What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Dawn Patrol, Xochimilco Style

  K5912VXmichaeld,Apr 12, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Most people visit Xochimilco to party, which is fine. But if you're more interested in experiencing the beauty of one of the last places in DF where people still maintain chinampas, practicing traditional Mixtec agricultural techniques, and where the landscape looks today something like what it may have looked like in 1491, I recommend a trip like this one. I booked directly with Alejandro and Laila and they made the process very easy. A driver picked me up at 3:30am (!!) right outside my hotel in Condesa and took me to the shape up, where I met my guide. The two of us were placed in a larger group of about thirty people (I am pretty sure I was the only tourist, which is always a good sign in my book) and three or four trip leaders who took us through the neighborhood to the shed where our kayaks awaited. Francisco, my guide, was fantastic. A local who loves sharing about his neighborhood, he was very knowledgeable, easy to talk to, and quick to share what he knew and point out interesting plants, animals, or landmarks along the way. I was very glad to learn from his perspective. Once in the water we kayaked for maybe an hour to arrive in a particularly scenic location, where we stopped for another hour or so to hang out, take pictures, and enjoy the dawn. After the return trip, we all enjoyed a nice breakfast at a beautiful home right alongside one of the canals where we dried off in the sun (yes, you will get wet, suck it up). Francisco then took me to where the driver had parked, and I was back in Condesa and ready for a nap by 11:15am.

  

  

  

  

  

• The real Xochimilco

  Bruno G,Apr 11, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  This was a top highlight of our trip to Mexico City. Getting to witness the beauty of Xochimilco at sunrise was breathtaking. Laila is an absolute gem as a tour guide!

• This was a top highlight...

  Bruno G,Apr 9, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  This was a top highlight of our trip to Mexico City. Getting to witness the beauty of Xochimilco at sunrise while kayaking was breathtaking. Absolutely worth getting up early for. Followed by visiting a chinampa, learning about the historical significance of local agriculture and sustainable farming was riveting. We got to harvest some vegetables that were used for a salad to complement our full breakfast prepared by a local chef—a one of a kind experience. Our tour guide Laila was the absolute best! She is very knowledgeable about the history of Xochimilco and Mexico City as a whole. Her passion about local and cultural traditions was palpable. She made us feel very welcome and we thoroughly enjoyed every bit of the experience!

• Unforgettable experience, highly recommend!!!

  mollysL2692NS,Mar 26, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We had the most amazing time on this trip! The canals at sunrise are beyond stunning and we saw so many amazing birds, wildlife, and plants. Learning about the chinampas and exploring the farm was an unforgettable experience. Our guide Laila was very knowledgeable and let us explore at our own pace. Highly, highly recommend!!

• Best morning ever. This is the way to see Xochimilco!

  moirat390,Mar 23, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  Words cannot express enough what a magical experience this was. Beyond worth getting up early early to get across down to Xochimilco by 5:40am. Getting into kayaks in the dark (and a bit chilly so bring waterproof layers (and a change of clothes as you might get wet (or partially). Kayak thru the peaceful canals to be treated to an incredible sunrise and then a visit to a farm (complete with calves and baby goats) for an incredible breakfast cooked for you with everything coming from the farm. And then kayaking back to the starting point. We did not want this morning to ever end. All of us have had a lot of amazing experiences in our lifetimes but this is right up there with the best - add this to your bucket list. And what helped make this such an incredible experience was our guide Francisco and his team - Mario, Laila and Chef Eric. Not only are they all passionate about showing you the place they call home and teaching you about its history but truly kind, patient, knowledgeable and lovely humans.

  

  

  

  

  

• Xochimilco Sunrise Kayak is a Must-Do!

  777gabrielab,Dec 16, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  This was an incredible and magical once-in-a-lifetime experience! I would highly recommend to anyone wanting to see the beauty of Xochimilco and the peace at the canals during the sunrise!😍 ​Laila was outside our hotel very early and took us to Xochimilco. Where we met Eric. He is exceptionally knowledgeable about the area and very helpful with how to kayak! Watching the sunrise from the kayak was breathtaking. ​Afterward, Eric and Laila took us to a working Chinampa (the ancient Aztec floating gardens). We toured the living farm and enjoyed a beautiful, fresh breakfast Eric prepared using resources harvested right from the island!

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

• I loved the sunrise kayak trip to Xochimilco

  Michele H,Dec 7, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  The sunrise kayak trip to Xochimilco was a beautiful experience in nature. I recommend it highly to anyone who loves unique ways to experience the natural world.

• From Acquaintances to Friends

  Zinfandelista,Dec 6, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  For my birthday in Mexico City, my husband surprised me with an adventure I will never forget. What began as an early morning departure transformed into a unique and memorable day: a dawn kayak ride, followed by breakfast in a small family Chiapas where sustainability is present in every detail. At 5 o'clock, Omar, our driver, picked us up at Airbnb. The city was still asleep as we crossed empty streets and roads, arriving half an hour later to meet our guides, Laila and Erik. Erik turned out to be not only our guide on the river, but also the farm owner and chef. Laila was a great communicator in English and also spoke German and French. With only one other guest in the group, the experience felt intimate and personal. We walk down a quiet alley, put on our life jackets and slide into the water under a blanket of darkness. Every stroke of rowing echoed in the mist rising from the cold river. The air was fresh, the silence deep. Gradually, the pre-dawn light revealed the landscape around us. After an hour of paddling, we paused to watch the sun break the horizon: a memorable, slow burst of color unfolding gently before us. I noticed others pulling out their phones to capture the perfect photo, but I preferred to just live in the moment. From there, we head to Erik's Chiapas. He passed effortlessly from guide to host and chef, inviting us to pick fresh lettuce and flower seeds. Laila showed us how the land is cultivated, how the water is irrigated, how the cooking gas is collected and even where the ajolote, an endangered salamander, is located. Nothing is wasted here: every byproduct is reused to keep the farm self-sustaining. Breakfast was cooked with compost-generated methane gas, and we ate eggs from the chickens along with the vegetables we had just harvested. The only way to reach the Chiapas is by boat or kayak, a detail that makes its sustainable pace even more remarkable. After a quiet breakfast and a tour of the Chiapas, the time came—too soon—to return. We had started the day as acquaintances, but in the end we left as friends. It was a day of serene beauty and connection, with memories that remain.

  

  

  

  

  

• Magical experience.

  Susan L,Nov 21, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  My husband and I visited Mexico City for the first time. A wonderful week of culture, art, history and fabulous cuisine. Our final day was a magical sunrise kayak trip along the canals of Xochimilco. We began in the dark and paddle along misty canals listening to the birds beginning to wake. There was a pre dawn mist which made it seem as though we were travelling back in time. As the sun rose we watched herons dive for fish and birds of all sorts move along the water ways. Our beautiful guide did not break the silence of the moment but let nature do the talking. Eventually we arrived at the bio farm. Fantastic breakfast made by Eric. Most ingredients (eggs, cheese, salad) all coming from the farm. The workings of this fabulous farm were expertly explained by our guide. We returned along the canals in full sunshine and felt renewed and encouraged that many of the indigenous ways continue to be used so successfully. I can’t recommend this tour strongly enough. I can’t

  

  

  

  

  

• Day at Xochimilco, the foundation of Mexico City

  616jeanrenel,Oct 1, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  So interesting and wonderful. Leila is an exceptional guide. We visited a fruit and vegetable growing region near Mexico City. This region is an island. Yes, an island, because Mexico City was once a lake. We accessed it by kayak. The kayaks are very stable and super easy to handle. We saw rare species of salamander (Axolotl) and how they help them to reproduce. A fantastic day. I recommend it 100%. It's a must-do.

  

  
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