Beyond the party
Island of the Dolls, axolotls
The Island of the Dolls and the axolotl, two things visitors ask about on the Xochimilco canals, and how to see the island by boat.
Book the Xochimilco party boat ↗Quick answer
The Island of the Dolls is the best-known chinampa in Xochimilco, where Julián Santana Barrera hung dolls, according to Wikipedia. The axolotl, a critically endangered salamander, is native to Xochimilco's lakes. A direct two-hour boat to the island is on the booking cards. The party boat on this site is a different ride, and its booking page does not list the island.
The best-known chinampa
Wikipedia calls the Island of the Dolls the best-known chinampa in Xochimilco. It describes Don Julián Santana Barrera collecting dolls in the middle of the twentieth century and hanging them around the small island, and it says he died in 2001, after which his family opened the island to the public. The page also notes that locals describe the place as charmed, not haunted. Wikipedia places it among the channels of Xochimilco, south of the centre of Mexico City, so a boat is the way to reach it.
How visitors treat it
Wikipedia says visitors sometimes leave offerings around the dolls in exchange for miracles and blessings, and that some change the dolls' clothes. It adds that most rowers will take people to the island, but some refuse out of superstition. The booking page for the direct boat says guests can bring a doll and leave it on the island. Treat the island as a place where some people come with real beliefs, and keep your voice and your photographs respectful.
Getting there by boat
The direct boat on the booking cards runs for two hours with a guide, starting and ending at the same landing. Its page says it is transport to the island and not a party boat, that entry to the island is included, and that guests explore the island with a relative of its creator. It lists intoxication and bachelor or bachelorette groups as not allowed, and suggests comfortable clothes and mosquito repellent. For the party boat, see the first guide.
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The axolotl
Wikipedia says the axolotl is native to the freshwater lakes of Xochimilco and Chalco in the Valley of Mexico, and calls it the most representative animal of Xochimilco's waters. The Xochimilco article adds that it was considered an incarnation of the god Xolotl. The International Union for Conservation of Nature assesses the species as critically endangered, and Wikipedia says its natural habitat is now limited to Lake Xochimilco. It is also listed under CITES Appendix II, the treaty list that controls trade in threatened species.
Why it is in trouble
Wikipedia names habitat loss as Mexico City expanded, invasive fish such as tilapia and carp, and water quality, with partly treated wastewater and farm pesticide runoff degrading the lake. It also describes reduced genetic diversity as the population shrank. Boat rides cannot promise a sighting, and the party boat's booking page does not mention axolotls, so enjoy the canals for what they are.
Who this isn't for
This guide is background. It does not promise that any boat visits the island or shows you an axolotl. Check the booking page for the option you choose before you plan around either.
Frequently asked questions
Does the party boat go to the Island of the Dolls?
The party boat's booking page does not list the island. A separate two-hour direct boat on the booking cards goes there and says it is not a party boat.
Can I see an axolotl on a boat ride?
No boat on this page promises it. Wikipedia says the axolotl is critically endangered and its natural habitat is now limited to Lake Xochimilco.
Is the island haunted?
Wikipedia says locals describe it as charmed rather than haunted.
Sources