The Best Water Activities in Mexico City and Nearby
Boat rides and hot springs are not usually what comes to mind when people think of North America’s largest metropolis. But there are actually several fun water activities in Mexico City.
If you’re trying to figure out where to find water sports, boat tours, hot springs, and the best swimming in Mexico City, you’ve come to the right place!
I’ve had the privilege of visiting Mexico City on a handful of occasions, and the city’s unexpected water adventures are some of my favorite Mexico City activities to date.
👋🏽 Note from the author: Did this article impact the way you planned your trip? Have any questions? Please comment at the end of the article! It helps this blog grow and helps me know what types of articles to write more. 💛
The Best Water Activities in Mexico City
There are only a few water activities in Mexico City, but they’re all fun and memorable! Plus, if you’re willing to add a little side trip onto your Mexico City itinerary, you can easily experience incredible waterfalls, hot springs, lagoons, and other aquatic adventures!
Xochilmilco: An unmissable boat ride in Mexico City
Floating Gardens of Xochilmilco (The BEST!)
A trip to Mexico City is not complete without visiting the famous Floating Gardens of Xochilmilco along the southern edge of the city.
Since ancient Mexico City was built on a lake, these canals designed and used by the Aztecs to travel between their artificial agricultural lands, called chinampas, or floating gardens. There are still many farms and gardens along the canals today.
The best way to experience the Xochilmilco canals is on a trajinera, which is a traditional boat that is similar to a gondola. You can choose how long you’d like to float along the canals—anywhere from an hour to up to six hours. The longer you go, the more of the canals you’ll get to explore.
As you glide along the water, you pass other trajineras full of local families celebrating special occasions and other tourists experiencing this Mexico City wonder for the first time. You also pass floating vendors who sell beer, soda, and snacks right from their boats. And you’ll likely encounter a handful of floating mariachi bands!
My husband and I went on a two hour Xochimilco boat ride on first trip to Mexico City and we were absolutely blown away—who knew such peace and tranquility could exist in such a gigantic city?
Since we booked a private trajinera boat ride and chose not to indulge in any alcohol or visit the famous ‘Island of the Dead Dolls,’ ours was a chill, peaceful boat ride. It was just us taking in the area’s stunning natural beauty as our guide pushed us along.
However, there is a whole other side of Xochimilco you can experience if you’d like—the fiesta side! Join a fun group tour and party it up as you float along the ancient canals.
You can also book a different type of floating garden boat ride that takes you off the beaten path deep into the countryside where you’ll learn about Xochimilco’s rich ecological reserve.
If you decide to visit Xochimilco without a tour guide, be aware that scams here are very common. Only board a boat from the main embarkment point. You’ll get the best prices here regardless of what people on the street tell you—locals ‘helping’ tourists by directing them to different embarkment points for a ‘better deal’ is a common scam to avoid.
Lake Chapultepec boats in Mexico City
Paddle Boat Ride at Chapultepec Park
Looking for water activities in close proximity to Centro Historico, Roma Norte, Condesa, and other popular Mexico City neighborhoods?
Head straight to Chapultepec Park! This massive 1700-acre park is Mexico City’s central park and it is full of things to do—including paddle boating.
Paddle boat rentals costs around $60-120 pesos depending on how many people and how long you want to rent it.
Renting a paddle boat at Chapultepec Lake is a very local activity, you won’t see many other foreigners doing it, but it is definitely a fun and cheap way to get on the lake in Mexico City!
After a boat ride, explore more of Chapultepec Park. My favorite things to do here include visiting the Anthropology Museum and Chapultepec Castle.
The Anthropology Museum is the place to go if you want to learn about the indigenous history of Mexico, and Chapultepec Castle is interesting as it is the only ‘true’ castle in Mexico, plus it has great views of the CDMX skyline.
You can book a private walking tour of both the Anthropology Museum and Chapultepec Castle here, I highly recommend it!
Hot springs near Mexico City
Day Trip to Grutas Tolantongo
While some people call Grutas Tolantongo the Mexico City hot springs, this breathtaking site is actually four hours away from CDMX.
Despite the long drive, Grutas de Tolantongo is still a somewhat popular day trip from Mexico City. It also makes a great side trip or weekend trip if you’re based on Mexico City and have more time to spare.
Regardless of how and when you plan to visit, these picturesque hot springs are definitely worth adding to your Mexico City itinerary.
They are located in the state of Hidalgo north of Mexico City and they are part of the ejido system, meaning they are co-owned by local community members.
In addition to soaking in the gorgeous cliffside pools, you can also explore the area’s caves and swim the nearby icy blue river.
To visit Grutas Tolantongo on a day trip from Mexico City, you can book a group tour like this one, which included roundtrip transportation. Alternatively, you can rent a car and drive to the hot springs yourself, which gives you the most flexibility, but requires you to drive eight hours in one day.
For the best experience, spend the night nearby. There are several basic hotels in the area, including Hotel La Gruta Tolantongo and Hotel Paraíso Escondido.
Círculo Mexicano Rooftop Pool (Photo courtesy of Circulo Mexicano)
Stay at a Mexico City with a Rooftop Pool
One last way to experience water activities in Mexico City is to simply stay at a hotel with a pool—ideally a rooftop pool!
While swimming pools are not standard at most Mexico City hotels, there are a handful of hotels with gorgeous pools. My personal recommendations include:
Círculo Mexicano – Centro Historico
Located directly across the street from Mexico City’s iconic Metropolitan Cathedral and the ruins of Templo Mayor, Círculo Mexicano has a perfect location in the historical center.
The luxurious rooms feature a bright, minimalist design with historical accents, but the rooftop pool and hot tub are my favorite. Take a dip and grab a drink while overlooking the most iconic views of Mexico City’s skyline.
Sofitel – Reforma
If you’ve read my guide to the tiny Zona Rosa neighborhood in Reforma, you know that Sofitel is the best hotel in the area. While Sofitel’s pool is not located on a rooftop, it is on the building’s 28th floor with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
Even if you don’t stay at Sofitel, a day pass to their spa is worth considering. The pass includes access to their saltwater pool, their plunge pools, steam room, sauna, and a massage.
Xoma – Roma Norte
Situated in vibrant, trendy Roma Norte, Xoma features modern apartments and one of the most beautiful rooftop pools in Mexico City.
Xoma is the perfect place to stay in Mexico City if you want to be in Roma, have access to a pool, and want a little extra space and a kitchen.
More Water Activities In Mexico
Mexico City is the perfect starting point to explore the rest of Mexico. If you are willing to take a little side trip of weekend trip out of the city, you have almost endless water adventures to choose from.
You can fly to any airport in Mexico directly from Mexico City, and flights are usually pretty cheap. If you’re looking for more incredible water activities in Mexico, here are my recommendations:
Waterfalls of Santiago Apoloa
Fly into Oaxaca City, the food and culture capital of Mexico, then journey into the Oaxaca countryside to visit the stunning village of Santiago Apoala. This is one of the best places in Mexico for hiking, but the waterfalls with pristine blue pools for swimming are only a short distance from town. Read my guide to Santiago Apoala.
Luxury Yachts in Mexico
There is nothing like a day on your own private yacht somewhere in tropical paradise! I highly recommend heading to Baja California Sur and spending a day on the turquoise blue Sea of Cortez, snorkeling and visiting Mexico’s most beautiful beaches. My Baja yacht rental recommendation.
Sumidero Canyon Boat Tours
Head over to the charming state of Chiapas and go on a boat tour through a lush vibrant canyon. If you want to experience the diversity of Mexico, this is the place to go! While the canyon is just outside Tuxtla, I recommend staying in the charming colonial town of San Cristobal de las Casas nearby. Read my guide to Sumidero Canyon.
My favorite cenote near Valladolid, Yucatan
Cenotes of Quintana Roo & Yucatan
A list of fun water activities in Mexico would not be complete without mentioning cenotes! These sinkholes formed naturally across many areas of southern Mexico, especially on the Yucatan peninsula. With turquoise blue water, they make the perfect swimming holes! Head to Valladolid, Bacalar, Tulum, Playa del Carmen or nearby towns for access to these breathtaking pools!
Swimming with Hundreds of Wild Dolphins in Oaxaca
A few miles off the coast of Puerto Escondido you can jump in the water and snorkel with hundreds (sometimes thousands) of dolphins! This is one of my all time favorite travel experiences and I have a full guide swimming with dolphins here, as well as a Puerto Escondido itinerary if you visit this beautiful beach town.
Santa Rita Hot Springs and Fox Canyon Waterfall
Just an hour north of Los Cabos you’ll find a place that feels like a hidden desert oasis in the Sierra Laguna Mountains. The best things to do in this area include soaking in the secluded Santa Rita Hot Springs and swimming beneath the beautiful Fox Canyon Waterfall.
Muyil River Float
One of the most unique things you can do in Mexico is float down a Mayan-made canal in a bright blue lagoon. This is very different than the ancient canals of Xochimilco in Mexico City because you actually float down using a lifejacket as a floatie instead of on a boat. If you’re visiting Tulum, definitely check out the Muyil River Float!
Natural Infinity Pools at Hierve el Agua Oaxaca
Hierve el Agua is easily the most popular day trip from Oaxaca City, and for good reason! In addition to seeing petrified waterfalls up close, you can also bathe in natural infinity pools overlooking the Oaxacan countryside. Hierve el Agua tour recommendation from Oaxaca City.
Final Thoughts: Mexico City Boat Tours + Water Activities
Yes, you can still experience fun water activities in Mexico City! Whether you’re embarking on a Mexico City boat tour or taking a day trip to the hot springs, I hope this article helped you plan your CDMX adventures.
