I really really really wanted to enjoy this experience. Like I've avoided Xochimilco forever but I found an online service, understood I was paying a premium but felt confident on the service being delivered. However, the reality is much different. First off of you're not taking the metro, an Uber or taxi ride is going to cost. The communication from the organization was good initially, they even went out of the way to reschedule for me which was greatly appreciated.

The day of our ride we get there they send someone immediately to get us, the boat had the name on it I requested, super awesome. Our bilingual guide shows up..."I'm only here for an hour" ... Ok it said all day but whatever, probably not necessary to have them all day. Now I'm a farmer and the chinampa system is an amazing cultural feat and I couldn't wait to see the natural preserve outside of the touristic zone, which by the way is a hot mess of congested boats and people hopping too and from trying to sell you things, virtually nonstop, and you have no choice but to endure it. So as we approach the boat guide needs to speak to our English guide ... There's clearly a problem and a big one at that. Turns out our scheduled and paid for 5 hour ride into the bioreserve was going to be cut short because the gateway is closed. I get that perhaps this is out of everyone's hands but for a business that makes its money on getting people into that zone I'd expect a heads up well in advance. Phone calls are made for awhile burning time and literally as soon as it's clear there is no option in the guide jumps ship, and understandable he's not going to make his money so he's out first chance he gets . We negotiated to be charged 2 hours and not the full 5.

On the way back in they ask if we still wanted the axolotl museum. Which is only worth it if you absolutely must see an axolotl. The website said a 100 pesos, the guide said 120 pesos, the person at the door says 130 pesos. And this is essentially how the rest of the day went. Our boat guide didn't want to get us back in two hours although he could have so he negotiated for 3 I said no how about 2 and a half there's no need for 3. "But you paid for quesadillas" which at this point I'm beyond hangry anyway just get me off the boat. So we literally just drift back to the dock. I get some food since they didn't want to refund that as well. We pull in and he says the refund will be charged back. Over a week later nothing. Not only was my girlfriend and I hostage on this boat (good thing I didn't propose on this trip), but we didn't even get our refund for the additional hours we prepaid for and didn't get.

All in all it was every reason I ever avoided going down there to begin with. While I was super confident in the planning and service the entire thing fell apart and proceeded to just turn into the tourist trap I always wanted to avoid and that's such a huge bummer because there is so much potential here for such an amazing experience, but frankly I will never ever make the day trip to xochimilco ever again.