Kayak in Xochimilco:A journey through time to connect with nature

We had such an incredible sunrise kayak tour with Laila! She was right on time for the pick up, which immediately showed how organised and reliable she is. She was so warm, friendly, and incredibly knowledgeable, it was genuinely a pleasure spending the morning with her. The scenery was spectacular, the universe was very good to us! We learned so many fascinating facts that we'd never heard before, especially about the local wildlife, the agricultural system, and the area itself. One of the highlights was the delicious breakfast at the farm, which was such a lovely surprise and added so much to the experience. we even harvested our own delicious salad from the farm itself! A big thank you as well to Eric and Mario, who were both so helpful throughout the tour. We also really appreciated the attention to detail the kayaks hadn't been left out in the rain overnight, which says a lot about how much care the team puts into the experience. We passed by Victor , the owner on the way aswell and by the time he passed we were shouting "GRACIAS!! The entire family plays a vital role in every aspect of the operation, from caring for and vetting the animals, to cheese-making, creating herbal remedies, raising and caring for the goats, cows, chickens, hens, rabbits ,herding, and cooking. It’s a truly remarkable, hands-on family operation, and it’s incredible to see how much knowledge, care, and tradition goes into every part of the process. I couldn't recommend this tour more highly. If you're in the area, book the sunrise kayak with Laila!

We spent an incredible early morning on the channels in Xochimilco! Laila was amazing and knew all about the history, agriculture, birds, farms and farmers, and more! Being out on the water before dawn, with the mist, and entire world waking up was truly magical! After exploring and enjoying on the kayak, we had learned all about a self-sustaining farm, helped pick vegetable, enjoyed an incredible breakfast, and had a wonderful overall experience. It was also great to enjoy nature and tranquility so close to the massive, bustling metropolis of Mexico City! A great escape back to nature and back in time! In addition to Laila, the other members of her team were incredibly helpful and personable, as was the entire crew working the farm. Amazing people doing amazing things! We highly recommend this tour and highly recommend Laila!!

It felt like an honor to go on this experience! Laila and Braulio were great guides, Laila was incredibly knowledgeable and friendly. Pickup was on time and easy. Eric was a great chef, and very kind and welcoming. The kayaking was the perfect length of time, relaxing, and beautiful. The bird watching was very cool. The farm was beautiful and inspiring! Would definitely recommend to anyone considering. Laila also gave a lot of tips and recommendations for the rest of our time in the city!

The kayak tour at sunrise was a magical and beautiful experience. Paddling down the ancient canals and watching thr wildlife wake up with the sun was an unforgettable experience. We say night herons, green herons, white herons, many types of ducks and ducklings, zanates and so much more! Breakfast at the chinampa was delicious and truly a privilege to experience. The guides were so knowledgeable and friendly and explained everything and answered all of our questions. This tour of Xochimilco has to be part of your visit to Mexico City!

One of the most amazing experiences I’ve ever had it felt magical. The view and the whole experience at the farm were incredible. The guide was super kind, and we even got to see axolotls.

Incredible experience. Our guide Laila took the time to explain the history, took great photos, and was great company. Breakfast on an island farm with locals was also a real highlight! Highly recommend 10/10.

Enjoying with a smaller private group is the way to go! We saw other kayaking groups that were much larger and it seemed hectic. Watching the sunrise from the middle of the ecological reserve and stopping at one of the chinampas to see axolotls and eat at the farm was an absolute highlight! Francisco is super friendly guide and has great information about the reserve and way of life in Xochimilco, he was communicative and made sure our driver picked us up and dropped us off. The logistics were easy! Mario was also a great guide and took really beautiful candid and posed photos of us during the adventure. If you’re looking for a more authentic way to enjoy the reserve, this is how you do it! I highly recommend this tour!

I had so much fun with Laila and Juan. I learned so much and kayaking was magical. The breakfast we had at the farm was so so good, I experienced new flavors and the freshest tortillas ever. I’ve been in Mexico City for 20 days and done lots of tours and this was my favorite.

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.

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!