XOCHIMILCO GARDENS

The "Mexican Venice", as some people like to call Xochimilco, is a must see! The area where Mexico City is now located was once a large lake in Aztec times. In order to grow vegetables, pre-Columbian civilizations developed floating gardens - known in Mexico as chinampas - which formed a very important network of channels. After colonization, the Spaniards drained most of the lakes in search of the Aztec treasure, and only part of the lake survives in the Xochimilco district. Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the canals of Xochimilco are now one of the main tourist attractions of the city, although the whole area is increasingly polluted and lacks - in places - some maintenance.

Embarcadero Nativitas. Every day, thousands of multicolored boats, called trajineras, are waiting for the tourists to come, offering them all kinds of routes (from 1 to 5 hours): they usually board other trajineras where mariachi bands play, while others are real floating grocery stores (visitors like to drink until they are thirsty). There are certainly a lot of tourists and the experience is not the most authentic, but the atmosphere on the boats is unique. You will have no trouble finding a boat, because it will find you. In the center of Xochimilco, the possibilities of strolls are more or less the same, whatever the pier where you approach the trajinera.

Embarcadero Cuemanco. This one is located on the edge of the ecological zone, which has several consequences: the canals are quieter and cleaner, and at certain times of the year, you can even see many birds drinking. Here, we are still in the fields, and the walk takes on a bucolic air if you go during the week in the early morning (magical!). Here, the 4-hour tour allows you to visit the Isla de Las Muñecas, and to stop and discover the axolotes, small endemic amphibians of the area.

Recently, the prices of the trajineras rides are controlled by the town hall of Xochimilco. Currently, a trajinera ride costs around $500 per hour, regardless of the number of people who ride in the trajinera. It is always possible to negotiate if you opt for a long ride. However, since it is a service, it is a good idea to leave a tip for the trajinera rower who is often not the owner of the boat