Xochimilco Night Boat Tour: Day of the Dead Dinner & Drinks

Drift through candlelit canals and taste mezcal while the story of Day of the Dead unfolds around you

A night boat tour on Xochimilco's canals in Mexico City during Day of the Dead season, aboard a traditional trajinera with dinner, drinks and cultural storytelling included. The tour runs about two and a half hours, starting at the pier with a welcome cocktail and moving into a themed Mexican dinner served aboard. A live guide narrates in English or Spanish, and the experience is limited to travelers 18 and older.

Step-by-step itinerary

Xochimilco night boat tour with dinner

• Check in at the pier
• Enjoy welcome cocktail
• Dinner and party on boat

The Experience

You board a traditional Mexican trajinera at the Xochimilco pier, where the first thing waiting is a welcome cocktail and the chance to photograph the boats lit by candles strung across the water. The canals themselves are the setting—narrow waterways that wind through what was once an Aztec lake, now lined with vegetation and the glow of the season. This is a seasonal tour, running only during Day of the Dead, so the boat, the dinner and the storytelling are all built around that single tradition.

Dinner happens aboard the boat as you move through the water. The meal is themed to Day of the Dead and comes with a tasting menu of mezcal and craft beer—not a single drink but a progression of them. A live guide speaks in English or Spanish, weaving the meaning and history of the tradition into the evening. The candlelit setting and the movement of the boat through narrow canals create the atmosphere; you're not watching it from a distance but sitting inside it.

The whole experience runs about two and a half hours from pier to return. Bottled water is included. The tour is not recommended for pregnant travelers or anyone with cardiovascular concerns, and you need to be at least 18 to book. Public transportation reaches the pier, though you'll arrange your own way there.

What’s included

• A traditional trajinera boat ride through candlelit canals.
• a welcome cocktail at the pier.
• a Day of the Dead themed Mexican dinner.
• a tasting menu of mezcal and craft beer.
• bottled water.
• live guide commentary in English or Spanish.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by Curado Tours

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English or Spanish, so you can follow the Day of the Dead storytelling in whichever language you book—choose the one you're most comfortable with when you reserve.

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Top questions

What exactly is a trajinera and what will I be doing on it?

A trajinera is a traditional flat-bottomed Mexican boat, usually decorated and poled through shallow canals. On this tour you'll sit aboard one as it moves through Xochimilco's waterways at night, eating dinner and drinking mezcal and craft beer while a guide tells the story of Day of the Dead.

Is this tour only for Day of the Dead, or does it run year-round?

This is a seasonal, limited-time experience that runs only during Day of the Dead season. It's not available outside that window, so the timing matters if you're planning a trip.

What kind of food and drinks are included?

Dinner is a themed Mexican meal served aboard the boat, paired with a tasting menu of mezcal and craft beer. Bottled water is also included. Gratuities are not included in the price.

Will I understand the guide if I don't speak Spanish?

The guide speaks both English and Spanish, so you can choose the language you're comfortable with when you book. The storytelling about Day of the Dead happens in whichever language you select.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs about two and a half hours, starting with a welcome cocktail at the pier and continuing through dinner and drinks aboard the boat as it moves through the canals.

What should I know about getting to Xochimilco?

Public transportation options are available near the pier, so you can reach Xochimilco by metro or bus. You'll arrange your own transport there; it's not included in the tour price.