Teotihuacán Mexico Hot Air Balloon Tour

In planning a Labor Day Weekend trip to Mexico City, my siblings, their significant others and I started sorting what we wanted to do. The first tour suggested was a Teotihuacán Mexico Hot Air Balloon Tour. My younger sister tends to be more nervous about these type of things, but once she researched the safety and talked it out, she agreed!

We had a great time in Mexico City, but this was my highlight of the whole trip! Followed by the canals in Xochimilco, which was an experience recommended by someone I met during my island hopping trip in Fiji!

The hot air balloon tour in Teotihuacán, Mexico was incredible! It was also well organized, timely and professional! I’ll provide details of our experience, photographs because it was dreamy and good alternatives in case our tour is sold out.

In this article:
Why Choose a Hot Air Balloon Tour of Teotihuacán, Mexico
Best Hot Air Balloon Tour in Teotihuacán Mexico
My Experience With This Hot Air Balloon Tour
Tips for Hot Air Balloon
Pros and Cons
Elevation of Mexico City
Where to Stay

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About Teotihuacán, Mexico

Teotihuacán, Mexico is an ancient Mesoamerican city renowned for its monumental architecture and profound historical significance. Built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D., it’s considered one of the most powerful cultural centers in Mesoamerica. The city of Teotihuacán (‘the place where the gods were created’) is characterized by its vast monuments including the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, laid out on geometric and symbolic principles.

Why Choose a Hot Air Balloon Tour of Teotihuacán, Mexico

You have plenty of options available to you in visiting Teotihuacán, Mexico, so why a Hot Air Balloon? The Hot Air Balloon gives you an incredible view of the pyramids, but its magic doesn’t stop there. You will also get a beautiful sunrise and an absolutely magical hot air balloon ride over this Mexican landmark!

I’ve visited historical sites over many travels, but none were as magical or memorable as this hot air balloon experience! With this Teotihuacán Mexico Hot Air Balloon Tour you will have the option of visiting the pyramids on the ground after the hot air balloon portion is finished.

Option to Visit on Foot

We elected to skip this portion as we had someone in our group from Mexico City and she said you can no longer climb the pyramids. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth doing, but it’s a good thing to note if you decide to continue on and explore on foot. By doing this tour, you will get a birds eye view and still have the option of exploring the pyramids by foot.

Pickup and Drop-off to/from Accommodation

The tour also includes transport to and from your accommodation in Mexico City! Beyond just the convenience of this, Mexico City traffic is awful! By having to get up early for the sunrise, we were able to skip the traffic! If we had elected to just visit the pyramids on our own, we likely wouldn’t have been up early and the traffic would have been awful (and it was awful in other parts of our weekend).

Best Hot Air Balloon Tour in Teotihuacán Mexico

There are quite a few good options to choose from when looking for the best Hot Air Balloon Tour in Teotihuacán Mexico. With my sister’s concern for safety, I read reviews and narrowed down to the three options. Any negative feedback for the three tours had to do with the aspects of the tour that didn’t involve the hot air balloon and would be considered low risk.

The tour we ended up choosing has over 1,900 reviews on Viator alone, with over 1,700 of them being 5 stars! It is also boasting a Viator’s Winner 2024 emblem and after completing this tour, I would agree it’s well deserved! And the rest of my travel party agreed (and let’s just say my brother can be more impatient so that’s quite an accomplishment!).

Book the Best Hot Air Balloon Tour in Teotihuacán Mexico

Tour Inclusions

The tour includes pickup and drop-off to and from your accommodations in Mexico City! If you don’t need this, you can select the option that doesn’t include it when booking. Upon arrival, there will be coffee and cookies while you wait for the hot air balloon ride to begin. Once the flight is finished, you will have a toast and upon arrival to the meeting area, there will be a full breakfast buffet. Lastly, you will also have the option to choose exploration of the pyramids on foot. Oh and we were given a certificate of flight as well! A cute memento.

– 30 to 50 minutes flight in shared balloon*
– Coffee service upon arrival
– Breakfast after hot air balloon ride
– Honor toast and diploma
– Round transportation from Mexico City (optional)**
– Option to Visit Pyramids on foot

* The flight duration is subject to weather conditions.
** Included in the options with round trip transportation from Mexico City. If you don’t need the transportation service from Mexico City select the no transportation option.

My Experience of Teotihuacán Mexico Hot Air Balloon Tour

Accommodation Pickup

We were told to be ready by 4:20AM but to note that the driver could be 5 to 15 minutes late. Well, as we were walking outside at 4:20AM from our airbnb, the driver was pulling up in that moment! Since we were the first to be picked up, we got our choice of seat options (which did not happen on the return). We stopped two more times at hotels close by before heading to the Tour Headquarters in Teotihuacán.

Upon arrival, we checked in and each of us had to provide a photo identification. We were the first van to arrive, so we didn’t have to wait, but there are four desks in the arrival building so I can’t imagine it taking very long! We were asked if we would be heading back after the hot air balloon or staying for the pyramids. They give you a bracelet color based on your choice.

Once the check-in was complete, we grabbed some coffee and cookies to enjoy while we wait for the tour to begin. There is a merchandise hut outside in this cute waiting area yard and they even had heaters available if you’re feeling a bit cold. The bathrooms just inside were clean as well so you could ensure you were ready for the tour!

The Wait

We waited a while, but it didn’t feel super long. The team arrived and began setting up the balloons as more vans filled with customers arrived. Though there were a lot of people around, it didn’t feel too crowded and the whole experience felt very organized!

It was enjoyable watching the balloons come to life and soon they began calling groups. We had a group of five and ended up in a larger balloon that fit 12 and the pilot. A group took the other side of the balloon and we had one solo traveler with us on our side. She was very nice and I told her I was fifth wheeling it with my siblings as I can imagine being a solo traveler on a balloon might feel awkward. But she fit right in with us and I think she very much enjoyed the experience as well!

The safety briefing was well, brief. Outside the States, they seem to account for common sense and leave it to the basics. The pilot communicated through a walkie talkie and eventually we started our ascent.

Hot Air Balloon Experience

The hot air balloon experience is very much dependent on weather! The wind will dictate where you go and for how long. Since the wind was slightly less cooperative we ended up with a much longer flight time! I think we were up for just over an hour as a result. It didn’t feel that long because it was so magical! As the sun continued to rise and we continued to float, it just kept feeling like a new and beautiful experience!

Landing

Landing was very smooth! Much more than I expected as we were told to hold onto the ropes inside the basket and keep our knees bent. The landing was so gentle that I probably wouldn’t have noticed otherwise, but it’s certainly good to be prepared! Once on the ground, a truck was already there to meet us and a team helped with getting the basket, with us still in it, on the trailer.

Once the basket was on the trailer, we were able to get out one by one. It’s worth noting, there is no ladder provided. You will be using the ladder built into the basket to climb in and out. It wasn’t super difficult but if you are injured or just not as mobile, it’s something to consider.

While the team worked to put the balloon away, we toasted with our pilot! Toasting is a hot air balloon tradition and also was a nice use of the time while the team packed up the balloon! There was a local there selling some items, so if that interests you come prepared with cash.

Breakfast

Then we hopped into the van and we were taken back to the headquarters. I had completely forgotten about breakfast being part of this tour. Or maybe I thought the coffee was the breakfast? I’m not sure, but just passed the check-in room is an adorable courtyard! The buffet was setup and a Mariachi Band was playing.

The breakfast was good! The taco, eggs, beans, and fresh fruit were all delicious! If you didn’t want eggs, there was yogurt and granola available as well. The Mariachi Band asked for requests and we enjoyed eating, listening and discussing both our amazing experience and plans for the rest of the day.

Return Ride to Mexico City

Just after 9AM, it was time to either head back to Mexico City or go to the Pyramids. The first group called was anyone visiting the pyramids. That group, wearing a different color bracelet to us, could choose any of the vans with a matching colored magnet and would be taken to the pyramids to explore for a while.

Once those vans left, groups were called by name (person who made the reservation’s name). The van from the morning ride was much smaller than this return one! We were the last group called putting four of us in the very last row! My sister’s husband ended up in the passenger seat.

One Criticism

The only criticism we have of this tour, was this return ride! We thought it was bad for us in the back, but my brother-in-law confirmed it was just bad overall! I mean, we actually elevated off our seats in the back row at one point! According to my brother-in-law the driver went off the road!

We were dropped off last, but did manage to arrive back in one piece! Though we all agree it was a wild ride. However, I did fall asleep for part of it, so it wasn’t all wild.

10 of 10! Would do it again!

To quote my brother-in-law, “10 of 10! Would do it again!” This tour was sensational! Easily going up there as one of my favorite travel experiences! Aside from the wild return van trip, the whole tour was timely, well run, efficient and overall a fantastic and high quality experience!

Tips for This Teotihuacán Mexico Hot Air Balloon Tour

We were in Mexico over Labor Day Weekend, which is in early September. The weather in Mexico City ranged from the 50s to the 70s! It was beautiful and a nice reprieve from the hot weather in Florida.

Clothing

Since the tour takes place early in the morning, it’s good to pack layers! This is regardless of when you visit, as it will be colder in the morning no matter the time of year. While I did wear a sweatshirt and jacket in the hot air balloon, there was a point in the flight where I got a little toasty being near the flame. The rest of the time, I felt comfortable in my layers. Dress for the temperature using layers.

Camera

I didn’t take a special camera. Just my iPhone, but that is great quality these days! If you are klutzy, consider using a phone case with a string or some type of lanyard style setup you can add around your wrist or neck. If you drop your phone, there’s no finding it. And there’s a chance of injuring someone!

Pros and Cons | Teotihuacán Mexico Hot Air Balloon

Pros of the Teotihuacán Mexico Hot Air Balloon

The pros seem obvious, so I won’t hang here much. It’s an absolutely unforgettable and amazing experience! One of my favorite travel memories, and while I enjoyed Mexico City, it’s not one of my favorite cities I’ve traveled. However, this Hot Air Balloon experience in Teotihuacán, Mexico is one of my favorite experiences (and only increased my desire to visit Cappadocia, Turkey).

Cons of the Teotihuacán Mexico Hot Air Balloon

The cons are more personal. While four of five in our group were completely fine with the idea of a Teotihuacán Mexico hot air balloon experience, my sister had her trepidation. She researched the safety, read reviews, and talked out her fears. In the end she was fine and enjoyed the whole experience!

If you are terrified of heights, it’s unlikely you’re even here reading this, but if you’re on the fence maybe talk it out with someone or do some research. My sister needed to go through a process to feel more at ease and in the end she was fine.

If you are not mobile or strong, getting into and out of the basket could pose a problem. We are all varying heights and sizes and no one had an issue. While we weren’t all graceful, we did all successfully get into and out of the basket. Since we were all good, I’m not sure if they offer a ladder of some kind. Based on the professionalism of this tour, I wouldn’t be surprised, but I’d call and ask if you see this as a possible issue.

One More Con Worth Noting

Since hot air balloons are subject to wind and weather, you may not get super close to the pyramids. The whole experience was so amazing, this did not concern me one bit. Additionally, if you want an up close view of the pyramids, you could continue on after the hot air balloon portion to explore the pyramids.

However, I wanted to make note that you may not see the pyramids up close from the hot air balloon! I saw them from a distance and that was good enough for me, but if you are wanting a specific view, it’s subject to the wind.

Elevation of Mexico City

It’s also worth noting, Mexico City has a high elevation! The elevation of Mexico City is about 7,350 feet or 2,240 meters. It sits higher than Denver, Colorado!

What we all found interesting was that Denver caused us to experience more breathlessness than Mexico City! It was very surprising! I’m not sure why that is, but Mexico City, at least early September, had high humidity! This seemed to help to me and is the only major difference I could come up with as to why the higher altitude affected me less in Mexico City versus Denver.

Another thing I found interesting is at my cousin’s house in Durango, Colorado I’d get a minor bloody nose. She sits over 8,000 feet so slightly more than Mexico City. TMI Warning: However, after the hot air balloon, my “nose passengers” were bloody. Though I never got an actual bloody nose.

Overall I think the humidity helped! This is something to consider if you are going in the winter months when the air is dryer. You may have a completely different experience with the elevation depending on the time of year.

Other Tour Options for Teotihuacán Mexico Hot Air Balloon

If for some reason, our tour is booked, there are a couple others that are highly rated and well reviewed! Below are the top three to consider!

Best Teotihuacán Mexico Hot Air Balloon Tour

I absolutely LOVED this experience! If you are considering it, go for it! It’s easily one of my favorite travel experiences and my number one favorite experience I’ve had in Mexico in general!

The super early wake up call is worth it and that’s coming from someone who is NOT a morning person! I hope you get to experience this tour and have an equally amazing time floating above the clouds!

Book the Hot Air Balloon Flight over Teotihuacan, from Mexico City