Mariachi music might not be popular in the USA or Europe, but it's really popular in latin america. I'm from Chile and the father of a friend who visited Xochimilco was moved to tears by their performance. Not saying that it's for everyone, but it's meaningful to a lot of people.

I moved the last sentence to a new paragraph so it is more easily understood I mean to recommend a visit to the chinampas in general.

However, my partner is mexican and was pretty moved particularly by their playing. I've heard a few performances and that one was played with particular investment. It is a different vibe when a full band boards your boat. Of course, YMMV.

I'm a gringo and I love the music. I have, in fact, paid a mariachi boat to tie up to mine and play an few rounds in Xochimilco.

Haha this made me chuckle. I'm a Mexican and couldn't agree more. It's one of those things you have to experience ONCE and that's all.

The cool thing is that if you pay them, you sometimes may be able to ask for a song that you actually like, and they might surprise you. A friend of mine was a mariachi violin player. He liked heavy metal music and played mariachi for money , but his band could cocee stuff like Run to the hills, ace of spades among others.

It's amusing if nothing else.

I visited xochimilco a bunch of times during college, most people avoided them as they are expensive and you could bring your own music (using non smart phone during that time), but plenty of people did approach them. Is that not a thing anymore? I mean, I don't even like mariachi but I thought it was part of the experience.

So it’s like the scene in Silicon Valley, but in boats on the lake