The morning air was crisp and the sky painted in shades of lavender and gold as we arrived at Teotihuacan, once a thriving city in pre-Columbian times but now a vast archaeological site. There was a stillness there that morning, a rarity in a place that welcomes thousands of visitors daily.
But on this morning -- one of the most magical of the year, I was told: a full moon day -- I found myself in a part of the temple complex that most tourists never see. I had this rare opportunity as a guest of Nuba, a luxury travel agency and destination management company, which had arranged a private cacao ceremony for our small group -- a moment of connection with the land, its traditions and its spirit.
Nuba arranged a private sunrise cacao ceremony at Teotihuacan. Photo Credit: Meagan Drillinger
As the cacao warmed in my hands, a shaman guided us through
an ancient ritual meant to open the heart and heighten intuition.
Sipping the velvety elixir, I felt the weight of this important place
settle around me. The sun climbed higher, illuminating the stone
structures in soft amber light.
Nuba, No. 64 on the Travel Weekly Power List, specializes in private itineraries and offers experiences that travel advisors can book in more than 80 destinations around the world. The company is based in Spain but opened a U.S. base in Miami in 2025. I was invited to join a small media group on a trip to Mexico City for the company's 30-year anniversary celebration and to experience the capital city.
My days with Nuba were a dizzying display of luxury and insider access, from cocktails at the Ritz-Carlton, Mexico City to nighttime tours at the National Museum of Anthropology and private tasting experiences at Enrique Olvera's restaurant Ticuchi. That's what Nuba says it prides itself on: connection, VIP experiences and digging deeper into a destination in order to walk away with one-of-a-kind memories.
Experts' guide to Xochimilco
One of the most impressive experiences on my journey was a morning in Xochimilco -- but the visit wasn't done via trajinera, the small, colorful boats that most visitors associate with the area. Instead, Nuba arranged for us to glide through the ancient canals under the guidance of local anthropologists.
We arrived at a chinampa, one of the floating gardens built by the Aztecs, where Fuego Vivo awaited. Visitors can come to the immense, working agricultural project to learn about ancient farming traditions, pick their own produce or enjoy a farm-to-table lunch underneath a soaring palapa, surrounded by centuries-old fields and canals. Our guide explained to us the way the Aztecs used the chinampas and that, at one time five centuries ago, the chinampas were responsible for feeding 80% of the population in Tenochtitlan (the Aztec capital that sat where Mexico City sits today).
When it came time for us to dine, Nuba brought us to some of the city's top restaurants, like Ultramrinos Demar, a hidden gem of a seafood restaurant in the Condesa neighborhood, where we feasted on towers of shellfish, whole-roasted fish and delicate sashimi. In Condesa and Roma, a neighborhood made famous by the eponymous 2018 Oscar-winning film, we wandered through galleries showcasing contemporary artists, meeting curators who shared insights into Mexico's creative scene.
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Perhaps the most unforgettable art experience was our evening visit to the private home of Fernando Botero, the legendary Colombian artist. Walking through his private residences, surrounded by his voluptuous sculptures and paintings, felt like stepping into a private museum. Over canapes and cocktails, we were regaled with stories of his artistic journey by none other than the artist's grandson.
Luxury, for me, has always been about experiences that resonate on a deeper level. It's enabling me to feel a place, understand it and become a part of it. As luxury travel continues to evolve, experiences like these are becoming the gold standard. Nuba's expansion into the U.S. market gives travel advisors a new way to help clients go deeper into destinations, whether it be Mexico or other places around the world.