Mexico City: Xochimilco Canals, Coyoacán & Frida Kahlo Tour

4.91

(232 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the sound—trumpets and laughter bouncing off the water as we stepped onto our trajinera in Xochimilco. The boat was painted wild pinks and greens, chipped here and there, but that just made it feel more real. Our guide, Ana, grinned and handed us a plate of esquites from a passing vendor—warm corn with lime and chili powder. I tried not to spill any on my shirt while waving at another group singing along with a mariachi band (I swear they were louder than the engine). It felt like everyone was celebrating something, even if it was just Tuesday.

We drifted for a while—maybe an hour? Time gets weird out there. There’s this sweet smell from the flowers growing along the banks, mixed with the faint diesel from other boats. Ana pointed out little floating gardens—chinampas—and told us how people still grow vegetables here like they did centuries ago. I didn’t expect to learn so much about old farming methods on a day trip to Xochimilco from Mexico City, but honestly it stuck with me.

Coyoacán is only twenty minutes away but feels like a different world. We wandered cobblestone streets lined with yellow walls and bougainvillea. At one café, I ordered coffee just for an excuse to sit longer—people watching is half the fun here. There was an old man selling churros by the plaza; he winked when I tried my rusty Spanish (definitely need to practice). Our last stop was the Frida Kahlo Museum—the Blue House—which is smaller than I expected but packed with color and stories. Seeing her paintbrushes on the table felt strangely personal, like she’d just stepped out for air.

I keep thinking about that flash of blue as we left—the paint almost too bright against the late afternoon sky. If you’re looking for something loud and alive but also quietly moving, this tour kind of sneaks up on you.