Xochimilco Floating Gardens with Arca Tierra

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its astonishing beauty and contribution to civilization, the canal-crossed neighborhood of Xochimilco is one of the oldest in Mexico City. The chinampas date back earlier than the Aztecs, who built wood and clay rafts that would eventually root and become the human-made islands that form the lush canals of today’s Xochimilco, one of the world’s most historically productive and sustainable agricultural systems. We will take a ride on one of the garden’s colorful, flat-bottomed trajineras to see a slice of the expansive canal system, where mariachi music wafts through the air from floating fiestas drifting down nearby canals. Lucio Usobiaga, founder of Arca Tierra, will tell us a bit about the efforts to restore the chinampas and preserve the neighborhood’s agricultural legacy. We’ll sample some of the over 50 varieties of fruits and vegetables grown on the channels at dinner with our good friend, Donnie Masterston. At The Restaurant in nearby San Miguel de Allende, he works with many of the areas best farmers and producers, many of whom he’s introduced to us throughout the years. We can’t wait to see who he brings to the table this time around.

Recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site for its beauty and contribution to civilization, the canal-crossed neighborhood of Xochimilco is one of the oldest in Mexico City. Chinampas date back to before the Aztecs, who built rafts of wood and clay that would eventually take root and become the artificial islands that form the canals of today’s Xochimilco, one of the most historically productive and sustainable agricultural systems in the world. We’ll take a ride on one of the garden’s colorful flat-bottomed trajineras to see a part of the extensive canal system, where mariachi music rises into the air from the floating parties that move along the nearby canals. Lucio Usobiaga, founder of Arca Tierra, will tell us a little about the efforts to restore the chinampas and preserve the neighborhood’s agricultural legacy. We will taste some of the more than 50 varieties of fruits and vegetables grown in the canals during dinner with one of the best chefs in Mexico City.