Kochi sits at the northern edge of the Kerala backwater system — the network of lagoons, canals, rivers, and lakes that stretches south to Kollam. The waterways immediately around Fort Kochi are narrower and more intimate than those further south, and a short boat trip from the Fort Kochi jetty can deliver you into a world of palm-shaded canals and fishing villages within minutes of the tourist area.
Several operators in Fort Cochin offer half-day and full-day canoe and motorboat tours through the local waterways. The ferry crossing from Fort Kochi to the Ernakulam mainland is itself worth taking simply for the views of the harbour and the Chinese fishing nets from the water. For the full houseboat experience, most people head south to Alleppey (Alappuzha), a three-hour drive down the coast.