Xochimilco

Description and cost

The entrance to the Xochimilco is free, but you need to rent a trajinera if you want to get the full experience. You pay by the hour and the tour is guided by a person that moves the trajineras using nothing but a huge wooden stick. In your travesy you can enjoy the Mexican music and the "mariachis" that are in other trajineras, but you can rent your own mariachis and they will play the songs you want. Make sure to sing along!

Traders

You can see many traders in very small boats that will sell you beer, soda, water, and different types of Mexican food like tacos, sopes, or fish. The lake is very wide but is not very clean; that's the only bad thing about it. You will also notice a tiny "island" in the middle of the lake with a bunch of trees with dolls attached to them. There is a legend that you'll hear when you get there which is very interesting.

Also, you don't need to worry about bathrooms, because if you tell the guide, he can stop in tiny "islands" (also known as "chinampas") with bathrooms that are very cheap, although they are not very clean. Lately it has become very crowded and if you visit on Fridays or Saturdays the trip is going to be very slow. But what matters is what happens inside the trajinera: it is like partying in a boat with the people you like, with good music and an excellent, traditional Mexican environment!