A Boat Ride in Xochimilco – A Colorful, Cultural Journey

A boat ride in Xochimilco is a journey like no other. It is a unique experience, a colorful, and cultural journey. No wonder this is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The floating gardens of Xochimilco are just 28 kilometers from the center of Mexico City.

The water scenes reminded me of the floating market in Thailand.

While you can see very few vendors as you go along, this is not a floating market.

Taking a boat (or trajinera) ride is the reason why tourists flock here.

But, these are not your ordinary boat.

They’re also unlike the gondolas in Venice.

These boats are well-decorated and, perhaps, the world’s most colorful!

Indeed, it’s a feast of color! Look at this!

Every boat has its name – and they’re usually names of women, I observed.

For MXP500, you can hire the whole boat.

Such a price would last you an hour or two.

You can hire it for birthday parties or any kind of celebration.

There are hundreds of boats going up and down the river.

A few of them have mariachis that you could hire if you want them to perform a song or two.

How romantic it would be if you were on a date and the mariachis are serenading you both? 😉

How to Get to Xochimilco by Public Transport

A friend and I didn’t take public transport going there. From Frida Kahlo’s Blue House, we went straight to Xochimilco with our hired driver for a day. Mexico City has an Uber and it’s cheap – so that would be a better alternative than hiring a car.

Get on the Blue Metro Line 2 and get off at Tasqueña stop. Then, transfer to a light rail (tren ligero). Remember to buy a separate ticket before boarding. Xochimilco is the terminal station. And from here, you can walk to the pier where the boats are docked. Follow the blue signs – you can’t miss them.

Where to Stay in Mexico City

My friend and I stayed at NH Collection Mexico City Reforma in Zona Rosa. We love this area because it is close to bars, restaurants, groceries, shops, public transport, and some interesting places to see. Police officers are ubiquitous in this are, too. The hotel itself is nice and we were given a room with a good view. We can see the Angel of Independence Statue from our room. It takes about 40 minutes on foot to the historic downtown. The staff can also arrange a tour for you if that’s your kind of thing, including going to the Teotihuacan Pyramids. You can book hotels and hostels via Booking, Expedia, TripAdvisor, and HostelWorld.