The best thing we have done in Mexico

• When planning a trip to girls in Mexico City, I looked for unique local experiences.
• I found a visit led by residents to Teotihuacán who took you home for lunch.
• It taught me more about Mexican culture than any museum or bus visit.

When a friend moved to Mexico City, planning a trip to girls to visit him was obvious.

As a travel writer, I naturally became the travel planner. Although we wanted to explore the dynamic culture and history of the city, I also wanted to go beyond traditional tourist haunts.

The emblematic ruins of Teotihuacán outside the city were a must on our list, so I started looking for different ways to experiment them.

It was then that I found the Hugo and Gabriel tour on Airbnb’s experiences.

For around $ 104 per person, we would visit the ancient Meso-American city and have lunch with their grandmother a few minutes.

The excursion has promised a mixture of history, culture and connection which seemed perfect for our group.

With the blessings of my friends to do something from their comfort zones, we have reserved it.

I am looking for local ties when I travel, and this visit to the house of a grandmother near an old city delivered

The day started with a visit to Teotihuacán, an ancient Meso-American city which houses the pyramids of the sun and the impressive moon.

As incredible as the ruins are, the real magic started when we arrived at Grandmère.

We were welcomed with Jamaica refreshing Agua glasses (hibiscus water) while the intoxicating aroma of rich and earthy spices, notes of roasted peppers, dark chocolate, grilled nuts and scented herbs quickly attracted us inside.

The family of our guides put the final touch on the plates, which had been prepared for hours – if not days.

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The tasting of homemade moles listening to the history of the family was comforting

Our guides, Brothers Hugo and Gabriel, shared how their family business started while we savor homemade green and red grains – each the secret recipe of a grandmother.

They said what started as a way to compensate for college costs by driving visitors to the pyramids has become much bigger.

Inspired by their love for history and culture, the brothers told us that they had studied anthropology to become certified guides.

When they started offering visits, they made that many nearby restaurants felt like too expensive tourist traps. Then, their mom and grandmother suggested a simple idea but that changes their life: “Why not bring visitors home? We are going to cook for them!”

Now, many family members help them share their culture and traditions through food as part of the tour.

After hearing about their experience, our culinary journey only aggravated. We were introduced to Pulque, a fermented drink made from the sap of the Maguey plant which dates back thousands of years.

Our guides have taught us the story of the old drink while we were able to taste some unique varieties and other liqueurs.

This tour was one of my favorite experiences in Mexico City

I did not expect it to become the highest point of my trip, but I am grateful to have booked it.

We were able to discover local cuisine and a local business while sharing a delicious meal, which seemed invaluable. For me, this experience looked like a celebration of everything that makes Mexican culture so rich and welcoming.

It was a beautiful reminder that the best travel experiences are not only to check the monuments. These are connections that reveal the soul of a place – a bite, a story and a meal at a time.