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With art galleries, fascinating architecture and incredible cuisine, there’s no shortage to things to experience in Mexico City’s Historic Centre.
But for something completely different, head 20 kilometres outside the downtown core to the floating gardens of Xochimilco Mexico City.
This network of canals dates back to the time of the Aztecs, when the ancient peoples produced food on chinampas, pockets of arable land floating on the shallow lakes beds of the Valley of Mexico.
It’s definitely worth visiting if you’re in Mexico City for three days or longer.
Floating Gardens of Xochimilco Mexico City
Today, you can glide through these canals in a trajinera, a brightly painted Mexican gondola, while enjoying food, drinks and entertainment along the way.
It’s one of the top things to do in Mexico City for visitors and a very popular activity for locals celebrating birthdays, engagements or family special occasions, so if you can go during the week when the crowds aren’t as large.
It’s also the kind of activity best enjoyed in a group or as a couple, so if you can gather a group of friends you’ll have more fun.
Book one of the boats and you’ll float through the peaceful canals learning about ancient traditions and enjoying food, drink and even mariachi music.
Prices are posted at the Embarcadero (dock). If you’re taking a guided tour to Xochimilco, your ticket includes the cost of the boat rental.
Weird Island of Dolls at Xochimilco Mexico City
One of the strangest sights I saw along the way was a display of dismembered dolls affixed to trees. It was an eerie, rather creepy sight. It also happens to be a top spot during Day of the Dead when performances of the legend of la llorona take place in the neighbourhood.
La Llorona ( The Weeping Woman) is a woman who killed her children to be with her lover and after he deserted her, she roams the streets –from Guatemala to Mexico– lamenting the loss of her children for eternity.
But the Island of the Dolls or Isla de las Munecas was actually created by a local who found the body of a young girl floating in the canal.
Unable to save her from drowning, he collected dolls and attached them to trees on an island as a form of memorial.
Legend has it that her spirit now lives through the dolls and witnesses have reported seeing dolls’ limbs move, eyes open and other strange happenings.
I wasn’t keen to find out for myself so focused on sipping tequila and eating grilled corn that miraculously appeared from floating vendors.
Things to Do Near Xochimilco Mexico City
While Xochimilco is one of the most famous landmarks in Mexico, it also happens to be close to one of Mexico’s most under the radar attractions. It’s very near the fascinating Olmedo Patino Museum, a historic hacienda that’s home to an important collection of art by Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo plus vast botanical gardens and folk art.
If you’re looking for high quality souvenirs, the gift shop is one of Mexico City’s best. Dog lovers will enjoy learning about the museum foundation’s efforts to bring back the ancient Mexican dog breed, the Xoloitzcuintle or Xolo, a hairless canine once considered a holy animal by the Aztecs.
Check out this handy itinerary for 3 Days in Mexico City
Travel Planner – Safety, Transportation and Tours
Getting to Xochimilco Mexico City:
If you don’t speak Spanish and/or want to maximize your sightseeing time, I recommend you take a guided tour to Xochimilco. Many guided tours also include stops at other Mexico City attractions such as the Frida Kahlo museum and the district of Coyoacan, known for its colonial architecture, boutiques and cobblestone streets.
If you’re doing it independently, expect it to take 90 minutes by public transit. First, take Metro Line 2 to station Taxqueña. From there exit and take Tren Ligero (light rail) and pay an extra fare. Ride the light rail to station Xochimilco, the very last station.
Then, walk or take a bicycle taxi through the market and village to the canals. Or, if you’re in a group it can be cheaper and more convenient to take a taxi, Uber or Didi from your hotel even if you’re in Roma Norte or outside the Historic Centre.
If you’re travelling to Xochimilco independently, be sure to go to the central embarkation point NOT the small launching point. Beware of motorcycle scammers who will tell you the boats are closed, full or busy and try to steer you to the wrong embarkation dock.
Tours at Xochimilco Mexico City: Boat rental prices are fixed (posted on a billboard at the dock) depending on the size of the boat, but you can try to negotiate for more time.
Vendors and roving mariachis float up to your boat to serenade you, offer drinks and tasty grilled corn with chile, lime and mayo for an extra fee.
There’s so much to explore in Mexico City, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by choices. Check out this guide to Mexico City for three days or longer for more ideas.
To help with navigation, GPSMyCity offers two city walks apps, a free version and a paid one. In the free version, users can view all the walk content, but WITHOUT any navigation assistance. For example, NO detailed walk route maps are included in the free version.
What’s also great about this, is that once you’ve downloaded the app it will work offline without internet connection. This means you don’t need to purchase mobile data plans or worry about paying roaming charges while in Mexico.
If you’re travelling with a family and looking for more ideas of things to do in Mexico City check out this post Mexico City: The Most Overlooked City
Related: If you’re headed to Cancun Riviera Maya, consider staying at Hotel Xcaret Arte (or its family-friendly counterpart Hotel Xcaret) and you’ll get all-inclusive access to Xcaret’s theme park experiences such as the floating gardens of Xoximilco, modelled on the original gondolas and canals in Mexico City.
Dividing her time between Canada, Guatemala and Mexico (or the nearest tropical beach), Michele Peterson is the founder of A Taste for Travel. Her award-winning travel and food writing has appeared in Lonely Planet’s cookbook Mexico: From the Source, National Geographic Traveler, Fodor’s and 100+ other publications.
Read more about Michele Peterson.
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Heather
So fascinating about the dolls, I have never heard of that before!
Patti Morrow
Love Mexico! I’ve been going since my early 20’s and still try to get back once or twice a year. It’s been a long time since I’ve been to Mexico City — absolutely going to go to Isla de las Munecas next time! What a wild place!
Sue Reddel
Island of the Dolls sounds very creepy but interesting. I’m with you I’d stick to the tequilla and not look too close!
Nathalie
Isla de las munecas is my nightmare come to life, I don’t think I’d be able to go there 🙂
Wandering Carol
I’ve been to Xochimilco but never heard about the Island of the Dolls. Weird and wonderful indeed.
Anita @ No Particular Place To Go
We ran into a small display of dolls hanging from a tree on Big Corn Island off the coast of Nicaragua which definitely gave me the creeps so I can understand your reluctance to check out the Isla de las Munecas! However, the Olmedo Patino Museum sounds fascinating and a must see if we visit Mexico City. I’ll also be checking out GPSMyCity – just what I need since I spend a lot of time wandering around new cities and have no sense of direction!
Jo
The island of the dolls looks pretty eerie as you say. But on the other hand to think that the floating gardens of Xochimilco date back to the Aztecs is pretty special. Sounds a fascinating trip, and one I’d put on my list for sure 🙂
Suzanne Stavert
Wow – this is a place I never new until I read this wonderful post. The baby dolls on the trees honestly would have done me in. It would be hard to focus on all of the other natural beauty, however I would really like to see the historic art collection of Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo.
Janice Chung
I can’t even pronounce some of the places in Mexico! The colours are so vibrant but the dismembered dolls would kind of freak me out!
Irene S. Levine
This looks like such a fun excursion when visiting Mexico City!
Donna Janke
The floating gardens of Xochimilco sound like a lot of fun (aside from the creepy dolls). I like visiting botanical gardens and I like folk art so I’m pretty sure I’d enjoy Olmedo Patino Museum as well.
Rob Taylor
What a cool activity… and I cannot get the image of dolls out of my head. Creepy. Thank you for sharing 😉