Our most recommended things to do in Xochimilco

Mexico City: Xochimilco, Coyoacan, Frida Kahlo & UNAM

1. Mexico City: Xochimilco, Coyoacan, Frida Kahlo & UNAM

Enjoy a full-day guided tour of Mexico City’s most enchanting neighborhoods. Cruise along the Aztec-era Xochimilco canals, explore the colonial district, and admire the murals in the UNAM. Departing from Downtown Mexico City, head south, passing the most important sites of the modern city. Stop off at a local cooperative shop that helps the Mexican local artisans. The next stop is University City, where you can admire the many murals at the Rectory, and wander around the main campus' Central Library. The campus also includes an impressive volcano-shaped, 63,000-seat Olympic Stadium. Head to the eye-catching Xochimilco and board a trajinera - a colorful, gondola-like boat - for a ride through the neighborhood’s famous canals. As you indulge in local treats and try your hand at bartering, your guide will share the incredible details of what makes this area a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Next, visit the colonial district of Coyoacan and admire the rambling 16th-century houses of Francisco Sosa Street. As you wander its tree-lined streets, you’ll learn how this city has played a part in historical empires like the Aztec and Spanish to becoming a cultural capital and home to Octavio Paz, Leon Trotsky, Diego Rivera, and Frida Kahlo. At Casa Azul, Kahlo’s home and now museum, we’ll immerse ourselves in the trailblazing life of one of Mexico’s most original artists. Mexico is known the world over for its living history and the breathtaking art of renowned artists, like Frida Kahlo, whose impact is still felt today. Visit the Frida Kahlo's Museum called "La Casa Azul". Housed in the striking cobalt blue house where she was born and returned for the last years of her life, the Casa Azul. See a large assortment of pre-Hispanic artifacts, Mexican folk art, and indigenous jewelry from her personal collection. Enjoy a day full of Aztec history, Mexican art, and delicious flavors that combines some of the Mexico City's must sees in one tour.

Mexico City: Xochimilco Boat Tour with Lunch and Drinks

2. Mexico City: Xochimilco Boat Tour with Lunch and Drinks

Tour the canals of Xochimilco aboard a traditional boat. Listen to commentary from the guide and drink tequila, margarita, or soft drinks. Have fun along the way with Mexican board games. Eat at a local restaurant on a floating island, then learn how to make a michelada cocktail. Arrive at the meeting point and board your Trajinera boat. Then, start to explore the canals of Xochimilco while your bilingual guide shares the history of the area. Drink margaritas, tequila, water, and soft drinks. Eat some Mexican candies. During the tour, play Mexican board games, such as Loteria (Mexican Bingo), and the pirinola roulette. Have the chance to win prizes. Then, listen to songs from Mariachi singers, who will come close to your boat to perform. Afterward, stop at a local restaurant on a Chinampa (floating island) for lunch. Mingle with the locals, then get back onto your boat for a workshop. Learn how to make a michelada cocktail, and enjoy some drinks. Finally, return to the starting point to finish your tour.

Mexico City: Xochimilco, Casa Azul, Coyoacán & UNAM Tour

3. Mexico City: Xochimilco, Casa Azul, Coyoacán & UNAM Tour

Take a guided day trip from Mexico City and cruise the waterways of Xochimilco, a UNESCO site, on a wooden boat. Explore the colonial architecture of Coyoacán, stroll through Central University, and visit the Frida Kahlo Museum with the included entry tickets. Enjoy the convenience of being picked up from the doorstep of your accommodation in Mexico city. Relax in an airconditioned van on the drive to the waterways of Xochimilco. Glide through the water on a colorful wooden boat called a Trajinera. Purchase a drink and regional snacks from one of the restaurant boats that dot the waterways. Listen to the sounds of mariachi bands permeating the air as you sail past the floating gardens. Continue your tour to the neighborhood of Coyoacán, favored by some of Mexico's most famous artists and writers. Stroll its tree-lined cobbled streets, admiring the stucco and tile facades of its beautiful colonial houses. Next, make your way to the Frida Kahlo Museum which is the former house of the famed Mexican painter. Gain insight into the life of this iconic figure and her famous husband, Diego Rivera, and stroll through the picturesque garden. The last stop of the tour is to the campus of the Central University, home to the Olympic Stadium from 1968 and adorned with murals by a number of Mexican artists.

Xochimilco & Colonial Coyoacan Trip

4. Xochimilco & Colonial Coyoacan Trip

Setting off on this half-day tour of Xochimilco and Coyoacan, you’ll pass by Mexico City’s World Trade Center, the Siqueiros Cultural Polyforum, the Monumental Mexico Bull Ring, and the Insurgentes Theater with its mosaic mural of Diego Rivera’s Cantinflas. Explore the university library that features mosaic murals by Juan O´Gorman, Mexico’s Olympic stadium, and the residential area of Pedregal de San Angel, built on lava fields. Enjoy the peaceful waters of the Xochimilco canals, one of the last traces of the Aztec era. Take a relaxing, scenic journey on these ancient waters on a traditional punt or pre-Hispanic boat. You’ll visit the impressive colonial district of Coyoacan. Walk along Francisco Sosa Street to the town’s main square, admiring its large, rambling 16th-century houses on the way. See the impressive mansion of Spanish Conquistador Hernando Cortes and the Church of St. John the Baptist, with its magnificent paintings and altarpieces.

Mexico City: Mexican Party Boat Tour in Xochimilco w/Drinks

5. Mexico City: Mexican Party Boat Tour in Xochimilco w/Drinks

Cruise through the Xochimilco canals on a brightly colored traditional boat in the heart of Mexico City. Take a hands-on cooking class onboard as you sip on unlimited drinks amidst a party atmosphere. Watch gondolas filled with vendors glide by, offering everything from food to flowers to folk music. Start from a pier in Xochimilco and board a “trajinera” (a traditional colorful boat). Listen to music to create a festive atmosphere. Then, prepare the classic Mexican dish of guacamole and pair it with some tasty snacks. Enjoy unlimited drinks with a choice of beer, tequila, mezcal, bottled water, sodas, and juices. Learn fun facts about Xochimilco from your guide. Cruise the canals, a floating fiesta of trajineras, while other boats pull up to offer food including tacos, quesadillas, corn, and live entertainment such as mariachi music. Participate in optional activities such as a visit to an Axolotl sanctuary to see endangered salamanders endemic to Xochimilco. Alternatively, browse souvenirs offered at the crafts market. Enjoy an iconic place in Mexico City, supporting the local economy, while you are part of a responsible experience with the environment that generates a positive change in Xochimilco.

Mexico City: Hop-on Hop-off City Tour by Turibus

6. Mexico City: Hop-on Hop-off City Tour by Turibus

Hop on a double-decker bus and enjoy panoramic views of Mexico City with this ticket. Get access to 4 different city routes including Historic, Coyoacan, Basilica, and Polanco. Travel freely, hopping on and off at any stop as many times as you want. Explore one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. See a variety of museums scattered throughout the city like the Templo Mayor Museum, Museum of Anthropology and History, Rufino Tamayo Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, Soumaya Museum, Frida Khalo Museum, and more. Discover trendy neighborhoods like the Historic Center, Polanco, Xochimilco, or Coyoacán where you can experience the food, customs, and traditions of Mexico. Visit upscale shopping malls, bars, restaurants, monuments, and parks. See festivals and entertainment shows, depending on the season. Basilica CircuitDiscover the spiritual side of Mexico City. Marvel at everything around you and tour the halls of one of the most cherished worship centers in all of Mexico and Latin America. You can also celebrate its folklore and music, singing actual hymns to the beat of Mariachis Polanco CircuitTake a look at the city’s most sought-after district. Come see one of Mexico City’s most exclusive neighborhoods. Go shopping at the most prestigious establishments and add some unique flavor by tasting its exquisite cuisine. Historic Center CircuitEnjoy the heart of Mexico City. Be amazed the whole way on a tour that offers sightseeing of the best of Mexico City, from its architecture, monuments, and museums to its unique flavors. Coyoacan (South) CircuitJoin the excursion that every tourist needs. Fill yourself with culture in Mexico City’s most artistic neighborhoods. Connect with their hipster lifestyle and tour incredible sites full of magic, flavor, and fun.

Mexico City: Day of the Dead Guided Tour

7. Mexico City: Day of the Dead Guided Tour

The tour begins with pickup from the meeting point in Mexico City. Enjoy a panoramic visit around the streets of Mexico City, visiting famous and iconic sports like the Monumento a la Revolución, the Ángel de la Independencia, and the Paseo de la Reforma. Visit a cemetery at night, where you can admire the famous altars and their rich expressions of popular art that fuse symbolism and thought, both pre-Hispanic and Catholic around death. Learn about the symbolism of these altars and their importance to the people who created them. Listen to your guide's fascinating stories, and discover why marigold flowers are used, among other items, to decorate the altars. Mingle with the locals as you take part in this special day.  Finally, visit Xochimilco to take a tour of the canals at nighttime in a trajinera – a traditional Mexican boat. Pass through floating gardens. Do not miss the opportunity to enjoy the most authentic Day of the Dead experience, book your tour now, it only happens once a year!

Xochimilco: Boat Tour with mixology class

8. Xochimilco: Boat Tour with mixology class

Visit the canals of Xochimilco aboard my boat and learn to prepare the Blue Mezcalita drink in the Mixology master class, have fun along the way with party music. Eat at a local restaurant on a floating island, drink margarita, tequila, mezcal, pulque and michelda (workshop), play Mexican bingo, and test your artistic skills in our karaoke challenge. End the experience with a surprise activity, you will love it.

Mexico City: Xochimilco, Coyoacán and University City Tour

9. Mexico City: Xochimilco, Coyoacán and University City Tour

Begin your experience in the picturesque neighborhood of Coyoacán, where you can visit the Frida Kahlo Museum or explore the center of Coyoacán to see the church of San Juan el Bautista, the house of Hernán Cortés, the monument to the founding of the neighborhood, and enjoy a delicious traditional coffee. You will have an hour to choose between these two activities. Then, continue your adventure on the Xochimilco Lake, where you will take a ride in a traditional trajinera and learn about how the first settlers organized their lives in the region more than 500 years ago. Take advantage of the opportunity to taste the delicious local cuisine while enjoying a mariachi band in the trajinera (not included). To finish, delve into the central campus of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), one of the best public universities in Mexico. You can appreciate the architecture of the Olympic Stadium and the Central Library, which exhibit works of art by some of the greatest muralists in the history of Mexico. You will also visit a handicraft center in the Peralvillo neighborhood, one of the most emblematic neighborhoods in the city, where you will learn about the popular art of the different regions of Mexico.

CDMX: Xochimilco, Coyoacan & Frida Kahlo Museum Private Tour

10. CDMX: Xochimilco, Coyoacan & Frida Kahlo Museum Private Tour

Embark on a guided tour of Mexico City and sail through the ancient Xochimilco borough on a colorful trajinera. Learn about the city from your guide and visit highlights, including the Frida Kahlo Museum and the Coyoacan Neighborhood. On this private tour, begin with a pick-up from your hotel in Mexico City and drive to Xochimilco. There, climb aboard a trajinera painted with bright colors to explore the channels built by the Aztec civilization. During the tour, you will be informed about the construction of artificial islands and other activities at the UNESCO World Heritage Site. A visit to the Anahuacalli Museum, founded by the famous Mexican muralist Diego Rivera. Your guide will offer you a personalized narration about the art collection including 64,000 pre-Hispanic pieces. The blue house, also known as the Frida Kahlo Museum, is where the enigmatic painter Frida Kahlo lived and died. Learn about the important details of her life and admire your her work before taking a stroll through the historic center of Coyoacan, which has a colonial atmosphere. Lastly, your guide will take you to visit the National Autonomous University of Mexico, where you will be able to see mosaic murals by Diego Rivera, Juan O'Gorman and David A.Siqueiros. After admiring the views of the Olympic stadium, be taken from the Vuelta to your hotel.

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What people are saying about Xochimilco

Overall rating

4.2 / 5

based on 1,129 reviews

This was a highlight of our 9 day trip in Mexico City. The guide, Alicia, was fantastic! She was informative, friendly, and accommodating. Be sure to have cash - elote and drinks! There are also lots of venders, so change and small bills are preferred. Don’t forget 5 pesos for the restroom. I highly recommend this tour. If I had to be picky on what I’d change- I would have liked more time to check out the shops. We only had about 20 minutes there, but more than an hour for lunch where there was nothing but the restaurant. Food was fine, but nothing special. I gave this trip 5 stars, but that is because 4.5 wasn’t an option.

Our tour was through Amigo Tours. We did the English speaking tour with Gersan, and it was great! He was so fun and knowledgeable. He had many facts and interesting points about each place we went. The tour was timed perfectly throughout the day and the bus was very nice and had a washroom on board which is helpful with the long day. Our daughter enjoyed the tour very much at 9 years old. We would recommend this tour to anyone looking to explore Mexico City more. We were able to include the Frida Khalo museum which was a highlight for our family as we are very interested in her work and her story. Thank you for a great day!

This was a fun experience overall. I thought it would be a smaller group but it was a full tour bus, which was actually quite comfortable. We saw all the sites, had plenty of time for sight seeing and learned a lot from our your guide. And the restaurant was really tasty too!

Enjoyed Xochimilco without the crowds, visit to pyramids including dinner over looking historical site. Definitely recommend. Guide was excellent in explaining everything and arranging events in a practical manner.

Our tour guides were excellent. This tour is a must if you visit Mexico City.