Activities
ATTENTION SOLO TRAVELERS AND PARTIES OF TWO: PLEASE DO NOT BOOK THROUGH OUR SCHEDULING SYSTEM. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR AVAILABILIY AND SCHEDULING .
Canoe Rides, Chinampa, and Axolotls
Late morning or afternoon:
Duration: Approximately 4 - 4 1/2 hour guided tour with a remero (a person rowing for us in a traditional way using a long wooden pole).
We will start our journey canoeing through the protected Chinampa Zone of Xochimilco (not the party zone). For a portion of the ride, we will talk about the ecosystem so you can learn the names of the birds, vegetation, and interesting facts about the chinampa region. At other times we will be silent so that you can make your own personal connection to the land and water, learning from Mother Earth herself and leaving with a greater understanding of all the life that surrounds us. After canoeing through the canals we will arrive to a local chinampa where you will explore and learn about the land. We will share a meal (made with local ingredients and drink delicious cafecito or a traditional drink. You will not leave hungry! On certain chinampas we can introduce you to the Axolotls that live there. After spending time on the chinampa we will head back to the docking station to end our day. If you are interested in exploring Xochimilco’s central mercado let us know and we can guide you there!
*Early morning or Afternoon start times
*ATTENTION SOLO TRAVELERS AND PARTIES OF TWO: PLEASE DO NOT BOOK THROUGH OUR SCHEDULING SYSTEM. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR AVAILABILIY AND SCHEDULING .
Sunrise Canoe Ride, Chinampa
Starts right before sunrise:
Duration : Approximately 4 - 4 1/2 hour guided tour with a remero (a person rowing the canoe in a traditional way using a long wooden pole).
The sunrise tour in Lake Xochimilco is like no other. You will feel as if you are in a dream world, and a sense of peace in the quietness as we canoe through the sacred canals. The mist that surrounds you and the gentle sound of water are soothing like the voice of the ancestors telling us stories. When the sun rises between the trees you feel the life of the ecosystem waking up all around you. It feels like going back in time when there was no city. It's truly incredible and magical.
We will sit in our canoe until we are ready to continue on our journey to the chinampa we will be visiting. When we arrive we will sit and eat a delicious breakfast made with local ingredients and drink cafecito. You will explore and learn about the land and just relax for awhile. You will also get to meet the Axolotls being cared for on the chinampa! After the chinampa visit we will return to the docking station to end our day. If you are interested in exploring Xochimilco’s central mercado let us know and we can guide you there!
*This tour is not on our calendar for booking, but can be arranged upon request. Please contact us if interested.
Axolotl Conservation
At some of our partner chinampas we have joined the conservation efforts to protect our precious relative, the Axolotl. We will discuss the dangers they are facing and explore efforts being implemented to save them from extinction. You will have an opportunity to meet them in person!
Cultural Learning
Through our tours, workshops, volunteer opportunities and special events, you can experience the richness of Xochimilca culture and gain a deeper understanding of the ecological wonders of the chinampa region. We offer hands-on learning in traditional chinampa farming techniques; remando, cooking and more. You will learn names of plants, trees, birds, and phrased in the Indigenous language Nahuatl, just by being with the locals because it used daily in Xochimilco. You will learn the history of the region, and much more.
Retreats and Gatherings
For those wanting a more immersive experience and a deeper understanding of the basin of Mexico region, what it takes to be a chinampera/o, the history of Xochimilco, current conservation efforts, and more, a retreat is a great option. At our retreats, you will camp on our chinampa, and have hands-on learning opportunities in farming, rowing, cooking, and more. You will visit places like Teotihuacán, the pictographs at Cuahilama, The Zócalo, and Xochimilco’s main plaza center. The retreats will be 3-9 days, including travel.