You definitely cannot miss a ride on trajinera in Xochimilco, The Venice of Mexico City. Xochimilco is a lake area of the few that remains in Mexico City and was named cultural heritage by UNESCO in 1987, which was used at the time of the Aztecs for growing food and flowers. Today has greenhouses for growing flowers and ornamental plants mainly.
Taking a ride in trajinera is something that definitely you should do if you're in the city, a trajinera is a kind of a large canoe with a roof, a long table and chairs for about 20 people.
There are several piers where you can start your trajinera ride, but the best known is “Nativitas”, in this pier you will find a market where you can buy food and drink to take in the trajinera, or if you prefer you can buy food, refreshments, beer, candies and crafts in small boats along the way, another option, as many families do is bring your own food and drink which is cheaper and the most convenient thing to do. The rower of the trajinera will offer you in a bucket filled with ice, soft drinks and beer but these are not included in the price of the ride, so if you don’t want it, don’t drink it.
The tours lasts about one hour for a price of $ 300 mexican pesos, but you can bargain with the rowers and they may give you a half hour more or to pay less than $ 600 for two hours of ride and especially if you go on midweek when they don’t have many visitors.
Ask to the rower of the trajinera tell you about the history of Xochimilco, they are who know more and they’ll make your journey really fun. You'll also see trajineras with mariachis and marimba (a Mexican musical instrument), ask them to play a song for you, you'll have so much fun and you will meet some Mexican songs. Each mariachi song costs $ 100 Mexican pesos and marimba $ 30 Mexican pesos, you can bargain with any of them to play more songs for less money.
Ask to the rower to take you to one of the greenhouses that are found along the way so you can see the variety of flowers that are sold, they are really nice, just do not forget that get off to see the flowers will also feature on the travel time.
Xochimilco is like an oasis in the middle of the city and there is no any other activity that compares with this experience, you will really see the main essence of the Aztec culture in Mexico City.
