Mexico City

Culture, Canals & Cantinas: A Tailored Xochimilco Discovery

Day Trips & Local Escapes • 5 hours 5.0

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Culture, Canals & Cantinas: A Tailored Xochimilco Discovery

Experience colorful trajineras, floating vendors, and chinampa farms. Enjoy festive traditions, local flavors, and a tailored journey rich in culture.

Make sure to pack a hoodie or sweater as the city's high altitude brings drastic temperature changes and it can get quite chilly at night.

What makes this experience special

This isn’t just a boat ride—it’s a Xochimilco adventure crafted for you. Enjoy the festive vibes, explore chinampa farming, and uncover hidden gems with a host who brings culture, history, and fun.

Key highlights

Float through Xochimilco’s canals on a trajinera choosing a lively party vibe or a peaceful escape
Taste authentic flavors at Mercado Xochimilco—grab esquites, tlacoyos or pre-Hispanic delicacies
See the chinampa farms and learn how these ancient agricultural systems still thrive today
Customize your experience—add mariachi music, sip micheladas, or visit the Axolotl Museum
End at a pulquería or cantina—sip pulque, mezcal, or café de olla in a traditional setting
Travel smoothly with your host, ensuring a relaxed journey from start to finish

What to know before you go

Here’s everything you need to know before your day unfolds.

At a glance What’s included Things to know

5 hours

Fully tailored to your preferences

Walking experience may use public transport for long distances

Eco-friendly & local Supports local businesses and low-impact travel

What’s included

Tailored itinerary created based on your preferences

A knowledgeable host who knows the hidden gems

Flexible start times to fit your day

What’s not included

Food, drinks, and shopping expenses

Transport fares or attraction entry fees

Meeting point

Hilton Mexico City Reforma, Av. Juarez 70, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06010 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Cancellation

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the experience

What to bring

We recommend wearing comfortable shoes and carrying a light bag for your essentials.
Public transport may be used during the experience- please bring a travel card, Apple Pay, Google Pay or small change for fares

How your day could unfold

A flexible, unscripted experience designed entirely around your interests. Your host will adapt the day based on what excites you most

Here’s what your experience could look like

These are just suggestions from our hosts to inspire your day. Your host will tailor the experience to suit your interests and tastes

Meeting point

Hilton Mexico City Reforma, Av. Juarez 70, Colonia Centro, Centro, Cuauhtémoc, 06010 Ciudad de México, CDMX, Mexico

Hilton Mexico City Reforma: A Convenient Start

Easy-to-find and well-connected for a smooth journey.

Culture, Canals & Cantinas: A Tailored Xochimilco Discovery

Meet your host at Hilton Mexico City Reforma, a central location ideal for a hassle-free Uber ride to Xochimilco. A perfect moment to chat about what lies ahead—whether you’re eager for a festive day or a more relaxed cultural deep dive

Uber to Xochimilco: A Taste of Mexico City’s

The journey itself offers a look at the city’s contrasting landscapes

Your 45-minute ride takes you through the ever-changing neighborhoods of Mexico City, from the historic core to the more rural-feeling outskirts of Xochimilco.

Mercado Xochimilco: A Quick Snack

Taste the flavors of Xochimilco before hitting the water.

Make a quick stop at this bustling local market, where you can grab esquites, tlacoyos, or agua fresca. For the more curious, a peek at pre-Hispanic ingredients like huitlacoche and native blue corn offers insight into the region’s culinary roots. Smart move: Grab snacks for the trajinera ride!

Trajinera Ride: The Highlight of the Day

Float through the ancient waterways of Xochimilco.

Board a colorful trajinera for a 2-hour ride through Xochimilco’s lively canals, passing floating vendors and chinampa farms. Try tamales, sip a michelada, or hire a mariachi band. History lovers can learn about ancient chinampa farming, while the curious can visit the Axolotl Museum.

Pulquería or Cantina Stop: A Unique Finish

A taste of Mexico’s most traditional drink.

Wrap up your experience at a local pulquería, where you can try traditional pulque, a pre-Hispanic fermented agave drink. Not your thing? Your host can guide you to a mezcaleria or relaxed cantina instead, where you can sip a mezcal or a warming café de olla while reflecting on the day.

Uber Back to Centro Histórico

A relaxed ride back with recommendations for what’s next.

After a day of discovery, your host will ensure a smooth ride back to the city center, offering tips for more local experiences along the way.

Real Stories, Real Connections

See our hosts and guests creating memories

Celebrating Life the Mexican Way!

Serene Moments on the Canals!

Sun, Smiles & Cheers on the Water!

A Toast to Pulque & New Friendships!

Tacos, Tradition & Local Stories in Mexico City!

Boats, Beers & Great Company!

Pulque & Good Company – Sipping on Mexico’s Ancient Elixir!

Diving into Mexico’s Drink Culture – Pulquerías with a Side of History!

Floating Through Mexico City's Hidden Gem!

Cheers to Local Flavors – Pulque, Stories & Smiles in Mexico City!

Floating Fiesta in Xochimilco – Music, Colors & Good Vibes!

See what happens when you travel unscripted!

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Steffvon-Tremayne Jul 2025

What made the experience special was having such a knowledgeable guide who really knew Mexico City and Xochimilco inside and out. It made a huge difference to have someone who could easily navigate between locations, share the history and culture of both areas, and even introduce us to trusted local contacts, like our boat operator. I also appreciated learning useful local phrases so we could interact with people ourselves. The guide gave us great tips on where to get the best photos and experience the city’s nightlife. Overall, it was an amazing, well-rounded experience.

Emily Jun 2025

Marisol was an amazing tour guide! She made the whole trip really special and personal for my family, she even helped us rearrange our day to see special local events that we would have never found on our own. I can’t recommend her highly enough!

Courtney Apr 2025

Jason Jan 2025

We had a perfect tour of Xochimilco with Ninelth. She was very friendly, knowledgeable, and kind. Everything was well organized and we would strongly recommend Ninelth for any private tour around Mexico City!

Eve May 2024

After the initial confusion with logistics we had a wonderful day with Marisol. She is very knowledgeable and added to our canal experience with history, visits to the bakery, market, monastery , etc.. A pleasure to have as our host.

Tom Apr 2024

Did a tour with City Unscripted tours. It was very easy to book my tour online and when I needed to correct a typo in the email address and move the tour to a different date, the person on the phone was very nice, helpful, and quickly resolved everything. I was lucky to be assigned Nico for my guide. He reached out to me before my arrival to confirm arrangements, give me and idea of what to expect, and let me know what to bring. He was very thoughtful and reassuring about my visit. He is full of historical and cultural knowledge and was very willing to discuss any topics about life México, not just the tour itself. He prepared a little surprise for my visit that was very unexpected and kind. If you book a tour with City Unscripted, you would do well to request Nico (or Nick).

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