A Guide to Mexico City’s Green Lifestyle

Is a bike sharing scheme an attraction? We think so, and a genius one at that. The city-wide Ecobici scheme works to get both locals and tourists alike out of their cars and off the oversubscribed public transport services, instead encouraging them to travel around Mexico City and take in the sights and sounds on a bike. After paying for a subscription, you simply grab an Ecobici and go, leaving it in the nearest Ecobici stand to you when you’re finished. The great thing is that it works in tandem with an app that tells you where there are available bikes and spaces.

The introduction of vertical gardens on the heavily traversed roads and dual-carriageways of Mexico City was an inspired addition to the capital. The idea was that the plant life would help suck up the dangerous carbon dioxide emissions, all the while adding a splash of greenery and vibrancy to the otherwise dull, grey highways. Funded by the non-profit initiative VERDMX, you can catch a glimpse of these vertical gardens on Sevilla and Tamarindos.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIYxM7NgoOS/

Another fantastic free activity you can take part in while in Mexico City is the weekly bike ride down the Paseo de la Reforma. Take advantage of the aforementioned Ecobici scheme, pull on a pair of rollerblades, or simply jog the route. As well being an incredibly eco-friendly activity, this is also one of the best ways to see some of Mexico City’s coolest and most famous attractions, such as Diana Cazadora and the Ángel de Independencia.

The final green attraction(s) in Mexico City are the three ‘lungs’ of the capital: the Bosque de Chapultepec, a sprawling city centre park filled with tucked away gems and numerous popular museums; Viveros Coyoacán, the perfect place to take a stroll and buy some succulents; and Parque México, one of Mexico City’s Art Deco favourites that’s lined on all sides by restaurants and cafés. Any of these parks would make a great spot to visit, grab a coffee and just relax.

Bosque de Chapultepec, Bosque de Chapultepec I Secc, Ciudad de México, México

Viveros Coyoacán, Av. Progreso 1, Coyoacán, Del Carmen, Ciudad de México, México

Parque México, Avenida México s/n, Cuauhtémoc, Colonia Hipódromo, Ciudad de México, México

It’s hard to define Mexico City’s markets as entirely eco-friendly, simply for the sheer volume of rubbish that they generate on a daily basis. However, if we consider the fact that they’re selling local produce on a vast scale and deterring people from spending their money in large corporate supermarket chains, then they can definitely be considered green. No market in all of Mexico is larger than the wholesale Central de Abastos, which shifts a massive $9,000,000,000+ worth of stock on an annual basis, selling up to 25,000 tons of food daily.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BSy0LRVgu2c/?taken-at=896639141&hl=en