- When planning a girls’ trip to Mexico City, I searched for unique local experiences.
- I found a tour led by locals to Teotihuacán that took you to their home for lunch.
- It taught me more about Mexican culture than any museum or bus tour could have.
When a friend relocated to Mexico City, planning a girls’ trip to visit her was a no-brainer.
As a travel writer, I naturally became the trip planner. Although we wanted to explore the city’s vibrant culture and history, I also desired to go beyond the traditional tourist haunts.
Teotihuacán’s iconic ruins outside the city were a must-see on our list, so I started searching for different ways to experience them.
That’s when I found Hugo and Gabriel’s tour on Airbnb Experiences.
For about $104 a person, we would visit the ancient Mesoamerican city and have lunch at their grandmother’s home just minutes away.
The excursion promised a mix of history, culture, and connection that felt perfect for our group.
With my friends’ blessings to do something out of their comfort zones, we booked it.
I seek local connections when I travel, and this tour to a grandma’s home near an ancient city delivered
Sara Iannacone
The day began with a visit to Teotihuacán, an ancient Mesoamerican city home to the awe-inspiring Sun and Moon Pyramids.
As incredible as the ruins were, the real magic started when we arrived at Grandma’s house.
We were greeted with glasses of refreshing agua de Jamaica (hibiscus water) while the intoxicating aroma of rich, earthy spices, hints of roasted chilies, dark chocolate, toasted nuts, and fragrant herbs quickly drew us inside.
Our guides’ family was putting the finishing touches on the plates, which had been prepared for hours — if not days.
Tasting homemade moles while listening to the family’s story was heartwarming
Sara Iannacone
Our guides, brothers Hugo and Gabriel, shared how their family business started while we savored the homemade green and red moles — each a grandmother’s secret recipe.
They said what first began as a way to offset college costs by driving visitors to the pyramids evolved into something much bigger.
Inspired by their love for history and culture, the brothers told us they studied anthropology to become certified guides.
When they started offering tours, they realized many nearby restaurants felt like overpriced tourist traps. Then, their mom and grandma suggested a simple but life-changing idea: “Why not bring the visitors home? We’ll cook for them!”
Now, many members of the family help them share their culture and traditions through food as part of the tour.
After hearing about their experience, our culinary journey only deepened. We were introduced to pulque, a fermented drink crafted from the sap of the maguey plant that dates back thousands of years.
Our guides taught us about the history of the ancient beverage while we got to taste a few varieties and other unique liqueurs.
This tour was one of my favorite experiences in Mexico City
Sara Iannacone
I didn’t expect this would become the highlight of my trip, but I’m grateful we booked it.
We got to learn about local cuisine and a local business while sharing a delicious meal, which felt priceless. To me, this experience felt like a celebration of everything that makes Mexican culture so rich and inviting.
It was a beautiful reminder that the best travel experiences aren’t just about ticking off landmarks. They’re about the connections that reveal the soul of a place — one bite, one story, and one meal at a time.
