Mexico City hot-air balloon ride: A bucket-list experience

A hot-air balloon ride over the Teotihuacán pyramids at dawn is simply spectacular. Here's what makes it so special, and a few tips we can share

I’ve been lucky enough to have a few unforgettable travel experiences over the years:

• The light shining through the stained-glass windows at La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona

• A fabulous dinner inside the Eiffel Tower with a breathtaking view of Paris

• An overnight stay at the bottom of the Grand Canyon

• And a hot-air balloon ride over the Teotihuacán pyramids at dawn. It’s number one on my list of anything I recommend to people visiting Mexico City

After my first balloon ride above the pyramids, I described it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But as it turns out, I’ve been lucky to be wrong on that count.

My first Teotihuacán balloon ride was supposed to be with the entire family. But when our daughter Kelly got sick and had to stay back at the Airbnb, just Paul, our son Mark, and I made the trip.

The next summer, Kelly and I came to Mexico City together, and I wanted to make it up to her, so off we went.

On a later trip, two friends came to visit. We recommended the balloon ride, intending for them to go on their own. But we decided it was worth joining them.

And last March, Mark and Kelly came out to visit again. We asked each of them what they wanted to do in Mexico City, and were surprised when both independently chose a balloon ride as their top request. It took almost three years, but we finally had that family experience we originally hoped for.

So, that’s four Teotihuacán balloon rides for me so far. And I would absolutely do it again. It’s one of those experiences that’s so unbelievably amazing that it’s hard to put into words. These photos might give you an idea of what it’s like.

How to make it happen

I’ve learned a few things planning and experiencing our balloon rides. Here’s what you need to know.

1. Choose a company

There are dozens of different companies that offer balloon rides. The first time, we didn’t know how to choose and went with a third-party service that paired us with Flying Pictures Mexico.

We were so happy with Flying Pictures that we’ve used them ever since, booking directly though their site. What we’re sharing here is our experience with them. We don’t get anything for mentioning them, we’re just happy customers. But the process might be slightly different if you go with another company.

Tip: If you use Google to find a balloon tour company, search on Maps instead of doing a general search. That way, you can book directly with a company instead of through a third party. With search, it’s hard to get past the sponsored ads and SEO-driven results. We saved about 25% by booking directly, for the same experience.

Preparing for takeoff.

2. Decide what you want to include

You intend to take a balloon ride, of course. But there are different options to consider:

• Transportation to and from the site, which is about an hour from Mexico City

• A private or shared balloon ride

• Breakfast (this is almost always included)

• A guided tour of the pyramids, or time to explore them on your own

• Other add-ons that can be as fancy as specially designed packages for marriage proposals, complete with a mariachi band playing when you land

3. Make a reservation

You should be able to book online through the company you choose. Be prepared to share the approximate weight of everyone in your group. That can be an uncomfortable conversation, depending on how well you know the people who are joining you.

You might have to wait 24 hours or so for a confirmation, which will probably come through WhatsApp. (That’s something you should get used to using if you’re spending any time in Mexico. It’s what everyone uses to communicate.)

We’ve been able to get reservations a couple of days ahead of time, but it makes sense to book as early as you can.

It’s a good idea to reserve for one of the earlier days of your trip. Balloon rides aren’t canceled for bad weather very often, but you want to give yourself time to reschedule, just in case.

You’ll hear back from the tour company confirming the date and pickup time, and they’ll fill you in on any details you need to know. For example, you might need to show them the credit card you used to pay when you made your reservation.

How the day unfolds

Balloon rides launch at sunrise because there needs to be a big temperature difference between the air inside the balloon and the outside air. So, you have to get up very early and head out well before dawn.

An early morning van ride

We’ve always included transportation, and I have to admit, the first time, it made me a little uneasy to get into a van with a total stranger in what feels like the middle of the night.

But off you go with your driver, who may or may not speak English. There might be two or three groups sharing a van, unless you’ve reserved private transportation. So the van may stop by some hotels or short-term rentals after you’re picked up.

The route from Centro Historico in Mexico City to the balloon launch area.

You’ll drive for about an hour. (The trip back might take closer to two hours, depending on traffic.)

Once you get there

Someone greets you when you arrive at the balloon launch site. We’ve always been met with English-speaking staff.

We’ve had different experiences at this point. Sometimes, you have time to get a cup of coffee, use the restroom, and take some photos of the balloons being readied for launch. And other times, your balloon is ready, and you need to hurry to get on board.

Either way, someone shows you to your balloon, they take photos of you and your group, and you climb into the basket. The sides of the basket are fairly high—maybe four feet—but there are footholds built in and people there to help you.

There are different basket sizes. We’ve been on flights where it was just our group of four, even when we didn’t reserve a private ride. And we’ve been on flights with groups of up to 12 riders. You’ll have amazing views no matter what—the balloon and basket gently pivot during the flight, and each group has access to the sides, so you can see everything. We don’t think there’s any need to pay extra for a private flight.

Up, up, and away

Once everyone is on board, the staff shoots a few more photos and then the pilot launches the balloon.

There’s a peaceful feeling when you lift off the ground. It’s not scary. It’s like the ground gently drops away. You almost don’t notice the motion—you just see the difference when you look down. It’s hard to explain unless you experience it, but it feels natural. It’s nothing like the sensation of a plane taking off.

As the balloon lifts into the air, the views get better and better. You see the sun rising in one direction, the pyramids in another, and dozens of other balloons lifting off all around you.

You’re airborne for about an hour, and your pilot adjusts the balloon higher or lower to take advantage of different wind currents. You might drop down low over the pyramids, and then rise up for an overarching view.

Eventually, you land. Landing isn’t quite as smooth as taking off. The pilot tells you to hold the sides of the basket and bend your knees slightly to brace yourself, as a precaution. The basket might graze the ground for a few seconds until it stabilizes.

A ground crew meets you, rolls up the balloon, and helps you get out of the basket. Some local people might approach you with jewelry or other small items you can buy, so bring some cash if that’s something you might be interested in.

Your group gathers and your pilot leads a champagne (or juice) toast and passes out certificates before you all head back to the launching point together in a van.

Photos and videos

You’ll probably take hundreds of photos and videos of the balloon ride—it’s hard not to. You’ll also be able to buy photos and videos from the balloon company. With Flying Pictures, that includes shots of your whole group, professional drone photos from outside the balloon, and high-quality video. They currently cost $500 MXN ($25 USD). And while we don’t typically buy this sort of thing, we’ve always opted for the company’s photos and videos, and have never been disappointed.

Breakfast

After meeting at the launching point and reviewing the photos and videos, you board a van to go to the next stop, breakfast.

There’s a restaurant called the Gran Teocalli where a lot of the balloon companies offer breakfast. It’s big and touristy, with buffets, a mariachi band, and people dressed in traditional clothing you can take photos with.

We weren’t all that impressed with that place. But Flying Pictures has switched to La Canasta, a smaller breakfast buffet spot that’s only for their customers. It’s a big improvement.

Part of the breakfast buffet at La Canasta

If you only book the balloon ride, this is where your experience ends. From here, you head back to Mexico City.

The pyramids

If you include a trip to the pyramids as part of your package, you head there next. It’s only a few minutes away.

We’ve never gone on a guided tour, but we would like to try it—there’s so much history to learn about.

For a self-guided tour, the van driver drops you off and lets you know when to return. You’ll probably have an hour and a half or two hours to explore the site.

You can walk up to and around the pyramids of the sun and the moon, but you can’t climb the steps to the top of either. They’ve been closed to the public for some time.

The site is worth seeing—we recommend adding it to your package.

Teotihuacán pyramids

Once you’re done exploring, the driver will take you back to your pickup spot in Mexico City.

How much does it cost?

These are the current prices for the main options at Flying Pictures:

• Balloon ride and breakfast is $2,599 MXN ($132 USD) for adults, or $1,999 MXN ($101 USD) for children 4 to 12.

• Balloon ride with transportation to and from Mexico City, breakfast, and time to explore the pyramids costs $2,999 MXN ($152 USD), or $2,299 MXN ($117 USD) for children.

• Balloon ride, transportation, breakfast, a guided tour of the pyramids, and a visit to an area where you can buy crafts and taste local beverages runs $3,750 MXN ($190 USD), or $3,250 MXN ($165 USD) for children.

It’s pricey, but we think it’s worth it if you can afford it.

Tips

• The minimum rider age at Flying Pictures is 4 years old. Children have to be tall enough to see over the sides of the basket to enjoy the experience. If you’re not sure if your child is tall enough, contact the balloon company. You don’t want to show up with a small child and discover they can’t ride.

• Dress in layers, especially if you plan to go to the pyramids. It will probably be chilly when you head out in the morning and warmer after breakfast.

• Wear comfortable shoes. You need to climb in and out of the balloon basket, and your balloon might land in a dusty field.

• If you want to bring a backpack or tote bag, you should have room to put it next to your feet on the balloon ride.

Bonus photo

Thanks for reading to the end! Here’s a photo from a balloon ride we took in Albuquerque, NM, on our honeymoon in June 1990. This was our first time riding in a hot-air balloon.

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