The City Green Exploring the Urban Eco Reserve of Xochimilco

Will start the day in central Mexico City with coffee and pastries at Hagamos Composta - Café Comunitario. We will then depart in a private van to the NESCO heritage site of Xochimilco, a place for a pleasure cruise and also a vital agricultural resource. We’ll learn more about Xochimilco's culture and food and meet the people who maintain its one-of-a-kind agricultural system. The Chinampas

Xochimilco

our first stop will be the vast market of the area of Xochimilco. We’ll try different pre-Columbian dishes such as tlacoyos (oval-shaped corn-meal patties filled with fava beans, cheese, refried beans, spinach, potatoes and more) handmade by local women who set up shop every morning at one of the aisles; banana leaf-wrapped tamales – the best of the city – made by Don Lupe and his wife, an older couple native to the area; and chileatole, an ancient drink made with corn, herbs and peppers. As we explore the market we’ll learn more about the different kinds of produce that are grown locally in the chinampas.

Floating Gardens of Xochimilco

We will track the market's local products back to their source as we ride our own trajinera – a festively-decorated flat-bottom boat used by locals to traverse the canals – through part of the ecological reserve that is particularly rich in flora and fauna.