@jaliahines

I’m writing this review after my second trip with noma in 2 months.

i spent my first edition with noma at their flagship location, placencia, belize, in december 2024 with a fantastic group of people. the accommodations at umaya resort were comfortable, with great views of the lagoon and ocean on either side of the property, and provided strong wifi connection for most of the trip with a few exceptions, which they worked hard to resolve for us once we let them know we were having issues. we had housekeeping twice a week, and our suites came equipped with the essentials we needed to make it our home away from home for 3 weeks.

our community manager, sarah, was a gem and made sure our group got the best out of our time — she went above and beyond to ensure we were exposed to the culture, community, and vibes of placencia, even with the uncontrollable late-season rain we experienced for most of the trip. one of the highlights of my time was attending the mistletoe ball, a chance for us to dress up, wear fun masks, and celebrate the holidays with the locals. placencia is a slower-paced town, which is best for people looking to relax and unwind. still, sarah provided great tips and insight into the hidden gems around the peninsula for those looking for fun nightlife and adventure with their relaxation. if you’re considering joining a placencia edition, i encourage you to plan your own adventure and explore other parts of belize. during my edition, i spent a few days in san pedro (ambergris caye) and had a great time.

a few days after leaving placencia, i joined a noma side quest in rio de janeiro, brazil, for a week to bring in the new year. side quests are a great way to explore a city in a shorter time and allow noma alums to make their own journey and experience the city however they like. we had one day of noma-curated events (new year’s eve), but otherwise, the week was our own to curate. we stayed in a beautiful 3-story vintage-style mansion in the santa teresa area with a pool, plenty of places for coworking, and unparalleled scenic views of the city. on new year’s eve, noma hired a brazilian chef to prepare a 4-course meal for our group, and later, we were transported to copacabana beach to a reserved spot for our group to party and bring in the new year. we danced on the beach to funk carioca, reggae, soca, and hip hop, drank too many caipirinhas, watched the fireworks, and jumped the waves together at midnight.

overall, i had a fantastic time with noma on both trips, and i encourage anyone on the fence about joining a noma edition to take the plunge. i met great people, made lifelong friends, and had unforgettable experiences, and i look forward to my next edition.