The Best Documentaries About Mexico City To Watch Before Your Trip

Mexico City is hard to capture from a single perspective: its food, art, music, and culture converge into a wild, chaotic, and awe-inspiring mix of sights and sounds. To help you get a grasp on the city before you go, we’ve gathered the best documentaries about the Mexican capital.

Want to discover the best of Mexico City with a small group of like-minded travelers? Join Culture Trip’s five-day adventure in the Mexican capital, which includes a chance to watch the high-flying antics of the lucha libre, a visit to Frida Kahlo’s house and a private tour of a local food market.

Mega Cities: Mexico City (2009)

The Mexico City episode from the Mega Cities series by National Geographic is admittedly a little old school. But it provides an excellent insight into the geography of the capital and why it’s so susceptible to natural disasters. Be warned, some of the photos from the 1985 earthquake are intense.

Reflexión (2016)

The chinampas (floating gardens) of Xochimilco are important, historic and endangered. The short documentary Reflexión introduces you to this beautiful and forgotten natural side of the capital and why we should all care about protecting these ancient Aztec floating gardens.

World’s Busiest Cities: Mexico City (2017)

In theWorld’s Busiest Cities episode on Mexico City, BBC reporters Dan Snow, Anita Rania and Ade Adepitan discuss and dissect the struggles of the capital, from maintaining clean water to the upkeep of the streets. It also looks into how the massive metropolis functions from day to day.

The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo (2005)

Come to the Mexican capital and you’ll see Frida’s image everywhere

Before visiting Mexico City, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the capital’s most famous resident. The Life and Times of Frida Kahlo by PBS tells the story of this fascinating, revered artist. It’s essential watching before you tour Casa Azul in the Coyoacan neighborhood – her family home and now a museum dedicated to her life and works.

Super Amigos (2007)

Super Amigos is a comic documentary telling the stories of five superheroes who have donned Mexican lucha libre masks and, instead of hitting the ring, head to the streets. These masked men fight injustice, prejudice, and corruption with the light-hearted attitude of a man in tights.

Chef’s Table: Enrique Olvera (2016)

Enrique Olvera is one of the most celebrated chefs in the country

Chef’s Table dedicated an episode to Mexican star chef, Enrique Olvera. It gives you a taste of the culinary scene in the capital and an insight into one of the leading gastronomic stars in Mexico. Watch before you visit Olvera’s Pujol, one of the top restaurants in the world.

Road to Roma (2020)

Director Alfonso Cuarón won an Oscar for his movie set in the Roma neighborhood

In this accompaniment to the 2018 Oscar-winning movie Roma, director Alfonso Cuarón lays out his artistic vision and process. The behind-the-scenes look at the film may have limited appeal if you’re not a film fanatic, but seeing how he recreated his memories of 1970s Mexico City – and more specifically the Roma nighborhood – is fascinating.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.