Floating Gardens of Xochimilco

The basics

It’s all about the atmosphere when it comes to cruising around the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco, so many people opt for a shared group tour to ensure their boat is filled with people. Tours typically depart from Mexico City and tend to stop in the arty Coyoacán neighborhood along the way, which is home to the Frida Kahlo Museum (Museo Frida Kahlo). You can also pay extra for a mariachi band to board your boat and serenade you throughout your journey.

Things to know before you go

• While you’re on the water, vendors selling snacks and drinks such as the famous Mexican pulque (a mildly alcoholic drink) will float past.

• Bring cash in small denominations if you want to buy food and souvenirs.

• The boats can hold up to 20 people, so if you’re booking on the day you arrive, you might have to wait awhile for your boat to fill up before it sets off.

How to get there

From the historic center of Mexico City, take the blue metro Line 1 from República de Uruguay to Xochimilco—the entire trip takes around 50 minutes. From the station, the floating gardens are a 15-minute walk. Outside of peak hours, the drive from Mexico City is 30 minutes, but this can double during rush hour.

When to get there

You can visit the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco from morning until evening year-round. The most peaceful time to visit is in the early morning on a weekday. Since many people celebrate special occasions on the boats, the atmosphere is particularly vibrant on the weekends or on public holidays.

The Island of the Dolls (Isla de las Muñecas)

While most of the Floating Gardens of Xochimilco are bright and joyous, there’s a more somber slice of the canals that might interest those with a curiosity about morbid history. The Island of the Dolls (Isla de las Muñecas) is dedicated to a young girl who tragically drowned in the canals, and holds hundreds of dolls hanging from the trees. It’s an eerie yet poignant place to visit.