselves, I won’t recommend any specific companies (I don’t want to recommend something I haven’t tried!). If you’re planning to take a tour, you can call ahead to your hostel or hotel to have them arrange one for you. 

How to Stay Online While in Mexico City

While in Mexico City, you’ll want to have a mobile data plan. Mobile data will help you with navigation, and translating on the fly.

You can get online with an easily with a quick-to-install eSIM through Airalo. What I appreciate most about Airalo’s eSIM is its simplicity. You can quickly select and activate an Airalo eSIM for Mexico through the Airalo app. Selecting, downloading, and activating your eSIM takes less than 5 minutes, and it’s easy to top up your eSIM if you run out of data.

You can get started with an Airalo eSIM, right here.

Responsible Tourism Tips For Visiting Xochimilco Floating Gardens

Whenever I travel, I try to keep responsible tourism in mind. I think it’s important to always approach travel with respect for the places, people and culture that we visit, and for the planet itself. 

This is important because as amazing as travel is, it can sometimes do damage to local communities. For example, overtourism has been a growing concern around the world, including in Xochimilco. To learn more about the importance of responsible tourism read my guide, 10 ways to be a responsible tourist.

While exploring Mexico City and Xochimilco there are a few things you can do to reduce your impact and be a responsible tourist! Here are some tips to get you started.

Try all of the amazing street food in Mexico City and Xochimilco. You can bring your own zero-waste kit to reduce the amount of litter you leave behind when grabbing some of this street food. Instead of having your taco in a paper tray, ask the vendor to pop your meal into one of your reusable containers instead. Bring your reusable cutlery if you don’t want to use your hands!

Use Mexico City’s public transport system. Public transport in Mexico City is efficient and affordable. By using it, you help to reduce the amount of car traffic on the streets. 

Make your visit to Mexico, and Xochimilco, an educational one! Putting effort into learning about the regions we visit is a great way to show respect for the local culture and traditions. Learning could mean watching a documentary, reading a book, reading online articles, visiting museums, or hiring a tour guide. 

Heading to Mexico City? Read my Mexico guides:

• Essential Guide to 4 Days in Mexico City 
• Visiting the Pyramids of Teotihuacan, Without a Guide
• Your Guide to Celebrating Day of the Dead in Mexico City
• What Not to Do in Puerto Vallarta: 20 Essential Tips