Lanchacinema

This programme is no longer running on a fixed schedule. Lanchacinema screened films from the water in the canals of Xochimilco — the audience in trajineras, the screen on the bank. This page is kept for reference; confirm with the operator or the borough before planning an evening around it.

Why the format works here. Xochimilco is the last surviving fragment of the lake system the Mexica city was built on, farmed from chinampas since before the conquest and inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. At night the canals are quiet and almost completely dark, which is exactly the condition an outdoor screen needs.

What else happens on the water at night. The Isla de las Muñecas night tours, the Llorona performances staged on the canals around Día de Muertos, and the astronomy and birdwatching trips that leave at dawn from the quieter landings.

Practical notes. Xochimilco has no Metro; the Tren Ligero runs from Tasqueña. Trajineras are hired by the boat and by the hour, not per person, and the price is agreed before boarding. Night trips are cold on the water: take a jacket.