Xochimilco, Coyoacán and Frida Kahlo guided tour

This is one of our most colorful tours, not only for visiting the famous "Casa Azul" and seeing some of the works by the artist Frida Kahlo, but also because of the majestic architecture of the university, the landscape, and picturesque colonial Coyoacán and the colors of Xochimilco – the name says it all ... "place of flowers".

The first stop will be in Coyoacán, the name in Nahuatl means "place of those who have coyotes". The history of this place dates back to pre-Hispanic times. It was in this area where the first Mesoamerican highland community centers were developed, and for more than 2,500 years this place has been changing and evolving, either due to natural causes such as volcanic eruptions or human intervention as the urban area has expanded. Here Hernán Cortés prepared his strategy of war for the conquest of the Aztecs, so Coyoacán became one of the first colonial settlements, which still preserves its style as well as the atmosphere that has characterized and differentiated it from the center of the city for years. For all this and more Coyoacán has been the location of choice and inspiration for various local artists and foreigners who have had their place of residence here, making it no surprise that Coyoacán is considered the cultural heart of Mexico City. It's a position that it has achieved for its past, and today it remains one of the most prolific neighborhoods for the cultural and intellectual development of Mexico. Here you can find the National Arts Center, the National School of Music, the National School of Restoration, and the Ciudad Universitaria, UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico).

UNAM will certainly be one of the stops on our tour. Their first buildings were built in the fifties by various design architects and Mexican artists such as Diego Rivera, Juan O'Gorman, Siqueiros, Mario Pani, and many more. All of the university space was designed to be real, harmonious, and functional. In 2007 it was selected by UNESCO as a cultural heritage of humanity.

Later on your tour, you will go to Jardín Hidalgo, which is the center of Coyoacán, where you will walk around while the guide tells you about the history of its streets and buildings where you will find different characters, food stands, and activities typical in Mexico. And the last place to visit in Coyoacán will be the Frida Kahlo Museum, also known as the "La Casa Azul” (the Blue House). You will have about an hour for getting into Frida´s universe through her paintings and personal belongings.

You'll continue your journey to the south of the city to one of the preferred places of Frida Kahlo, Xochimilco, "The place of flowers" in Nahuatl. The story begins many years ago in ancient Mexico and it is here where you can still find the prehispanic landscape of Mexico’s valley, which was not originally a valley but a lake. It is hard to believe that once this huge city was a huge lake. We can still see what remains of it in Xochimilco.

This is now a place of recreation and relaxation for both DF residents and tourists, foreigners, and nationals. You will travel in a punt (a type of boat) through the typical channels surrounded by the famous chinampas, also known as floating gardens. The chinampas are a system of agriculture that was developed over a thousand years ago to take advantage of the lake as a natural system of irrigation.

During your ride on the punt you can taste different dishes and drinks, such as mole, mixiotes, roasted corn, quesadillas, tacos, barbecue, carnitas, pulque, micheladas, and much more. The journey will also be accompanied with live Mexican mariachi music, marimbas, trios northerners, Huapangueros, or a recorder, encouraging families to come here for birthdays, baptisms, weddings, or simply celebrating having a good time.