No Shit Trips

Trips, no traps!

    • Olmecs, a mother culture

      Artifacts from the Olmec Room, Museo Nacional de Antropología, Mexico City.

      Before the rise of the Maya and the Aztecs, near the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, there was an enigmatic civilization known as the Olmec. They are renowned for the giant basalt heads in which the portraits of their rulers were immortalized.

      Their name derives from Nahuatl—the language of the Aztecs—and it means “the people of the land of rubber.” This is due to the abundance of the rubber tree, which secretes a type of latex used to manufacture everything from the balls for the ancient ritual ball game to modern medical-grade equipment, such as surgical gloves.

      The Olmec are thought to have laid the spiritual foundations of pre-Columbian Mexico. It is among them that archaeologists first found the features that would consistently repeat in the religions of the civilizations to come. Surprisingly, while religion often divides neighbors and families, in this part of the world, it became the trait that unified hundreds of peoples—from the Gulf to the Pacific, and from central Mexico to Central America—many of whom spoke different languages and dialects.

      During your visit to the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, it is worth taking the time to explore the Olmec room. It is as enlightening as learning about the Sumerians or the Babylonians, though, of course, it raises far more questions.

      No Shit Trips

    • Happy No Shit Year!

      Column to the Independence of Mexico on Reforma Avenue, Mexico City.

      Every year is a 365-day ride on this rocky planet we call Earth. So, more than a cliché, it is fair to say that every year is an actual journey, isn’t is?

      Last Christmas we talked about choosing the people to travel with; we stated that the right company is more important than the destination itself. However, even more important than the right company is the right attitude.

      If you can afford fancy and want to do it that’s alright, but a nice, memorable trip is barely about the circumstances that surround you. It is your heart’s attitude that works the magic! If it sucks, no matter how much or how little you spend, nothing will ever satisfy you or make you happy. Moreover, when your attitude sucks trouble will always come your way and even if small, they will look bigger than they might actually be. Instead, a positive attitude will help you go through them so easily that you might find them amusing, part of the thrill, part of the adventure; anecdotes to share that will turn you more interesting, funnier, perhaps nicer to be around.

      The right attitude is the first thing to be packed for a successful trip. Remember: every year is a 365-day journey on this rocky spacecraft we call Earth.

      Happy No Shit Year 2026!

      No Shit Trips

    • Merry No Shit Christmas!

      The year is coming to an end. It’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on everything we’ve done and experienced during this latest lap around the sun.

      It is also the perfect time to set goals that guide us through the next twelve months. There’s nothing new about that, but at No Shit Trips, we want to suggest a slightly different approach.

      Think about it: during any journey, isn’t the destination the least important part? It’s the people you travel with that matter most. A simple walk in the park with the right person is worth a thousand times more than a luxury trip to a bucket-list destination with someone whose company you just can’t stand.

      So, today we are not asking you to focus on your goals for the future. Instead, we are inviting you to think about the people you want to share those goals with—the people whose company turns every walk, every drive, every flight, every conversation into a real No Shit Trip.

      Don’t just think about them! Reach them out, ask them on a trip, and wish them a Merry No Shit Christmas.

      No Shit Trips

    • A living rock

      Mexico’s 2nd highest peak: Popocatepetl volcano. View from Paso de Cortés, Estado de Mexico.

      Two hours away from Mexico City lies a mountain pass known as Paso de Cortés. Legend has it that this is where conquistador Hernán Cortés first beheld the magnificence of Mexico-Tenochtitlan, the Aztec Empire’s capital, rising so majestically upon the surface of Lake Texcoco.

      Paso de Cortés sits directly between two volcanoes, whose names come from Nahuatl, the language of the Aztecs. Iztaccihuatl (the ‘Sleeping Lady’) and Popocatepetl (the ‘Smoking Mountain’). At 17,159 ft. and 17,802 ft. respectively, they are Mexico’s 3rd and 2nd highest peaks—both towering significantly higher than Japan’s iconic Mount Fuji.

      Legend also has it that these two volcanoes were once star-crossed lovers whose devotion was eternalized by the gods. She was a princess and he was a fearless warrior. Today she lies in and eternal slumber, while he stands guard over of her, smoke rising as he remains ready to fight anyone who dares disturb her peace. A love so immense that it literally shaped the horizon.

      Paso de Cortés is a powerful reminder of Earth’s living forces. You don’t need to reach the summit of Iztaccihuatl—the only one of the two you can still climb—to experience a profound connection with yourself. Standing there, you feel incredibly lucky to be part of the universe, yet so humbled for the same reason.

      Have you ever stood before a place that made you feel like that? Tell us where!

      No Shit Trips

    • Vanilla-flavored sculpture

      Hand-knitted vanilla scorpion, by Totonac culture from Mexican State of Veracruz; Museo Indígena, Mexico City.

      They say that simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

      Simple things may not be dazzling or loud, yet, it is their subtlety that hits our very core in ways that are often everlasting. Think about it! How many paths have been redirected by a professor’s few words? How many arguments have been prevented by just a small gesture of kindness?

      There is a humble museum in Mexico City called Museo Indígena (Museum of Indigenous Peoples). It stands in stark contrast to the glam surrounding the city’s highlights. It is actually quite modest in size and collection, and the buildings exterior is somewhat unimpressive.

      But don’t be deceived, this place is worth every minute of your time -around a couple of hours. Although underestimated, it is undoubtedly a place for true connoisseurs; and we don’t mean experts in the field, but rather travelers who know how to spot the sophistication in “simple” things.

      No Shit Trips

    • Are you really looking?: Beyond the tourist gaze

      Pyramid of the Sun and Causeway of the Dead seen from the Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan, Mexico.

      When people visit the pyramids of Mexico and Central America, most are captivated by their breathtaking presence and design. But very few have any idea of what truly awaits them: everything there is to see and consider once you set eyes on those architectural wonders.

      We like asking our guides a few questions to better enjoy what we are looking at or setting foot on. Questions that might seem obvious but not everybody asks, sometimes out of awe:

      When was this temple built and when did the city arise?

      Who founded or discovered it?

      Did they leave behind written records, paintings or codices? What language did they speak?

      Who were their contemporary cities or neighbors?

      What were their beliefs and worldview?

      What was their main trade commodity?

      Has the climate changed ever since the foundation or abandonment?

      What was their typical diet?

      We are sure these simple questions will bring the sites to life, and make your pictures and videos far more meaningful.

      No Shit Trips

    • Books fall short…

      Parish of Saint Bernardine of Siena, Xochimilco, Mexico City.

      For many people, books are the first encounter with history, world art and different cultures.

      Mexico and Latin American nations are deeply rooted in diverse civilizations: From the Pre-Columbian peoples such as the Mayas and the Tupi, to the legacies of Greece, Rome, the Arab influence within the Hispanic culture, originated during the occupation of the Iberian Peninsula; and the heritage of people from different regions of Africa.

      It is impressive enough when you learn all of this in books, but they often fall short; they can never fully convey the amazement of experiencing all of these roots blooming in unison through every cultural manifestation: cuisine, music, language, faith, and worldview.

      In Mexico City, one of the most popular places to visit is Xochimilco, pronounced soh-chee-mil-koh, famous for its festive boat rides on flower-surrounded canals; a great place to throw a literally floating party!. Yet, Xochimilco is much more than that, it represents the last bastion of Pre-Columbian agricultural techniques capable of yielding up to three harvests a year; it is home to axolots, a sort of salamander famous for its ability to regenerate its limbs and brain. Xochimilco is also a village with a vibrant identity expressed in its local market, its cuisine and its historical buildings which, in some cases, surprisingly resemble European medieval fortresses.

      Once you understand the diverse roots that shape Mexican culture, it is truly mind-blowing to discover fragments of indigenous, European, Arab and African heritage hidden in a still-rural corner of such an overwhelming metropolis.

      Join us to discover the hidden gems of history and culture that shape some of the most singular spots in Mexico!

      No Shit Trips