Parque Ecologico Xochimilco
Parque Ecologico Xochimilco
Parque Ecologico Xochimilco
3.5
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An information center on the ecology and history of Xochimilco combined with paddle-boat rentals and a tram ride.
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3.5
165 reviews
Excellent
47
Very good
59
Average
27
Poor
15
Terrible
17
ccriderYVR
Vancouver, Canada4,622 contributions
Mar 2024 • Friends
The tourist trap of Xochimilco didn't appeal to us. So we arranged a private guide who arranged Kayaks for us. We had the option of a sun rise or later in the morning. We opted for later in the morning to avoid the crowds.
Our guide met us in town and guided us through a maze of alleys, to a skiff (a flat boat that they use a long pole to move and maneuver in the narrow canals). The area is not clean and lots of garbage in the water.
We visited a local restaurant for coffee and also a few places that grew vegetables.
Eventually, we got to the Kayaks and paddled through the canals, with some information from our guide to the main part of the canal, past the island of the dolls.
The drive from Mexico City to Xochimilco is long and slow. About 1.5 hrs each way.
It was neat to see it the canals, which was what Mexico City was originally and learn some of the history.
From what I have seen, don't do the tourist tours. Find a local guide and do you own excursion. I recommend the Kayaks.
Our guide met us in town and guided us through a maze of alleys, to a skiff (a flat boat that they use a long pole to move and maneuver in the narrow canals). The area is not clean and lots of garbage in the water.
We visited a local restaurant for coffee and also a few places that grew vegetables.
Eventually, we got to the Kayaks and paddled through the canals, with some information from our guide to the main part of the canal, past the island of the dolls.
The drive from Mexico City to Xochimilco is long and slow. About 1.5 hrs each way.
It was neat to see it the canals, which was what Mexico City was originally and learn some of the history.
From what I have seen, don't do the tourist tours. Find a local guide and do you own excursion. I recommend the Kayaks.
Written 9 April 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WiP
Canton of Basel, Switzerland1,221 contributions
Apr 2012
This is of course THE Mexico City excursion, if you have a bit more time.
Taking one of the many push boats through the channels that come to life - especially on weekends - with many other boats, some of them offering music, others food, others just simply Mexican families our grouos of friends enjoying a day on these traditional vessels, is indeed a very unique experience. Unfortunately, more and more illegal construction is removing more and more of the former "untouched" landscape and fields. So I wonder whether the whole area might not one day lose its UNESCO world heritage status. But there are still enough corners that let you imagine how it all used to be. And I would say, it is still a worthwhile experience, if you have at least half a day to spare (and if you have some more time, you could combine it with a visit to the Dolores Olmedo Museum).
Taking one of the many push boats through the channels that come to life - especially on weekends - with many other boats, some of them offering music, others food, others just simply Mexican families our grouos of friends enjoying a day on these traditional vessels, is indeed a very unique experience. Unfortunately, more and more illegal construction is removing more and more of the former "untouched" landscape and fields. So I wonder whether the whole area might not one day lose its UNESCO world heritage status. But there are still enough corners that let you imagine how it all used to be. And I would say, it is still a worthwhile experience, if you have at least half a day to spare (and if you have some more time, you could combine it with a visit to the Dolores Olmedo Museum).
Written 1 September 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tania C
5 contributions
May 2019 • Couples
Xochimilco is what remains of the floating gardens and lakes of precolumbian times that were promptly destroyed by the conquistadores. It is fun and sad all at the same time. We took an "ecological tour", which means we spent about 3.5 hours and went through a lock to get to more areas. Expect to pay a lot (this was the most we spent on our entire vacation) to see a world heritage site before it disappears. Food, beverages, flowers, marachis, stops to see endangered animal rescue (axolotl), or the island of the dolls, etc. are all extra. It was a wonderful time. I did find myself wishing we had booked a tour ahead of time.
Written 18 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rojoski
Perth, Australia6 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
Total B.S the whole thing is a tourist trap. Felt incredibly sketchy the whole time, our gondola driver was constantly on the phone to his mates, the food vendors charged us 1000 peso for 6 tacos.
The driver also tried to flog us an extra 20 mins on the boat for an extra 800 peso...but it had to be cash and not to tell the organiser. Absolute flogger.
But the bigger picture is that the area is borderline a favela and you will be ripped off at any opportunity. It does not seem genuine and wasn’t all that interesting.
The driver also tried to flog us an extra 20 mins on the boat for an extra 800 peso...but it had to be cash and not to tell the organiser. Absolute flogger.
But the bigger picture is that the area is borderline a favela and you will be ripped off at any opportunity. It does not seem genuine and wasn’t all that interesting.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eddy
Oak Park, IL13 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
Mexico is beautiful, but unfortunately it can be very corrupt. Everyone is always haggling for money, dishonest, and not very helpful.
I was born in Mexico and raised half my life there. I was disappointed to see the corruption that exists within this great city.
We were followed my a man that kept helping us get to the enbarcado. He was very nice.
I was with my girl friend and his grandfather. We didn't know why he kept pointing us to the loading area.
We asked for prices. The owner of the boat said $1,000 pesos for 1.5 hours and $1,700 for 4 hours $700 for 45 mins. Such a rip off! I for one said that is way too expensive I can get a dinner and a boat ride with that in Chicago perhaps even on the oddesey boat. I told the man I'll give him $500, that it was way to expensive.
What held me back from saying no to the price was my girl friend and grandfather they were ready to go on the boat and didn't not try to haggle the price down. I was very frustrated and even told the man $700 he said no. We paid the $1,000 pesos. I felt I was being very cheap with them. I work so hard for my money to give it away. I might as well have burned the money.
The man who followed us was apparently from the delegation and was charging a service for bringing us to the port. The owners apparently only keep a small percentage of that.
He still wanted a tip. He was nice but very dishonest. I hope that money doesn't last him or them, dishonest people end up losing more. Grandfather left a tip. Beer was over priced. We drank 4 and it was $120 pesos.
In Mexico 2015 a beer should cost no more than $12 pesos.
Tip please bring your own food and drinks aboard.
Don't pay $1,000 walk away it is not worth it. The area is very poor. Water is nasty and everything has a price. Look for official board with prices. Ask other local people where the other ports are. If a guy keeps following you and being too nice to walk you over don't trust them. If they charge over $1000 walk away. Ask for official prices. Ask for another boat. Do something else. Don't even go on the boat if they start charging you that much then haggle down to a regular $400 to $500 pesos for 1.5 hours.
BEWARE.
I hope someone that works there reads this.
I was born in Mexico and raised half my life there. I was disappointed to see the corruption that exists within this great city.
We were followed my a man that kept helping us get to the enbarcado. He was very nice.
I was with my girl friend and his grandfather. We didn't know why he kept pointing us to the loading area.
We asked for prices. The owner of the boat said $1,000 pesos for 1.5 hours and $1,700 for 4 hours $700 for 45 mins. Such a rip off! I for one said that is way too expensive I can get a dinner and a boat ride with that in Chicago perhaps even on the oddesey boat. I told the man I'll give him $500, that it was way to expensive.
What held me back from saying no to the price was my girl friend and grandfather they were ready to go on the boat and didn't not try to haggle the price down. I was very frustrated and even told the man $700 he said no. We paid the $1,000 pesos. I felt I was being very cheap with them. I work so hard for my money to give it away. I might as well have burned the money.
The man who followed us was apparently from the delegation and was charging a service for bringing us to the port. The owners apparently only keep a small percentage of that.
He still wanted a tip. He was nice but very dishonest. I hope that money doesn't last him or them, dishonest people end up losing more. Grandfather left a tip. Beer was over priced. We drank 4 and it was $120 pesos.
In Mexico 2015 a beer should cost no more than $12 pesos.
Tip please bring your own food and drinks aboard.
Don't pay $1,000 walk away it is not worth it. The area is very poor. Water is nasty and everything has a price. Look for official board with prices. Ask other local people where the other ports are. If a guy keeps following you and being too nice to walk you over don't trust them. If they charge over $1000 walk away. Ask for official prices. Ask for another boat. Do something else. Don't even go on the boat if they start charging you that much then haggle down to a regular $400 to $500 pesos for 1.5 hours.
BEWARE.
I hope someone that works there reads this.
Written 24 November 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mike C
Monteverde, Guanacaste, Costa Rica169 contributions
Oct 2017 • Couples
We went there with no expectations and when we arrived we were a little shocked at the conditions. We paid 40 pesos and sed for a map and were told we could get one in the museum area. When we went in there were people sitting behind some desks and they ignored us. We spoke up and they offered us a map for 10 pesos and we bought the map. We then proceeded to the park and everything looked like it had been neglected, the benches were dilapidated and the kids park had weeds growing over the swings. All of the paths were wrong compared to the map and many of the paths were overgrown with weeds that were 2 feet tall. I can say that I love the outdoors but none of the exhibits or gardens had any signs of life. I feel bad for the people of mexico because it must have been beautiful 10 or 20 years ago but the government gave up on it and so now should the tourists.
Written 6 October 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
eljohn560
Paramount, CA33 contributions
Aug 2017 • Family
Xochimilco was one of the stops and enjoy the boat ride ... classic of the place !!.... But .... this place is filthy... and there are no Prices control of rides and vendors .... to tourist that take advantage of visitors and charge a lot for a simple order of tacos $ 12 dollars (4 tacos ) that we refused and argued with him ... Is a reap off !!!! Totally disappointed with this place
$145 dollars for 8 people, 2 hrs ride..... can you believe this !????
Comparing with Europe :
I paid 10 euros in Venezia for 2 hrs ride ... in a nice environment and good service !!!!!
We are not coming back to this place and people pay attention to this ..
Thanks.
Ps: the guy who is making money with the tourists.....
$145 dollars for 8 people, 2 hrs ride..... can you believe this !????
Comparing with Europe :
I paid 10 euros in Venezia for 2 hrs ride ... in a nice environment and good service !!!!!
We are not coming back to this place and people pay attention to this ..
Thanks.
Ps: the guy who is making money with the tourists.....
Written 23 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oscar G
Guatemala Department, Guatemala2 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
Bad, bad, bad. A cannal crowded of empty boats, The rate for one hour aprox. of traveling through a dirty cannal where you buy food from another floating boat, expensive and awfull food without the traditional mexican flavor. And you se some flowers, some are carnivorous and a reptile half snake half lizard that lives in the cannal. Not worth it. Also very expensive, 45 US$ for the boat. Bad experience, bad food, bad option for sightseen.
Written 14 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark.Reimer
Steinbach, Canada59 contributions
Jul 2018
Our driver, David, was a found of knowledge and ideas so he was the ideal guide for our canal ride. He explained the park, the canals past and present, and more about Mexico City culture.
Written 1 August 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
erikarojasp
San Jose, Costa Rica30 contributions
Mar 2016 • Couples
This is a place with more than 1000 years of history! Very interesting tour and different things to do while you are in the boat. All Mexican traditions in one two hour tour on the canals. Mariachis, Trios, Carnivore plants, beer, restaurants and much more. I highly recommend it.
Only thing that I didn't like or understood is why people throw so much garbage on the water and on such a beautiful place like this.
Only thing that I didn't like or understood is why people throw so much garbage on the water and on such a beautiful place like this.
Written 1 April 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola, quiero rentar canoas en Xochimilco este jueves para llegar a la isla de las munecas. Sería bien si existería una manera donde se puede ir con un canoa sin tour en una manera economica y independiente. Somos 4 personas y un nino de 5 anos.
Sería muy bien, si alguien nos podría ayudar. También nos rentaríamos una trajinera si el precio no sea exargarado.
Muchas Gracias
Written 13 January 2020
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