If you have ever seen a video of hot air balloons taking off at sunrise, you have probably also wondered what it would be like to experience the world from so high up. Mexico City is a fantastic place to experience a hot air balloon ride for the first time. You can see the ancient city of Teotihuacan, known as the “City of the Gods” from a bird’s-eye view. This UNESCO World Heritage site is home to some of the world’s largest and most significant pyramids, including the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. When I was planning my solo trip to Mexico City, I knew a hot air balloon flight was an activity I had to experience!
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How to Get to Teotihuacan for a Hot Air Balloon Ride
Hot air balloon flights over Teotihuacan typically take off in the early morning when weather conditions are calm. Most tours include transportation from Mexico City, as Teotihuacan is about an hour away. The night before my scheduled hot air balloon flight, my tour operator messaged me to let me know my pickup time would be 4:30am. I set an alarm for 3:30am and tried to get as much sleep as I could since it would be a very early start!
In the morning, a van came to the pickup area in front of my hotel’s lobby and it looked like I was the last scheduled pickup (so some of the passengers had to get up even earlier!) Most of us tried to sleep on the ride to the Teotihuacan since it was still dark outside. When we arrived we were ushered to a check in tent where there was some paperwork to fill out, as well as coffee.
Preparing for the Hot Air Balloon Ride
While the remaining groups arrived and checked in, I ventured outside to where the hot air balloons would be taking off. Even though they had heat lamps in the waiting area outside, it was still quite chilly so I was glad I brought my jean jacket! If you have time, definitely try and watch the crew set up all the balloons. Seeing the balloons inflate was so impressive as the field around us turned into a colorful array of towering balloons!
Finally the moment arrived and the organizers began calling out names to start heading to our balloons. Each basket held about 16 people total and was divided into 4 compartments for passengers and 1 compartment for the flight crew. To get into the balloon, we had to climb over the railing of the basket, so I would avoid wearing short skirts or dresses since it takes a bit of maneuvering to get in and you don’t want any wardrobe malfunctions! For some of the older passengers in a group, the crew helped carry them in and out of the basket, but if you have any mobility issues I would contact your tour operator beforehand to confirm if they can make accommodations!
The Hot Air Balloon Ride Experience
Our pilot gave us a safety overview and then the balloons started taking off! Lifting off of the ground with just heated air was a surreal experience, and although a tad bit scary, was quickly outweighed by awe. The view from the balloon was absolutely incredible, and being surrounded by all of the other balloons taking off was magical.
Hot air balloon flights are dependent on weather and wind patterns, and the pilot can only control vertical motion of the balloon with the burner (which can get quite hot when you are airborne!). We were lucky the morning of our flight, and the winds were favorable and carried us directly over the pyramids!
We spent about an hour drifting at various heights before it was time to land. The ground crew helped usher us in safely and before we knew it we were back on dry ground. The balloons all landed in different locations, so there were vans ready to transport us back.
The Post Flight Experience
The experience was not quite over yet though, as the pilots announced there would be a champagne toast! The practice of drinking champagne after a balloon flight dates back to the 18th century. It was used as a peace offering to villagers who were frightened by the huge flying, fire breathing balloons and farmers who had to deal with balloons landing in their fields. The tradition has continued today after modern balloon flights!
After drinking our champagne, vans were waiting to take us back to the main area, and we were given certificates for a successful flight before being served brunch with mariachis playing for the different tables. The food was just alright compared to all the delicious local food I had been eating the rest of the trip, but the music was enjoyable and I chatted with a few other travelers at my table.
The tour I booked had an optional add on to visit the pyramids on foot afterwards, but since I had been up so early and had an incredible view of the pyramids from the sky, I decided not to book the add on and headed back to Mexico City so I could continue to explore.
What to Wear on a Hot Air Balloon Ride in Mexico City
Bring a light jacket and clothes you can layer. They had heat lamps in the space where we waited, but even in July it was definitely still chilly in the early morning while we watched them set up the hot air balloons. Also don’t wear open toe shoes or short dresses since you’re going to have to climb in and out of the basket and the railing is higher than you might think! Since you’ll be standing for the duration of the flight and possibly traversing uneven terrain during landing, comfortable shoes are a must. I chose to go with my favorite travel shoes, my Adidas Superstar sneakers.
How Does Weather Impact Hot Air Balloon Flights
A lot of your experience will depend on the weather. If it’s too windy, they won’t be able to take off or land safely and you might have to reschedule. Also the path the balloon takes will be determined by the winds, as the pilot can only control going up or down! So depending on the wind that day, you might not be able to see the pyramids but you should still have a beautiful view.
Is a Hot Air Ballon Ride in Mexico City Worth It?
My hot air balloon ride in Mexico City was definitely one of my favorite activities I did during my trip to CDMX. It was both exhilarating and peaceful, and the views were breathtaking. I would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone planning a trip to Mexico City!
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