Mexico City off the beaten path: exploring the most incredible places!

Is Mexico City off the beaten path? Of course, it is. Mexico City is a vast and fascinating city with much more to offer than its conventional tourist areas. Discover an alternative side of the Mexican capital through unique activities, sites, and experiences. Immerse yourself in the most authentic and surprising side of CDMX.

On this tour, we invite you to explore iconic markets, extravagant museums, mystical rituals, and more. Discover corners full of history, try exotic food, and navigate trajinera along ancient canals. It is an adventure off the beaten track, connecting you with the most original energy of this great metropolis. Stay with us!

Mexico City off the beaten path: Ride a trajinera through the canals of Xochimilco

Located southeast of Mexico City, the Xochimilco system of canals and chinampas constitutes one of the capital’s most fascinating natural attractions. Touring this network of canals aboard a colorful trajinera is an unmissable experience.

These typical boats, with a capacity for about ten people, are ideal for relaxed walks while enjoying the landscape. In addition, you will hear the traditional mariachi live. Decorated with flowers and cheerful motifs, the trajineras have feminine names that give them personality.

Walking the canals between Chinampas will allow you to appreciate the beauty of Xochimilco, which has been declared a World Heritage Site. You’ll see exotic flowers, trees, and plants as you navigate this unique lake ecosystem. You can also try typical dishes and drinks from the area.

The trainer is a recreational and cultural experience that will connect you with the most native essence of Xochimilco. Whether in a group or as a couple, getting on one of them is a mandatory ritual for every visitor who wants to discover the magic of this place.

mexico-city-off-the-beaten-path-xochimilco-2 — Located southeast of Mexico City, the Xochimilco system of canals and chinampas constitutes one of the capital’s most fascinating natural attractions.

Mexico City off the beaten path: Visit the Sonora Market and its esoteric rituals

The Sonora Market is in the Merced Balbuena neighborhood and is one of the essential sites on our list. Here, you can get to know Mexico City’s most mystical and traditional side. Founded in the 1950s, this public market stands out for its halls dedicated to herbalism, magic, and the occult.

In this unique area, you can find an impressive variety of medicinal plants, esoteric artifacts, and objects related to spiritual rituals. From amulets for love and good luck to ingredients for making healing concoctions, you can find it all here.

The Sonora Market is also a reference point for those who profess cults like Santa Muerte. Candles, images, incense burners, and other items related to these and other traditions are part of the exotic offering. Every weekend, thousands visit the place hoping to solve problems or attract positive vibes into their lives.

Whether out of anthropological curiosity or genuine interest in these ancient practices, the Sonora Market promises a fascinating experience. It is a mandatory stop to discover the most authentic folklore of the Mexican capital.

sonora-market-3 — The Sonora Market is in the Merced Balbuena neighborhood.

Mexico City off the beaten path: Visit the Abelardo L. Rodríguez Market

Inaugurated in 1934, the Abelardo L. Rodríguez Market is one of the most emblematic shopping centers in the Historic Center of Mexico City. Its imposing architecture has large murals adorning it. The building combines Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Baroque in a style impossible to find elsewhere.

Its exterior and interior display murals made by disciples of Diego Rivera, who supervised the project. But beyond its architectural beauty, this traditional market is captivated by its vibrant atmosphere and delicious gastronomic offerings. Stalls prepares all kinds of typical Mexican snacks and dishes in its hallways.

Whether you want to eat delicious food or appreciate its imposing construction and the artistic work it houses, it is well worth including in your itinerary. It is a cultural gem that condenses history, art, and local flavor.

abelardo-rodriguez-market-4 — Its exterior and interior display murals made by disciples of Diego Rivera, who supervised the project.

Mexico City off the beaten path: Visit the Ripley Museum of Colonia Juárez

The Ripley Museum is a must-see for lovers of the eccentric and extravagant. This peculiar venue houses a permanent collection of the world’s strangest and most surprising objects. The museum occupies a building that simulates a medieval castle and has nine thematic rooms exhibiting diverse pieces. You’ll see shrunken heads, astronaut suits, deformed specimens, and oddities.

Created by cartoonist and researcher Robert Ripley, this museum seeks to generate wonder and curiosity through its bizarre collection. Since 1992, it has allowed children and adults to immerse themselves in the strangest and most fascinating side of different cultures.

With offices in Veracruz and Guadalajara, the Ripley Museum of CDMX discovers the extraordinary in the everyday world—an ideal visit for inquiring, open-minded people.

mexico-city-off-the-beaten-path-ripley-5 — The Ripley Museum is a must-see for lovers of the eccentric and extravagant.

Mexico City off the beaten path: Visit the antique toy market in Parque Tolsá

Tolsá Park hides one of those treasures to be discovered by the curious traveler: An antique toy market. Every weekend, this beautiful park becomes an attraction for both collectors and nostalgists.

Hundreds of stalls display authentic relics of the past: cars, dolls, robots, tin soldiers, puzzles, and all sorts of vintage pieces. You can find true collector’s jewels with patience and an expert eye.

The atmosphere is calm and familiar, ideal for reminiscing about childhood rummaging through G.I. Joe’s or the unforgettable Polly Pocket. There are even new toys in their original packaging.

Whether out of nostalgia or to find that missing toy in your collection, visit the Parque Tolsá antique market. It is a delicious way to connect with the inner child in all of us.

tolsa-park-6 — Tolsá Park hides an antique toy market.

Mexico City off the beaten path: Ride a boat in the Chapultepec Forest

An urban oasis that provides respite from the chaotic Mexico City, the Chapultepec Forest offers a unique experience for its visitors. You can navigate the lake in colorful boats, as a couple, or in a group. There are even some shaped like swans!

These boats, with a capacity for four people, allow you to explore the waters of the most important green lung of the capital. From there, you can appreciate the lush vegetation and enjoy the outdoors. The imposing ahuehuetes, fountains, sculptures, and monuments adorn the forest during the journey.

It is a different way to connect with nature without leaving the city. Whether as a couple, family, or friends, sailing on these peculiar boats is a must-do activity when visiting the Chapultepec Forest—a unique way to discover it from a new perspective.

chapultepec-forest-7 — The Chapultepec Forest offers a unique experience for its visitors.

Mexico City off the beaten path: Participate in a temazcal ceremony

Immersing yourself in an authentic temazcal ceremony is a fascinating experience to connect with ancient healing traditions. This ancient pre-Hispanic steam bath is in Chinampas, in protected natural areas.

The ritual begins with a relaxing ride in a trajinera, admiring the lake environment. Then, in a silent chinampa, you enter the temazcal: a small domed hut where water with aromatic herbs is over hot stones.

Guided by a therapist, People perform chants and follow specific rituals while standing in the purifying steam to cleanse themselves. The ceremony seeks spiritual rebirth and energetic cleansing. Finally, it is left to rest and is complemented with an incense.

Participating in a temazcal provides a multifaceted experience: communion with nature, knowledge of ancestral traditions, and the therapeutic benefits of this medicinal practice—a unique activity to discover a little-known facet of CDMX.

mexico-city-off-the-beaten-path-temazcal — Immersing yourself in an authentic temazcal ceremony is a fascinating experience to connect with ancient healing traditions.

Mexico City off the beaten path: Taste insects at the San Juan de Pugibet Market

The San Juan de Pugibet Market is one of those unmissable gastronomic venues that every bold traveler should visit in CDMX. The reason? You can dare to try exotic delicacies such as roasted insects, grilled crocodiles, or coffee mezcal there.

In this traditional market in the Historic Center, stalls offer crunchy grasshoppers, chocolate scorpions, and all kinds of edible bugs. People prepare these foods with innovative recipes today, but they were already part of the pre-Hispanic diet.

The atmosphere in San Juan de Pugibet is incomparable. The smell of grills mixes with that of fresh fruits and vegetables. A new surprise always awaits the curious diner who wants a unique gastronomic experience.

Do you want to try a chaplaincy taco? Do you dare with a crocodile burger? The San Juan de Pugibet Market promises a delicious adventure of flavors for the most daring—a must-see culinary stop in CDMX.

san-juan-market-9 — The San Juan de Pugibet Market is one of those unmissable gastronomic venues that every bold traveler should visit in CDMX.

Mexico City off the beaten path: Visit the antique market in the Doctor Ignacio Chávez garden

The antique market at the Dr. Ignacio Chávez Garden is one of those hidden treasures that every visitor should discover. Every Saturday, Dozens of stalls selling vintage and retro items transform this once-relaxed public garden.

You can find everything from furniture, lamps, and mirrors with antique designs to toys, magazines, and vinyl records from decades past. Vintage clothing, accessories, and kitchen utensils also abound. The best thing is that you can haggle and find real bargains if you have the patience to search.

Its open-air hallways under ancient trees are ideal for relaxing on Saturday and browsing old books. On your walk, you can listen to old boleros on a record player or simply appreciate the ingenuity of these merchants.

After a few hours of pleasant exploration, you can replenish your energy at one of the inexpensive food stalls there. The market is on Avenida Cuauhtémoc.

antique-market-mexico-city-10 — The San Juan de Pugibet Market is one of those unmissable gastronomic venues that every bold traveler should visit in CDMX.

The CDMX that you didn’t know: a city to discover

Touring Mexico City beyond the conventional tourist circuits opens up a world of incredible possibilities. The Mexican capital is a jewel with unique corners, living traditions, and fascinating experiences for the curious traveler.

After this journey, it is clear that this multicultural metropolis has much more to offer than we imagined. In its neighborhoods, which are full of history, there is always a new perspective to admire.

The best way to encompass all the grandeur and diversity of CDMX is to fly over it on one of our tours. We are Mexico Helicopter, experts in air tours. You can be surprised by the beautiful views of this vibrant city and continue discovering all its secrets. Live an unforgettable experience!