Honest Xoximilco Review: Is It Worth It in 2024?

Is Xoximilco Worth It?

What’s the Experience Like?

If you’re not familiar with Xoximilco, it’s an interactive Mexican fiesta experience that mimics the traditional floating gardens of Xochimilco in Mexico City.

It’s a popular tourist attraction in Cancun and is known for its lively atmosphere, delicious food, and tequila-filled party boats.

After being picked up from your hotel, you’ll board a traditional flat-bottomed “trajinera” boat and float through canals filled with other colorful boats.

During the ride, you’ll have unlimited drinks (including tequila, beer, and non-alcoholic options) and be served a 3-course meal of traditional Mexican dishes.

There are also live musicians on passing boats playing traditional Mariachi and Mexican music, and each boat has a personal guide to get the party started and keep the energy going.

The whole experience lasts about 3 hours and is a great way to experience Mexican culture while visiting Cancun or the surrounding Riviera Maya.

Pros and Cons

Buying Tickets

What to Expect

Here’s what to expect at the experience:

Arrival

You’ll be picked up from your hotel or designated meeting point and taken to the Xoximilco attraction, which is right next to Xavage and not far from the Cancun Airport.

It’s about a 20 minute drive from the Cancun Hotel Zone or about 50 minutes north of Playa del Carmen, depending on traffic.

I was picked up from Playa del Carmen at 5:45pm and arrived at the attraction around 6:45pm. The Xcaret buses are very large and comfortable.

After arriving, you’ll get to hangout in the small courtyard area where they have live music and some fun Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera performers.

You can also peruse the gift shops for souvenirs and take a final bathroom break before boarding.

Boarding

Once it’s time to board the boat, you’ll head down to your assigned trajinera boat and hop on board to start the night.

The boats are named after Xcaret attractions and Mexican states, and each one is decked out with colorful lights and decorations.

I was on the “Viva Xenses” boat–named after Xenses Park.

Your same guide from the bus (known as your “compadre”) will be with you for the rest of the night and will give an overview of the food and drinks and what to expect.

They’ll also make introductions so it’s pretty easy to meet the other people on the boat. Each boat seats about 26 people.

Food & Drinks

As mentioned, all food and drinks are included in your ticket.

Each seat has a place setting with cups, shot glasses, and some tortilla chips and chicharrones (fried pork rinds).

You’ll be served a 3-course meal of traditional Mexican dishes, including appetizers, a main course with various options to choose from, and a dessert tray.

I thought the food was decent, but the portions were kinda small and it was nothing to write home about.

However, the drinks were flowing and definitely added to the fun atmosphere!

Appetizers

Main Course

Desserts

Drinks

Entertainment

The entertainment on the boats includes live music, dancing, and interactive games.

At one point, our guide pulled out one of those hand shock games that we all played together. Ouch!

There are also other boats passing by with different musicians and performers, so you’ll get to experience Mariachi music, as well as a variety of other Mexican music throughout the night.

There’s different stops along the canals where you can get off and visit souvenir stands or take a bathroom break.

It’s a really fun atmosphere and everyone is dancing and having a good time. They’ll also start a Conga line around the boat to get people up and moving!

Our guide was really fun and kept the energy going, making it easy to interact with the other people on the boat.

It goes by so fast and before you know it, it’s time to head back to the dock!

Return Transportation

Photos

Just like all the other Xcaret attractions, you’ll be able to purchase of photo package of your personal photos from the experience.

There aren’t designated “Xelfie” stations like at some of the other Xcaret parks but instead there are professional photographers stationed all over who will scan your wristband and take your photo.

There’s a bunch of fun photo ops throughout the entire experience where you can get your photo taken.

Honestly, the photo package is pretty expensive and it’s just as easy to take your own photos with your cell phone.

Tips for Visiting Xoximilco

• Check for Xcaret discounts: In addition to the automatic advanced purchase discounts mentioned above, Xcaret usually offers extra promotions and coupon codes, so make sure to check my Xcaret Resource Hub for the latest promotions before purchasing your tickets.

• Add on the transportation: The official transportation can only be added at the time of booking, so make sure to add it on when purchasing your tickets. It’s pretty far from Playa del Carmen and the Riviera Maya, so the added convenience is definitely worth it after a night of drinking.

• Make sure to go to the bathroom before boarding: There aren’t any bathrooms on the boat so make sure to go before boarding. There’s also 1 stop in the middle of the experience for a bathroom break.

• Go with a good attitude: This experience is all about having fun and embracing Mexican culture. So make sure to go with a positive attitude and get ready to meet new people, dance, and have a good time!

• Pace yourself: The drinks are unlimited, but be careful not to overdo it. It’s easy to get caught up in the celebration and have one too many tequila shots. They were passing out barf bags on the bus ride home! I’ve also heard about people having to be rolled out in a wheelchair.

Final Thoughts