Magical Xochimilco Trajineras — Attraction in Mexico City

An experience designed to scam tourists and suck as much money as possible out of them. The price was supposed to be 750 pesos but you will be able to lower it to 200, believe it or not. Most people don’t negotiate and end up paying the full price. When you get to the boat, they ask you quick if you want a drink, we got two cokes and they ended up paying 210 pesos, highly overcharged. Then they ask you if you want music and it’s an additional 250. I didn’t keep time but what felt as 20 minutes they said half an hour passed by and I can pay more or have to go back. When I said I wanna go back, they start tempting you by the possible statues and what you can see. When I insisted on going back, they said they needed to stop at a store to use the bathroom, we said sure. They said there are animals to see if you’d like. I step out and it’s an additional 80-100, well which is it? Everything is highly overpriced and the experience was fun but highly overrated. They remind you to give a tip and I gave 50 and didn’t get a thank you. Glad to do it once, won’t...

The most touristy thing we've done in years! Finding the right place where we'd made reservations was a challenge. There are 11 entrance spread along the wharves for several kilometers. Be sure you find out EXACTLY what entrance you need to go to!

We went for a two hour tour on a busy Sunday afternoon. The boats have space for 20. We had a dozen. There was food, and a cook aboard with a gas griddle. We had tacos, slopes and some similar thing. Tasty, not much to write home about.

The adventure was the ride along the canal. One person uses a pole to move the trajinera along. If you're picturing Venice, don't. The pole is the only point in common. Picture flat-bottomed, wooden barges, acting like bumper boats, that hold 20 people seated at tables... only with no bumpers. Add smaller barges with full Mariaci bands, and even smaller ones selling food , and souvenirs, and kiddie toys, and flowers of all sorts. Hundreds of slowly moving barges, bumping, sometimes slamming, or grinding against each other. And everyone was having...

A good experience. I was a little sceptical going in, the cost was a bit vague and I felt like a walking ATM for people to approach but that was fleeting. The experience overall was great, especially once we got going and saw all the other boats having fun - great to see so many people all having fun. Practical tips - price is per boat and advertised at 750 per hr but we paid 500 per hr (750 for a 90 min trip). We got a taxi there and didnt take a pre-done tour, it worked fine for us.

There was no wait time.

Only downside is be prepared to be approached to buy things, drinks, pay for music….etc. But if you roll with that all is good and it’s a great experience.

Other reviews mantioning the water cleanliness… it’s a canal. The same as we have in the UK. Not crystal clear fake water for tourists but a genuine working...