La Llorona en Cuemanco, Xochimilco

If you don't arrive 2 hours early, your boat will be parked behind other boats, to the side of the stage, or even behind it. They sell way too many boats. Don't do this activity, it's a rip off

Zero stars. We arrived before 9:30 PM for our show. We were trapped on that boat until 4 the next morning. Don't go.

Our boat parked us literally behind the stage so we couldn’t even see the play. Terribly organized - this place is a scam that needs to be shut down.

llegamos a las 6 pm en lo que esperábamos, hicimos tiempo para cenar, comprar unas micheladas, antojitos, etc. Sin embargo nos fueron pasando a la trajinera a las 6:50 pm y fuimos saliendo casi hasta las 8:00 pm (nos dejaron 1 hora sin hacer nada, ya no nos pudimos bajar) hasta que salimos, llegamos a la obra lo cual a mi parecer estaba muy lejos, no se apreciaba bien, los de hasta atrás no tienen una vista muy buena. La obra fue demasiado larga, se veía como una obra de escuela. No tiene mucha producción, nada espectacular, nada que perderse. Sin embargo si es cultural, una historia que no conocía.

parece obra de teatro de primaria. Acudo frecuentemente a eventos, obras, teatro y este por mucho el peor al que he ido. Los actores parecen improvisados, no son profesionales, el evento ocurrió con dos horas de retraso, no se ve nada desde la trajinera, la organización es pésima y el show es de ínfima calidad. Una absoluta pérdida de tiempo y de dinero.

El espectáculo de la llorona es una tradición año con año, habla desde la conquista y el pueblo mexica entre otros. En el embarcadero hay venta de alimentos y bebidas y algunas amenidades pero también puedes llevar tus alimentos, sobre el alcohol desconozco si hay acceso. Al ser un espectáculo al aire libre y en un canal hay limitantes así como la cantidad de mosquitos por lo cual aconsejo acudir con repelente de mosquitos y súper abrigados por el frío. Dependiendo el día es la cantidad de gente por lo que si van cercanos a la fecha dia de muertos acudan con tiempo para hacer fila.

Realmente no vale la pena, se ve súper lejos la obra, no sabes ni quien está hablando, la trama es muuuy mala, el tiempo de espera es exhaustivo tanto entrar como salir (aproximadamente 3 horas en total) en vez de disfrutar el evento sales todo estresado, con frío y con un buen de sueño de lo aburrido que está, no lo recomiendo en absoluto

No vayan. Por el tiempo que toma, el precio y la experiencia no vale la pena. Toma unas 3 o 4 horas de las cuales el show solo toma una, de resto es parado haciendo filas o sentado en las sillas más incómodas del mundo en la trajinera. En cuanto a la obra de teatro es de nivel escolar, puedes encontrar mucho mejor teatro en la CDMx y sin necesidad de sufrir con el frío, la incomodidad de la silla, y el dolor de cuello que implica mirar de lado toda la obra Dada la posición de las trajineras. La obra es tan mala que raya en lo cómico, pero no da risa. Definitivamente lo mejor fue cuando se acabó

Really loved going there for our co-ed Bachelor and Bachelorette Trajinera ride!! We chose the 3 hour with 16ppl, with a stop at the reptile center. The charge with a credit card will take a surcharge so cash only is best. We also found a boat that was selling food and fruit which was really great during our boat ride!! We brought our own drinks, speaker, and cups.

Don't bother going during the week and don't expect the person driving the boat to know anything about the history or purpose of the area. They just steer the boat. On the weekends there are more people and probably a lot more fun. Also, whatever you do don't let them up charge you. They'll try and try very hard. The cost is per hour per trajinera, not per person unless you book a tour with a viator or airbnb company. So we spent two very tranquil but not very interesting hours. We brought our own food and bought beers at the store near the trajineras. A mariachi is 220 pesos per song. Make sure when you board your "driver" knows what you agreed upon with the booking person. Mine did not understand we wanted to see the chiampas and we left without visiting one and at the end the driver said he didn't know. Despite asking him 3 times in perfect native Spanish. I also DON'T recommend Hector Altamirano as a booking agent.

We had hopes for this adventure but I am sorry to say I thought it was just a really nasty tourist trap. We went as part of a tour and I am SO happy we didn't have to negotiate price because we heard horror stories about them being very aggressive regarding the cost. There is no history about the canals or the boats and no information as to why they are there. You get on a boat and go out into the "lake". It's like, "wait, why did the Aztecs put these here and what was the point?" lol The guy just pushes you along a dirty canal....I don't know why they call it a lake. Now that I think about it, it would have been nice to get an explanation from someone about that. The water is filthy and gross. The homes and businesses that line the canals are depressing shacks and dirty. If you want to party with cheap booze on dirty water on hard seats....then this might be your jam. Otherwise, save it for a fun restaurant in Roma Norte with good drinks and music. We went out on one of the boats and were immediately approached by people selling us alcohol from another smaller boat. Our group bought a bucket of beers, which were fine...all in bottles. My friend and I wanted margaritas but we looked at them pouring some Squirt and mixing it with cheap tequila and putting ice in the glasses with their hands....I mean. Yuk. Filthy dirty. Not up to par with the rest of our awesome trip in Mexico City neighborhoods and experiences. A mariachi band hopped on the boat, and they were fun....something like the singers that approach your table at a Mexican restaurant. You can really get that experience anywhere. The markets by the canals are full of tacky tourist garbage. Nothing unique or artisan about it. A bunch of key chains and lead painted clay pots. Bring ten pesos for the bathroom otherwise you can't go in...and you won't get handed your toilet paper. The entire experience was the worst part of our trip to Mexico City. In such a vital city full of interesting activities all over the entire downtown within walking distance, don't waste your time driving all the way out for this once.

Very cool experience. It gets crowded and ends up being like bumper cars. Which means you have to be careful because if you get hit hard enough your drink will spill. You can rent a boat for 1,2, or 3 hours. While on the boat other boats will pull up next to yours to sell food, alcohol, souvenirs, or mariachi bands (which might jump on your boat). A lot of people brought their own food and drinks and just partied on the boat with their whole family. We were not prepared but i highly recommend doing that and saving money. There is a great market near where the boats dock if you're looking for souvenirs. Also the bathrooms are not free. They have them in the market and along the river.

This is a 5 star MUST do attraction/experience if you are going to Mexico City. We had the best time! We arrived and decided one hour would be plenty of time and when our hour ended, we both agreed two hours would have totally been ok :) We rented our own little boat for the two of us and off we went, ordered a couple of cervezas out on the canal. We had had a light breakfast before arriving so didn't order any food but what a beautiful, lively, colorful time. I'm so glad we made our way to Xochimilico. The mercado here is also quite impressive although not a lot of wiggle room with pricing as they know they are getting a bunch of tourists. Perfect for kids, families, couples, friends, even solo if you'd like. An experience not to be missed, it really was special!

If you'd like the Xochimilco experience without the craziness, this is your ticket! It's less of a party and more of a nature trip. The Axolotl aquarium is nice and informative, and there is lots of wildlife to view. You can still find good find and drinks, but there are fewer vendors here. So if you're looking for a party, go to the other embarcadero, but if you're looking to ride the Trajineras and see some wildlife a little more laid-back this is your place.

Welcome to Mexico City's version of Venice!!! Trajineras de Xochimilco! Since, this is Mexico City I will give you some tips that I wish I would've known beforehand. - Traffic in Mexico City is awful...leave super early to get there - Visit during nice warm weather - Go during the weekend so the food vendor's will be there - Bring a crap load of Michelada's and then buy moreeeeee - Bring a boombox or something with loud speakers for full dance party action - It is two hours to the creepy ass doll island....4 hours total...cushion for this adventure. I didn't. And I cry myself to sleep every night hoping La Llorona will come cuddle with me All that being said, I loved it. I was cold but I still packed a couple Micheladas and had a great time with my fam. It was beautiful! And I always enjoy boat rides and being in nature. The boats are all beautifully adorned. Perfect for the photo ops. You also see a good amount of wild life, like cows, cats, cranes and ducks. My niece loved feeding the ducks but I kept worrying she was going to go for a swim. The boat ride is $350 pesos per hour, the equivalent of $19 when I was there. And you can fill that sucker up with up to a huge pose. It is NOT PER PERSON!! I know, dirt cheap! And I told you all my tips sooooo no excuses on having the best time of your life!!! DON'T FORGET DOLL ISLAND! #robzombiemovieexperience

Visited on a warm April afternoon. Crowds were nuts. The 1 hour tour took 95 minutes as the boats were log jammed almost the entire way. Sure all the locals are smiling, shouting, eating, drinking, paying really bad mariachi musicians to blast music. There's no charm to the environment at all, it's just an ugly swamp surrounded by the most broken down shacks you'll see in Mexico. The boat pilots work hard combating the traffic. If you do this tip the man generously. I would not do this again if you paid me $1000 USD.

Fortunately I read some reviews before we took this very scenic boat ride and knew to arrange a private van to take five of us to a reasonably priced boat landing, not public transportation. Either way, due to traffic, plan on a 50 minute drive from city center, but this really is a must see. Pack a picnic too, or buy grilled corn on the cob from the boat vendors passing by. Locals even bring grills on board their boat along with beer, full on tamale feasts, you name it, we saw it as we glided by on the calm canal waterways. We went early, around 10 am and got a head start on a Sunday morning. The parking lot was filled by the time we returned at noon. A two hour tour is perfect, one hour would not be enough. There are restroom stops at various garden shops along the way. Colorful boats filled with local family groups on the weekend, mariachi bands, marimba bands, people selling crafts, ducks, herons, all make for a relaxing, colorful pleasant two hour outing on board a flat bottom boat being poled along the natural waterways, so there is no engine noise. We all enjoyed the boat ride as well as a stop we arranged at the Dolores Olmedo Patino museum.

Xochimilco is quite an experience. But in order to get there, you'll have to complete a number of missions. Or just take a 45 minute Uber ride. The area is a bit dodgy in spots (our driver warned us to roll up our windows, and more than once, people on the street aggressively yelled at our car). It's best to grab a cooler and beers from the nearby-ish Oxxo since you can BYOB and BYOF onto the barges. There are a lot of ports, and various types trying to rip you off, so make sure to ask your driver (or other trusted local) which boat to pay. It's a flat rate for the entire boat no matter how many people you are, so it can be amazingly cheap, or you can ball out and rent an entire boat for yourself. It was $1000 MXN for the entire boat we got (for two hours). Our... boat driver? boatswain? gondolier? was awesome. He brought a speaker on board so we could play music. He flagged down any vendor boats we asked. One of the most awesome parts of Xochimilco are the floating vendors on boats of their own. Unfortunately, there wasn't much variety in terms of food when we went on a Saturday afternoon. Just a lot of corn/elite, crisps, beers, and one fried taco boat. There are also people selling flower crowns (made of fabric), ponchos, toys, people with sombreros/props and a Polaroid camera, and of course, the mariachi bands. They're LOUD. Don't let them board your barge without checking prices first. But really, you can just get by freeloading off the music of other boats. Two hours was more than enough. Not much to look at or buy after the first hour. Our Uber driver also struck a deal with us to stay in the parking lot so we would have a guaranteed ride back downtown. He said there weren't many Ubers out there. Sounded reasonable, though he may have been pulling out leg a bit. If you have a weekend afternoon to kill, definitely experience Xochimilco!

My grandmother and I traveled to Mexico, and Xochimilco was the highlight of our trip! We hopped on the trajineras (water rides) and were taken along the beautiful canals. Throughout the ride, we had the opportunity to buy food, drinks, souvenirs, and live music as they approached in other boats. My only concern would be that the meals we ordered on the ride were cold and not that great. But other than the "boat restaurant", everything was delicious. Highly recommend the corn on the cob. We had a wonderful experience overall and I wouldn't think twice about going back. If you're in Mexico City, a day in Xochimilco is essential!

Come prepared with enough pesos! It's 500 pesos /hour, but let's be reasonable.. it takes about a good 30 minutes to get out of the crowded boat canal area and another 30 minutes to get back in, so 2-3 hours is what you should expect. Restrooms range from 5 pesos (market) vs 6 pesos at the stops. Bring your own liquor! (Tequila preferable!) along with food/fruit but you can purchase the food at the market before you embark, or there are small boats in the canal that sell corn, micheladas along the way. You can also buy really pretty flower wreaths, or listen to mariachi band that will connect their boat to yours. Wear plenty of sunblock but most boats have enough shade. The people who operate the boats target tourists like seagulls so make sure to walk around and get the best price available. Definitely be in a group and don't go wandering off alone. You don't need to get the boats that have bar/restaurant if you've brought your own food/drinks. It would be helpful if you have someone who speaks Spanish.

We came here in New Year's Day and had an amazing time. This place is fun and lively with vendors and musicians all over the place. Bring your own food and have a picnic while in your rented boat or buy lunch from one of the many food vendors selling out of their small boats. Very cool place.

I for one did not have a pleasant experience here, I was dropped off by an Uber here and was immediately met with price sharks who offered up the experience at absolutely astronomical prices and so I ended up not even going on them and was disgustingly a witness to them accomplishing their disgusting robbery of tourist by selling them the trip at absolutely astronomical prices, about 4 times more than you're supposed to actually pay. I will not come back, I'm sorry I loved Mexico City but thought this place was dirty, ugly and filled with shady dudes all around, the area surrounding this place was especially filled with disturbing poverty and crime , even the police looked shady here, don't go is what I would say, but hey you only live once so it's on you. Have fun.

came here with a tour from airbnb and had an absolutely great experience. we met up in front of the sign but my friend and i came early so we walked around and bought beer to bring onto the boat (look around and ask before u buy because there are cheaper options). once you're on the boat the man who rows will steer (maybe will let u steer too when the river gets wider), you will/can buy food from the neighboring boats, you can visit the different islands where they have bathrooms for $.25, stories (like doll island), and the salamander which has regenerative properties, you can even ask the mariachi bands to come on board and play which was nice. we were on the river for about 4 hours but the time flew by quickly !! no boat sickness at all. great company. highly recommend !

Please LOCK IN YOUR PRICE before getting in one. Walk around first and don't just pick the first Trajinera. It shouldn't cost more than 1000 pesos for an hour. I hoped in on one of the first ones I saw (pressured, I wanted one that said Lolita but didn't want to be one of those annoying tourists), but they're just so pushy. Upon getting back half an hour later (price posted on the boat said 500), the guy tried to charge me 1000. I said no, price posted was 500, he got upset and asked where I saw that, I pointed to the boat. He got upset and yanked my money out of my hand. Additionally, the river was dirty...it was pretty much dirty back yards I toured. I enjoyed the music and food sold on the other boats. Isla de las Muñecas was super fake . It's a thing to do at least once in a lifetime but those price sharks ruined it for me and will not return. Secretary of Tourism needs to get involved.

Was here in the summer, with my family and visiting the wifes relatives, this is a colorful place, scenic and relaxing the boat rides are fun, the lake vendors are plenty a really good experience.

Fantastic little adventure. Beware and negotiate your price for your boat. Bring your own booze, sodas and waters. You can also bring your own food. A good three hours is good and also bring your own music so you can jam. The pictures will tell the whole story. One of the most amazing things about the waterways and canals is that they are surrounded by dozens and dozens of nurseries growing all kinds of flowers, bonsai's and succulents as well as many other greens. A real fun time.

I really hate giving such a cool place less than 5 stars but I have not felt so much shadiness at a place in a long time and I do "get out" quite often. First of all the uber ride takes forever (an hour if you take the upper "safer" level of the freeway. Next when you get to the city your car will be quickly identified as that of a tourist and men on bikes will guide you towards the port that they are working for. Too bad too sad for us the port that our car was guided to was a scammers port who wanted 1200 pesos for an hour. The normal going rate is 500 pesos. We then drove around in our uber looking for another port and came upon one that was situated in something that resembles an alley. They did give us the correct rate but more than half of our ride we were driven through a shady waterway where dogs were chained to poles and people threw what looked like urine into the water. The place was absolutely dead and our water taxi guy didn't even say a word to us. I needed to use the bathroom so he stopped at someone's house and I used their outdoor toilet and flushed it with a bucket of water. The time spent in the fun zone (with music and food) was minimal. I highly suggest coming here with a tour and not on uber. If you do come on uber have them wait for you because it's impossible to find WiFi anywhere and I wouldn't walk through town because you're going to stand out like a sore thumb if you are not local. I hate to sound prissy but I honestly didn't feel safe at this location the majority of time. Btw the town has been affected pretty immensely by the earthquake so this might have had an impact on the lack of tourism in this area.

Great place to come spend a Sunday afternoon. This place can cater to any budget. Before renting an boarding your trajinera you can select from any of the side businesses to buy refreshments for your ride. Along the lake, you will also be able to buy beer, pulque, snacks & even live music. Depending on your budget, you can select to do a group trajinera or rent your own and the option of even renting a music speaker. Whatever your budget or experience you seek, this place can offer it all.

Bring a huge posse! Been here twice and the bigger the crowd the more fun you have. Come on a weekend or weekday. BYOB!! Its approx 500 pesos per hour or about 35 bux. Beware they are not too fond of us dollars so bring the pesos out and ball till you fall homie! Bring your own boombox or rent a mariachi for about 1200 pesos an hr for some unforgettable fun, u can always haggle, anytime, anyplace, anywhere in Mexico! Id say rent a trajinera for at least 3 hrs, to visit the island of the dolls, creepy as hell, but fun if you're drunk, do this in the beginning of your CDMX trip or save it for last and get your drunk behind as quickly as possible to the airport like i did to not miss ur flight!

Fantastic choice for a day trip! It's about 45 minutes from the city by car which is a cheap Uber ride and totally worth it. Get to the docks and find the shiniest and most colorful boat (trajinera) you can. It's going to set you back 350 pesos ($16 USD) per hour per boat which is a steal because it probably fits at least 15 people. We only had a group of 4 because...I don't want to talk about it. Anyway, I recommend buying a bucket of beer beforehand and bringing extra cash onboard in case you want to buy food from a vendor or a song from a floating mariachi band.

If you are in Mexico City, I would highly suggest that you stop by here for a truly amazing and unique experience! We only found out about this place because we hired a driver and told him to take us to anywhere we had to stop and see, and we came here. Arrive and park in the large parking lot and walk towards the canals. You'll be greeted by several small boats that are all named after different women. A great bonus that we're glad our driver told us, is that we were allowed to bring our own booze and save on the ones that were being sold along the ride. You will be taken down the canals and will be in store for an amazing time. Along the ride, you see different boats selling different items such as: food (elotes), micheladas or beer, jewelry. And the coolest part? They have mariachi floating in other boats that you can hire and will sing you along the way. It's such a cool and unique experience that I suggest it to all. Enjoy!

First off, bring cash and bring different denominations of pesos! This place is definitely designated to RIP off tourists. I would recommend to bring your own drinks and food. We didn't know anything of what to expect of this place, and we were truly disappointed! We started off by getting a boat for $1000 pesos for 2 hours, they tell you that if you only purchase 1 hour you will not get the whole experience, so we got suckered into buying the 2 hours. They say you're going to see this and that. What they don't tell you is that you will be charged extra for any of the exhibits you wish to stop at, which by the way there really is not much to see but the backyards of poor homes. You have little boats coming up to your boat selling food to order. They dont tell you the price until after you order, and the food is food that they have previously made and it is just refried (very simple quick food) and they charge $200 pesos a plate of taquitos or quesadillas. We paid $800 pesos for 3 people ...I was disgusted! To top things off the taquitos I ordered were dripping in oil and the rice was given to us cold. Then you have other boats coming up to you offering souvenirs and live music. We opted not to purchase anything else. Our boat went very slow compared to others, which made me think that we more than likely would have made the whole excursion in one hour, but ofcourse we were scammed! The river is dirty there is not much to see. I guess the only thing that would change my perspective about this excursion is if I would have gone with a group of 20 and we would have gotten live music and taken our own drinks. other than that there is nothing to see!

Not at all what we were expecting. It's a dirty canal full of small dirty boats that bump on each other every 5 minutes. Compared to many places outside of Xomichilco, the food is overpriced & not as good. The sides of the canal are not nice or worth looking up at. There's boats full of small teens drinking & making out in every other boat. Not a good experience. I thought it'd be nice. Disappointing.

We got jerked so bad . I'm so angry at my husband we paid 2100 pesos for 1 1/2 hour but asked to leave in 30 min because it's boring ugly canal ride,please be careful not worth the money. Riding behind people's pollute backyard . So angry I'm unable to write the whole story. This place is a tourist trap please be careful . I found out the ref price for short trip is around 500 . We went with a local that was my husbands sister so my hand swore tied . But I'll spare u my story but giving u a heads up . Tourist trap alert be careful they all want money more than the norm

This place is full of swindlers. If you aren't a native Spanish speaker (even if you speak good Spanish like my group did) or are just an obvious tourist, you'll get up sold by hundreds of pesos per hour. It should not cost more than 500 pesos per hour. Take your own food and booze or those will be upsold to you as well. The canals themselves are dirty and polluted. It's basically just a waterway through people's backyards for the 2 hour tour. It's a 90 minute metro and light rail ride from Mexico City so be sure to follow instructions online for how to get there with public transport if you insist on going (but it's really not worth it). It is much less to see and learn than it is a glorified party barge type experience.

Weekends are definitely the best days to board the boats along the Xochimilco Canal. There's such a fun communal vibe on the weekends when there are many boats out carrying friends, families, parties, and mariachi bands. There are different rates & ride lengths available so definitely bring a Spanish speaker on board with you who is ready to negotiate which ride you're looking for. There's plenty of opportunities to buy street (boat) snacks, beer, & Mecheladas (a beer-based Mexican Bloody Mary variation drink) from passing boats & businesses. However I seriously recommend you BYOB. Visitors are allowed to bring whatever food or drinks they want on the boats & the ride is about an hour at minimum so you'll want to be prepared. Alcohol is allowed. We saw plenty of boats with large coolers & picnic baskets full of food & drinks, so don't be afraid to go all out. This is a great opportunity for a picnic lunch or dinner or a fun happy hour with drinks & snacks. You can hire a mariachi band to board your boat & play for you, or play from their own boat that they'll tether to yours. I also recommend bringing speakers. Although hiring a mariachi band is fun for a time, during the rest of your ride it's nice to sail with a soundtrack. There can be a lot going on outside, so your phone alone likely won't be loud enough. Whether you're looking for a total party or a relaxing stroll these boats are an excellent afternoon activity.

An experience for friends and family, don't be discouraged about negative comments just experience it for your self.

The following is not a reflection on Cuemanco boat rides. Our Uber driver dropped us off on a side street with only a few boats 5 or 6 visible. It was a private boat dock. Our boat driver who pushed our party of 4 was a tall, thin, 18 year old named Axle. It was his grand fathers business. The boats are prodominantly yellow. They have the names "Jesus" and "Bon Bon" written on the yellow chairs. He took us on a 2 hr trip. Axle the POS wanted to charge us $3,600.00 MX Pesos! It was out first time and did not know what to expect or pay. We knew it was a lot, so we talked and negotiated $2,500.00 MX Pesos. It still seemed like a lot but we wanted to experience something new. We enjoyed the ride, would go back and pay $500.00 MX Pesos but, not with that SOB Axle. Our problem is with the deceiving way he took advantage of us. We should have read these posts first...hope you do and that you avoid this guy.

A perfect way to spend a weekend afternoon with a group of friends. Rent a boat, float along, enjoy the birds and scenery, and maybe even stop to explore one of the chinampas.

Great place to visit and see the Chinampas, a unique method to do agriculture in a sustainable way, developed by the Aztecs about 800 years ago. Just be ware of dishonest people offering Chinampa rides for exhorbitant prices. There is an official price for the ride ($350 pesos/hour).