Xochimilco

Mexico City’s central location makes it a great base for making day trips. One was particularly memorable, Xochimilco, the Venice of Mexico. Located at the southern edge of Mexico City, Xochimilco is what is left from what was an extensive lake and canal system that connected most settlements in the region in pre-hispanic times. Today, you can gather a group of friends or family and explore the canals via the colorful gondola-like boats called “trajineras”. Like Venice, guides use long wooden poles to maneuver the boats.

There are even boats filled with roaming mariachi bands who will pull up alongside your boat and play sappy love songs for about $10.

Unlike Venice, many come to drink, play music, and, since this is latin america after all, to dance!