By: Lorena Velandia
MBA, communications specialist. Travel addict and lover of good food.
Xochimilco is one of the most iconic places in Mexico and a World Cultural Heritage Site. Located in Mexico City, this wonderful place holds a unique history, since it played an important role in the founding of Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City). So keep these 3 tips in mind to come to Xochimilco well prepared and make the most of the experience.
If you love to travel as much as I do, you know that travel feeds the heart, and discovering new places is essential, since it lets us learn and understand a little more about a culture, its people, and its customs and traditions.
Best time to visit Xochimilco
Any time of year is ideal for visiting Xochimilco. However, keep in mind that the weather in the city is changeable. In the morning and around midday, temperatures tend to be somewhat high, while in the afternoon they usually drop. So make sure you always bring sun protection, and a jacket if you’re coming at night.
What time can I visit the trajineras?
Embarcadero Las Flores Nativitas offers very flexible hours for travelers. It is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. If you want to soak up the local culture and enjoy mariachis and norteña music, I recommend taking your tour around midday.
Be sure to book in advance at www.trajinerasxochimilco.com.mx so you don’t fall into the hands of unauthorized guides who may overcharge you (there, a trajinera costs $525 MXN per hour).
What can I visit in Xochimilco?
Xochimilco has a variety of tourist attractions that can be visited in a single day. Here are the places you can’t miss:
- Embarcadero Las Flores Nativitas
If you’re looking to have fun and enjoy an unforgettable experience with your family or friends, Embarcadero Las Flores Nativitas is without a doubt the best place to enjoy a trajinera ride. They offer a wide range of tours. Plus, there you’ll find the handicrafts and traditional clothing market, the Voladores de Papantla performance, and a food and drink market.
2. Dolores Olmedo Museum
The Dolores Olmedo Museum holds the largest collection of works by two of the most important Mexican artists of the 20th century, Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, as well as an exhibition of pre-Columbian art.
This place is charming for its gardens, where you can find peacocks, turkeys, ducks, geese, and xoloitzcuintle dogs, a breed native to Mexico.
3. Xochimilco Archaeological Museum
At this museum you’ll find an important historical collection of archaeological and paleontological pieces, as well as mammoth remains, graffiti, and petroglyphs from the Teotihuacan culture.
4. Cathedral of San Bernardino de Siena
It is a 16th-century Franciscan church and former convent, known as one of the oldest and most important in Mexico City. Fun fact: its dome is one of the first built in Mexico.
5. Plant and flower market
Madreselva is the largest plant and flower market in Mexico City. Growers and vendors gather there to offer a wide variety of gardening tools. You can also visit the Palacio de la Flor (Flower Palace), where only growers display and sell a wide variety of flowers.
6. Nativitas Forest
It is one of the few green spaces in the city and has become a recreation spot for locals. There you can enjoy a variety of activities, such as having a picnic or riding horses or ponies, among others.
7. Island of the Dolls
Located on a chinampa, this mysterious place is a favorite among tourists looking for a bit of adventure and a few chills, since it is surrounded by old dolls worn down by time and weather.
8. The Ahuehuete Tree of Barrio San Juan
Located in the heart of Barrio de San Juan, this tree is more than 500 years old. According to history, Cuauhtémoc (the last Aztec emperor) planted it in gratitude to the Xochimilcas for having defended Tenochtitlan during the battles against Hernán Cortés.
Let us know in the comments which ones you’ve visited!
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