Lago de Xochimilco (Embarcadero Fernando Celada Miranda)

What it is. One of the embarcaderos on the Xochimilco canals, on Avenida Guadalupe I. Ramírez in the Barrio de San Juan Tlateuhchi, where you hire a trajinera —the flat, brightly painted wooden boat— for a trip through the canal network that is the last living remnant of the lake the Mexica built their city on.

What the trip is like. You pass chinampas, the pre-Hispanic floating-field system still farmed today, watch birds along the banks, and are approached on the water by mariachis, trios and marimba players who charge per song, and by boats selling food and drink. It is loud and social at weekends and much quieter on a weekday morning.

Prices and safety. The boat is hired by the hour, per trajinera and not per person, and the price varies with the season —agree it with the boatman before you board, and confirm how long the trip will last. Safety rules now apply on the canals: life jackets are provided and should be worn, and alcohol is not permitted on board. Bring cash in small notes for the music and the food.

Practical notes. Open daily 09:00–19:00. Tren Ligero from Tasqueña to Xochimilco, then a short taxi ride, is the usual approach. For a quieter route into the best-preserved part of the canals, the Cuemanco embarcadero is the alternative.