Stand on Calle Guadalupe I. Ramirez, the old land bridge that once linked this island town to the causeway heading for Tenochtitlan, and the plaza opens in front of you with the San Bernardino de Siena monastery at its centre. A few streets away, flat-bottomed trajineras wait at the embarcaderos to carry you out onto the canals, past chinampas where flowers and garden plants are still grown.
Xochimilco suits travellers who want a day on the water rather than another round of museums, and who are willing to plan around cash payments and negotiated prices. It also rewards anyone interested in the precolonial Valley of Mexico, since the canals and the artificial islands are the surviving vestige of that lake system.
This guide covers the canal rides and the specific sights around the historic centre, with a one-day plan that strings them together.
Top things to do in Xochimilco
1. Embarcadero Nuevo Nativitas
This is where you hire a trajinera, the colourfully painted boat that carries you through the canals among the chinampas. Boats often bear the name of the owner's daughter or another female relative. The larger ones have a long table down the middle, so you can bring your own food and drinks for a picnic lunch on board.
Agree the price clearly before boarding and pay in cash; some owners accept electronic transfers, but this is not common. One hour is a sufficient trip, and the borough has posted signs with the updated prices. Music boats carrying bands, mariachi trios and marimba players float past, and for a fee they will travel alongside you and play your requests. Do not throw trash from the boat, as you are on a canal where wildlife lives.
2. Chinampas
The chinampas are the floating gardens that originate from the precolonial era, and they are the reason the canal system is worth more than a boat ride. This was the home of the axolotl, an amphibian honoured in Aztec culture, though none have been seen for several years and they are assumed to be extinct in the wild. What you will see now are flowers and garden plants.
Further beyond the city canals there is a wildlife preserve where the original character of the chinampas can still be seen, so if you want that rather than the busier stretches, ask about it when you arrange your boat. Canoes and kayaks are also available for rent if you would rather paddle through the chinampas on your own.
3. Xochimilco Cathedral (San Bernardino de Siena)
Built in the late 16th century, this historic church is the centre of the borough and the anchor of the old town. Inside, the main altar is spectacular, and the chapels in the side niches contain paintings from the colonial period.
Combine it with the plaza and the market area immediately around it, which is the natural starting point for a walk through the centre before or after your time on the water.
4. Museo Dolores Olmedo
Housed in a historic 16th-century hacienda, this is one of the most important modern art museums in Mexico City and a fine example of colonial Spanish architecture. It is best known for its collection of works by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
The museum has been closed for several years, first because of the COVID pandemic and afterwards for extensive renovations, but advance ticket reservations are being accepted now. Check that it is open on your dates before building a day around it.
5. Cuahilama
An archaeological site on Calle 2 de Abril in Col. Rinconada, once a ceremonial centre of the Xochimilco people, who predated the arrival of the Aztecs. It is best known for its many petroglyphs of animals, warriors and butterflies, which are in good condition and protected by metal enclosures.
It is open from 10:00 to 15:00 and entry is free, so it fits neatly into a morning. Go earlier rather than later in that window to leave the rest of the day free.
6. Isla de las muñecas
This island is one of the stops you can ask for while you are out on the canals, and it is reached by trajinera rather than by road. Because it sits within the canal network, the practical way to see it is to name it when you agree your route and price at the embarcadero.
Keep it as part of a longer boat trip rather than a separate outing, and confirm with your boatman before setting off that it is included.
7. Mercado 44 Xóchitl
This market building sits in the historic centre, close to the plaza and the street vendor area where ice cream sellers cluster. It is a straightforward stop for food and supplies, and it is a sensible place to pick up what you want to take on board the boat.
Pair it with the Tianguis de Comida, the market filled with food stalls in the centre, and with a walk along Calle Guadalupe I. Ramirez, whose businesses changed their façades to certain colours to improve the area's look for visitors.
8. Capilla de San Juan Bautista
This church is one of the sights of the historic centre, and it fits naturally into a walk between the plaza, the market and the cathedral. Treat it as part of the same wander rather than a destination in itself.
Dress and behave as you would in any working church, and check locally whether it is open when you pass, as these small chapels keep their own rhythms.
9. Iglesia de San Mateo Xalpa
This church takes its name from San Mateo Xalpa, one of the fourteen pueblos that surround the old city of Xochimilco. Reaching it means leaving the canal-side centre and heading into one of the outlying communities, where older traditions and ways of life are still kept.
Because it lies outside the historic centre, give it its own half-day rather than trying to squeeze it between boat trips.
10. Museo Arqueológico de Xochimilco
This museum in the historic centre is the place to put the canals, the chinampas and the precolonial city into context before or after you take to the water. It pairs well with Cuahilama, since both deal with the area's life before the Aztecs.
Visit it on the same day as the cathedral and the plaza, when you are already walking the centre.
11. Parque Ecologico de Xochimilco (PEX)
A recreational park with lakes, springs, canals and gardens, plus picnic areas, a playground, a miniature train ride and paddleboats for rent. It is a calmer alternative to the busy embarcaderos if you want time on the water without a trajinera.
Bring food for a picnic and set aside a couple of hours, since the grounds are extensive and the paddleboats are the main draw for families.
12. Feria de la Flor Mas Bella del Ejido
Held in April, this week-long festival features music and dance performances and a contest for the most elaborately decorated trajinera on the canals. If your dates are flexible, it is the liveliest time to be on the water.
Book your boat earlier than usual during the festival, and expect the embarcaderos to be at their busiest.
13. Feria de la Nieve
In March or April, this festival celebrates artisanal hand-made ice creams in a rainbow of colours and flavours. It is a natural companion to the ice cream vendors who line the centre of town.
Check the dates locally before you travel, as the festival moves between March and April.
14. La Llorona
During the annual Day of the Dead celebration, the tale of La Llorona, the weeping mother who lost her child, is recounted through theatre and music, usually staged aboard one of the trajineras. It is one of the few ways to see the canals used for performance rather than transport.
If you are travelling around Day of the Dead, ask at the embarcadero about performances, as they are staged on the water and need to be booked as part of a boat trip.
If you only have one day
Morning: Start in the historic centre on Calle Guadalupe I. Ramirez. See Xochimilco Cathedral (San Bernardino de Siena) and its colonial paintings, walk through the plaza, and stop at Capilla de San Juan Bautista and the Museo Arqueológico de Xochimilco. Pick up food at Mercado 44 Xóchitl or the Tianguis de Comida for the boat.
Afternoon: Go to Embarcadero Nuevo Nativitas and hire a trajinera for an hour, agreeing the price in cash before boarding. Ask to pass the chinampas and, if it can be included, Isla de las muñecas. Bring your own food and drinks, and expect music boats to float alongside.
Evening: Return to the centre for the street vendor stalls and ice cream, then take the Xochimilco Light Rail, El Tren Ligero, back toward the Mexico City Metro.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a trajinera cost, and how do I pay?
A single trajinera rental cost $750 MXN per hour in 2026, with a minimum rental period of one hour, and the price is for the whole boat rather than per person. Payment must be in cash, though some owners accept electronic transfers. Agree the price clearly before boarding and tip the boatman at the end.
How many people fit on one boat?
The maximum number of people allowed on a standard trajinera is 18. Shared services are also available and can accommodate up to 50 people, and you pay when you board.
Can I bring my own food and drink?
Yes. You can bring your own food and drinks, and the larger boats have a long table down the middle for a picnic lunch. Vendors also sell tacos, tostadas, corn on the cob, sodas, pulque, beer and souvenirs around the trajineras. Restrooms are available at some businesses along the canals.
When is the busiest time to visit the canals?
The canals are popular with Mexico City residents, especially on Sundays. If you want a quieter ride, choose a weekday, and expect the embarcaderos to be at their busiest during the April Feria de la Flor Mas Bella del Ejido.
Decide your dates, check whether the Museo Dolores Olmedo is open for your visit, and set aside cash for the boat.