Located in the heart of Xochimilco, the Trajinera Docks are a must-visit destination during the Feria del Mole. This picturesque area is renowned for its iconic canals and colorful trajinera boats, offering visitors a unique cultural experience.

The docks serve as a gateway to the floating gardens, where you can enjoy scenic boat rides while immersing yourself in the local traditions. The Feria del Mole showcases a variety of mole dishes, allowing you to taste the rich flavors that define Mexican cuisine.

As you explore the festival, the Xochimilco Trajinera Docks provide a perfect backdrop for enjoying the festivities. Make sure to stop by for a leisurely boat ride and indulge in the diverse offerings of mole from various vendors.

Plan your visit to the Feria del Mole and experience the vibrant atmosphere of the Xochimilco Trajinera Docks, where culture and gastronomy come together.

Making the Most of a Trajinera Trip Around the Festival

Xochimilco sits in the south of Mexico City, and its canals are what remains of a vast lake system where farmers built chinampas, the artificial island plots often called floating gardens. The area is a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the historic centre, and many chinampas are still farmed today. They grow vegetables, herbs and flowers that end up in markets across the city. That link between the canals and the kitchen is a good thing to keep in mind when you taste mole. Many of the chillies, seeds and greens behind a good sauce have long been tied to farming communities in this part of the valley.

Choosing and boarding a boat

Xochimilco has several embarcaderos (landing stages), and each one has rows of trajineras painted in bright colours and named on their arches. Boats are rented by the hour for the whole group, not per person. Official rates are usually posted at the docks, so check the sign and agree on the price and length of the ride with the boatman before you set off. Weekends and holidays are busy. If you want calmer water, go earlier in the day or on a weekday.

Eating on the water

Part of the fun is that food comes to you. Smaller canoes pull up beside the trajineras selling elotes, quesadillas, drinks and sweets, and some carry mariachi or marimba musicians who play for a fee. Many visitors also bring food on board. A container of mole and rice from the festival, eaten on a slow ride past the chinampas, is a fine way to round off a day of tasting. Bring napkins and a bag for your rubbish, and help keep the canals clean.

Practical tips

  • Getting here from central Mexico City takes a while. Leave plenty of time, whether you use the light rail from Tasqueña or a taxi or ride-hailing app.
  • Bring cash in small notes for boat vendors and musicians.
  • Wear a hat and sunscreen, because trajineras offer only partial shade.
  • Check the festival schedule before you go so your boat ride doesn't clash with tastings you want to attend.

To see how this stop fits with the rest of your day, look at the tasting map and plan a route that links the docks with your favourite mole stalls.

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