Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride with Pickup

4.79

(19 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

It’s still dark when we pile into the van outside our hotel in Mexico City. The city’s just waking up—street vendors setting up, a few taxis zipping by. By the time we reach Teotihuacan, the sun’s barely peeking over the hills. There’s a chill in the air, and someone hands me a cup of hot coffee. It smells strong and sweet, and there’s a plate of cookies and fresh fruit on the table. I can hear people chatting softly, a mix of Spanish and English, as we wait for our names to be called.

Watching the balloon fill up is oddly calming—the big burners hiss, and you can feel a bit of warmth on your face. Our guide, Jorge, explains how the wind decides where we’ll drift. He points out that mornings are best for balloon rides here because the air’s still and clear. When we finally climb into the basket, my hands are cold but my heart’s racing. The ground slips away quietly, and suddenly we’re floating above the Valley of Teotihuacan. The Pyramid of the Sun looks huge from up here, but it’s the way the early light hits the stones that really gets me. You can see little dots—people already climbing up, tiny from this height.

The flight lasts maybe 45 minutes—depends on the wind, Jorge says. It’s peaceful up there, just a soft whoosh from the burners and a few birds calling out below. When we land, there’s a small crowd waiting, and someone pops open a bottle of bubbly for a quick toast. They hand out flight certificates—mine’s already got a coffee stain, but I kind of like that. Breakfast is at a nearby restaurant—buffet style, with chilaquiles, eggs, and sweet bread. I try a bit of everything, but it’s the spicy beans that wake me up.

After eating, we’ve got time to wander through the archaeological site itself. The ticket’s included, so no lines to worry about. I walk along the Avenue of the Dead, shoes crunching on gravel, and watch a group of school kids laughing near the Pyramid of the Moon. There’s time to climb or just sit and take it all in before heading back to the city. If you’re tired, you can skip the ruins and head straight back—totally up to you.