We'll leave from Embarcadero Cuemanco for a 3 hour calm kayak trip into the beautiful agricultural section of Xochimilco, taking lesser-known small canals full of bird and fish life and passing the still working island farms (chinampas) that have been here since the prehispanic period.
Peaceful early morning kayak through the canals. As an American expat, our guide had unique insight into the culture. He is very knowledgeable in Mexican history as well as the Xochimilco agricultural practices.
We had a wonderful time kayaking in Xochimilco! It was such a peaceful and beautiful experience, and a great way to enjoy the area away from the hustle and bustle of Mexico City. Our guide, Omar, was absolutely wonderful. He was friendly, kind, and very knowledgeable. He made us feel comfortable throughout the experience and shared interesting information about Xochimilco and its history. The peaceful atmosphere, beautiful surroundings, and Omar’s warm personality made this one of our favorite experiences in Mexico City. We would definitely recommend this kayaking experience to anyone visiting Mexico City!
This was worth the early morning alarm if you like enjoying nature, getting some exercise, and aren't interested in the busier time later in the day. FYI The dock's bathrooms were not available before getting on the kayak, but with help of our guide, we were able to find a solution while out on the canals.
This was such a beautiful and peaceful experience. Grant was an exceptional guide who taught us so much about the history of Mexican cultures. This kayaking trip was definitely a top highlight of our trip! Absolutely do this if you have the time.
What a wonderful intermission in the midst of the density and complexity of Mexico city! Grant gave us a detailed and interesting tour, including Mexican history, local farming practices, flora and fauna, and general info. It was beautiful and we recommend him highly!
My husband and I did a tour with our 11 and 13 year old girls and loved it! Grant was so fun and knowledgeable. We saw beautiful birds and enjoyed the native landscape.
This was an amazing experience, would definitely recommend. The early morning canals were so calm and beautiful, and we saw some really cool birds and plants. Had a great time paddling along the canals and seeing various farms, with almost no one else on the water. Grant knew a ton about local culture and history, and we really enjoyed hearing about his experience living in Mexico as an expat. One important tip is that traffic back to the city is really bad, it took us about an hour and a half to drive back to Roma Norte, which cut into the activities I had scheduled for the afternoon.
We loved this kayak tour with Grant. Very calm, small group, and far from the usual crowded routes in Xochimilco. It felt authentic and peaceful, a completely different side of the canals.
Great day out on the water with Grant. Perfect conditions with a knowledgeable and personable guide. Such a fantastic experience.
My group of 6 friends had an excellent experience. This was a fantastic way to spend a morning outside of the city, learning about the nature and farming culture of the chinampas.
Kayaking before sunrise was a beautiful and unique experience outside busy Mexico City. We enjoyed learning about the history of the Xochimilco canals and people who created the floating islands thousands of years ago as well as modern farming practices. We saw birds, too! And sunrise! Grant was the ideal guide for this amazing kayak trip
We were looking for the opposite of the typical rowdy traijinera experience, and this fit the bill perfectly. We were 4 plus leader Grant, and with his deep knowledge of the canals he took us places that were tranquil and devoid of other people. Just us, the birds, the scenery and occasional passing encounters with others. We saw and heard evidence of a way of life that has been practiced in Xochimilco since before la conquista. We started before sunrise so this is not for early birds. But if you prefer to see Xochimilco without a tequila party, this is a great choice. One comment: Grant kept us out at least a half hour longer than advertised and probably more. Ordinarily that could be a plus, but it got cold and that was a bit tiring. We didn't have anything scheduled after, but if we had it would have made us late. It would have been good to be prepared for the actual length of time of he activity.
Lovely, peaceful paddle. The guide - Grant is very knowledgeable and we learned many things. The canals are very interesting. The small group size is wonderful.
Had an excellent morning paddling around Xochimilco's canals with Grant. He is a one-person operation and a treasure trove of information about the past and present of the area -- human settlement and use, flora and fauna. This was a legitimate three-hour, 4.5-mile paddle, with no pit stops, so be prepared to work! One thing I really appreciated was the 7 a.m. start, which allowed us to get a bit more sleep in the night before. A lot of the other operators pick you up from the city center at 4:30 a.m., whereas for this operation we could just grab a Didi rideshare at around 6:20 a.m. and get to the docks in plenty of time. Group size is limited to 7 guests, so it's a very personalized, conversational experience. The canals are so peaceful and quiet in the early morning hours -- just a couple other kayaking groups and the local wildlife to share the water. Grant even threw in some excellent recommendations for local food spots! Highly recommend.
Grant was an amazing guide. He was super chill and very knowledgeable! We learned so much on the tour and saw so many incredible flora and fauna. Dawn is the perfect time to go it was so beautiful.
This is an excellent way to see the Xochimilcos. I’m still in awe that this beautiful nature area exists within the city. Grant is so knowledgeable about the area, its history and current affairs. I can’t recommend this highly enough!
This tour was a fun, peaceful, educational, and fascinating look at the natural world around Mexico City. Grant was an excellent guide, tailoring the tour to the interests and desires of our group. He shared abundant information about the history surrounding the canals, the use of the land for farming, and the past and present dynamics impacting the ways that the Mexican people interact with the waterways. We arrived early to begin our tour before the larger boats and groups of tourists entered the water. This early start was well worth it, as the canals were serene, wildlife (especially Herons) was abundant, and the temperature was comfortable throughout. Wear layers, and with care you will be comfortable and stay dry!
Grant is your guide. His love for the area and personal enjoyment of kayaking the waters shows, while he takes you through background and current issues affecting the islands and canals. Highly recommend.
Really magical experience! Grant is an excellent guide and kayaks are the best way to experience the canals. Would recommend highly!
What a gorgeous morning exploring the canals! We saw tons of birds and learned a lot about the local culture and agriculture. Grant us a terrific guide. He let us set the tone of the experience which was highly appreciated. If you want a quiet (non-touristy) experience without all the extras (we opted out of the creepy doll island!) this tour is for you.
Top-notch experience. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Mexico City. The scenery was beautiful, peaceful, and quiet. We got lucky to catch the sunrise, and Grant's explanation was very insightful. It was like an intriguing Mexican historical lesson combined with ecology, it was not boring it was really interesting.
No one else had booked on the date I chose, so it ended up being just Grant and me. He knows the area, culture, and history extremely well, and I learned a lot. He’s also very mindful and gave clear, helpful instructions throughout. Communication was perfect—fast, efficient, and always on time. I highly recommend it — you’ll be in great hands with him.
This was such a great way to experience natural Mexico City! Grant was engaging and intelligent in his information sharing, as well as being flat-out nice. We had a great time and recommend this to anyone who wants to see Mexico City outside the city.
What a fantastic way to learn about Mexico and be in nature! Grant was a fabulous guide, full of engaging and informative stories, and we felt welcomed and appreciated.
Just beautiful. THIS is the way to experience Xochimilco. Firstly, being there at dawn before it becomes a Mardi Gras vibe is so refreshing and deeply soothing if you’ve been staying in the busy parts of the city. You’ll see more wildlife this way too. Kayaking is easy but engaging and you’ll feel really independent and intrepid paddling your own boat! And finally, Grant is a terrific guide. He is incredibly knowledgeable because of a deep curiosity he has. He shares a sense of wonder with his guests and it’s contagious. And he is just charming, honest, down to earth, and really capable. Terrific tour, absolutely the highlight of our whole CDMX visit!
What an amazing experience - Grant was a knowledgeable and fun guide who took us on four hours of touring the canals. Saw all sorts of birds.
The kayak trip with Grant in Xochimilco was one of the highlights of our trip to Mexico City. Grant is a terrific guide and very knowledgeable. Don’t miss out on this very unique and informative venture. Skips the party boats and go with this one-of-kind excursion in a small group.
This is the most beautiful, respectful, and educational experience! Between tapping in to ancient wisdom and appreciating ongoing culture, I was so grateful this experience was possible. Highly recommend!
The best part of our trip to CDMX! Grant is a fantastic storyteller and taught my partner and I so much about the history of the chinampas, CDMX, and the flora and fauna around us. Kayaking itself was peaceful and quiet on calm water, and we benefited from being a small group. We went at a leisurely pace, taking a break halfway.
Grant was very knowledgeable, native English speaker, super helpful with advice and adjustment of our schedule. Many bird sightings, many up close, night heron only 3 meters away!
This was one of the highlights of our 2 week holiday in Mexico. Grant kept us updated at all stages and we set off on time, in a double kayak, for a beautiful paddle through the waterways of Xochimilco. Grant knew the area well and gave a continual commentary on the history of Mexico, the flora and fauna we saw and what the local farmers were doing as we paddled serenely past. We went past the colourful trajineras and down narrow waterways and explored backwaters so quiet it was hard to believe you were in Mexico City. We stopped on a tiny island for lunch – mezal and some esquites from a passing punt! Then a lazy paddle back to the launch jetty for what was an incredibly memorable day and a treat I would definitely recommend.
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