Leyendas de Coyoacán
Just at sunset, at 19:00 hours, the mock tramcar (designed to replicate the popular method of transport in the beginning of the XX century) leaves the center of Coyoacán for a mystery trip that recounts the legends of Coayoacán. This old part of the city, which used to be just a small pueblo in centuries past, has a rich history full of myths and characters that are just waiting for new generations to discover. That’s the main purpose of this tour, to not forget these historical stories, and to highlight the old haunts where they took place, all re-told with the moon and the cover of the night’s darkness as witnesses. You can plan ahead and arrive at the historic center of Coyoacán just before the sun has set, or sit back and enjoy the ride after a day of enjoying this part of the city. The tour lasts 35 minutes.
There’s a “tramcar” leaving every 15 minutes or so after 7 p.m., as soon as it fills up. The guides on board are certified and have a vast number of stories to tell, including some of Coyoacán’s most noted residents (and their adventures) at the start of the XX century: Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo, and their home for several decades, the Casa Azul (now a museum); poet Octavio Paz, actress Dolores del Río, filmmaker Emilio “El Indio” Fernández, and revolutionary Emiliano Zapata, to name a few. There are stories to hear but also sights to see along the way, including beautiful old houses from another era and the cobblestone streets decorated with trees, as well as other churches and plazas that instill that old pueblo charm to Coyoacán. This ride experience has a cost of $60 pesos.
A more enveloping experience is the Leyendas de Coyoacán walking tour, which is also at night and provides 2 hours of wandering the small cobblestone streets and alleys of the neighborhood to really take your time hearing the mysterious stories of several locations, lurking in the deepest confines of Coyoacán. This tour has a more “scary” feel to the experience and is better suited for those interested in old ghost stories and hauntings. Such as in the legend of “La Llorona”, the old tale of a woman who still haunts the streets at night crying out for her children. For this night excursion remember to wear a comfortable pair of shoes and a warm jacket, as nights in Mexico City are usually chilly year-round. This tour on foot has a cost of $350 pesos per person.
Whichever experience you chose, you’ll be glad to dive into the rich folklore surrounding this historic enclave of the city, so old that Aztec emperors and Hernán Cortes used to wander around (not together though, presumably).
