Xochimilco
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to the historical significance of its ancient canals and so-called floating gardens, Xochimilco draws visitors from far and wide for its scenic trajinera (gondola) tours.
Spanning some 170 kilometers, today’s canal system offers just a small taste of a vast network of waterways and lagoons that once stretched across the Valley of Mexico.
Xochimilco’s historic center, formerly a tiny village, has been swallowed up by Mexico City’s expansion, but at times it still has a small-town feel in its leafy plazas, colorful food markets and old pulque bars.
About a dozen gondola embarcaderos (docks) are spread throughout Xochimilco, including the centrally located Salitre Embarcadero and the quieter Cuemanco Embarcadero, about 8 kilometers (5 miles) north of Xochimilco Centro.