Last Updated on May 1, 2026
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I’ve had a lot of amazing experiences in Mexico, but the Hot Air Balloon flight over Teotihuacán was one of the best ones. For me, it was one of those bucket list experiences that totally lived up to my sky-high expectations.
Pyramids of Teotihuacán is one of the top day trips from Mexico City and I actually visited once before. My Hot Air Balloon tour got canceled that day due to strong winds, and I ended up going to the Pyramids on my own (and wrote about it here). But since I’m stubborn, I booked it again on my most recent Mexico City trip and the experience was as beautiful and magical as I imagined.
Teotihuacán is one of the most impressive archeological sites in Mexico and seeing it from above, as the sun rises with many other colorful balloons around, is just an unbelievable sight. As you are flying around you also get to see just how huge and spread out it is.
Yes, the hot air balloon is touristy and one of the most popular things to do in Mexico City, which you can tell by the number of balloons in the sky. But it’s popular for a reason! And it’s one of those experiences that for me, totally lived up to the hype.
So, if you are thinking of booking a hot air balloon in Mexico City, keep reading as I share my entire experience and my honest review. From the cost, the best Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloon tours out there to what to expect and finally is this experience worth the (very) early wake up call.
About the Pyramids of Teotihuacán
The archeological site of Teotihuacán is located about one hour outside of Mexico City and it’s one of the most impressive ancient ruins in Mexico and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Established at 200 BC and reaching its peak around 500 AD, it was once one of the largest Mesoamerican cities.
Teotihuacán covers a huge area with many structures and buildings, but the two that stand out and are most famous are Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon. The two largest pyramids at the site. They are connected by a long road, Avenue of the Dead (Calzada de los Muertos) with many other smaller structures and platforms along the way.
This is a must visit while you are in Mexico City for a few days. I recommend you choose to stay at the site and explore it after your flight.
For a more detailed guide check out my other post How to Visit the Pyramids of Teotihuacán from Mexico City on Your Own.
Where to book your Hot Air Balloon in Mexico City
Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloon flight is one of the most popular things to do in Mexico City, so there are many tours to choose from. They tend to follow a very similar itinerary, from the very early pick up, sunrise flight, followed by champagne toast and some kind of breakfast. So, while it might seem they are all the same and the views will be similar, your experience will differ quite a bit depending on the company you choose.
It does matter a great deal who you go with for several reasons, the main one being safety. Hot Air Ballooning is something you want to book with a company that is reputable, experienced and has an outstanding safety record.
That’s why, after lots of research, I booked with Volare which is exactly that kind of company. This was actually my second time booking with them, the first flight got canceled because of the winds. Which shows you right there that they prioritize safety.
Besides that, the entire tour, from start to finish was a five-star experience. This company runs so well, everything was well organized and on time. From pick up, check-in to the balloon flight and breakfast afterwards.
Book your Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloon flight here.
Avoid companies that are suspiciously cheap. If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Some of those companies don’t have proper licensing; equipment is not well maintained and might fail safety inspections; baskets are overcrowded and so on. I mean, you’re going up in the air in a basket; you definitely don’t want to cut corners on safety.
Hot Air Balloon accidents are rare, but when they do happen, they are usually linked to one of those cheap providers. Stick with a well-established company with impeccable safety record like Volare.
A couple of other good and reputable companies to book with are:
Their packages and what’s included (and not) might differ a bit from my experience, so be sure to check out the details.
How much does the Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloon Tour cost
The exact cost depends on which company you book with and what’s included in the package, but the typical range for a shared experience is $150-200.
When doing my research before my Mexico City trip, I’ve noticed a lot of people mentioning how the Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloon is an expensive attraction. I know this is not one of the cheapest things to do in Mexico City but compared to hot air balloon flights in other parts of the world, it’s actually pretty reasonable.
As a comparison, the flight over Masai Mara in Kenya was over $500.
If you are celebrating something special or just prefer not to share the balloon with others, you can also book a private flight. In this case, of course, it will be much more expensive.
What’s included (and what’s not)
What’s included in the price of the Hot Air Balloon tour might vary a bit depending on what company you book with. Here’s a breakdown of what’s included when you book with Volare, and what isn’t.
Included:
- coffee and tea before the flight
- round trip transportation (optional)
- the flight
- champagne toast
- breakfast
- flight certificate
If you don’t have a rental car, it’s best to add on the pick-up/drop off while you’re booking your flight. Meeting time at the balloon port is at 6 am, meaning you have to leave Mexico City around 5 am at the latest. I personally would not want to deal with getting an Uber/taxi at that hour.
Not included in the price:
- entrance to the site – if you decide to stay and explore the site after the Hot Air Balloon flight and breakfast, you have to pay the entrance fee, which right now is 210 MXN (or 105 MXN if you are a Mexican resident). Cash only!
- guided walking tour – if you would like to see the site with a guide rather than walk around alone, there are plenty of guides available. Expect to pay
- photos and videos – you can purchase different packages of the pictures and Insta360/drone videos taken during the flight.
How long is the Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloon Flight
The actual flight is anywhere from 40-60 minutes (the exact time depends on weather and winds that day), but the entire tour lasts 6-9 hours, depending on whether you stay to explore the Pyramids afterwards or not.
Teotihuacán is one hour away from Mexico City, and while getting there early in the morning is easy, the drive back to Mexico City usually takes longer with heavy traffic as you get closer to the city.
What to expect
Pick up
Plan for a very early day. Pick-ups start as early as 4-4.30 am, as this is a sunrise air balloon ride and it takes about one hour to get to Teotihuacán. Condesa, where I stayed, was the last pick up stop at 5 am, but either way it’s a very early morning.
When you book your tour with transfer, you choose where you want to be picked up from a list of hotels in Mexico City. That includes all the major hotel areas like Condesa, Roma Norte, Polanco, Centro Histórico etc. If your hotel is not on the list or you’re staying in an Airbnb, just pick one that is the closest (Volare doesn’t pick up from private homes or Airbnbs, but other providers might, so check with them first).
Arrival and check in
We arrived at the Volare balloon port, which is a few minutes away from the archeological site, around 6 am and got in line to start the check in process. Don’t forget your passport or an ID, you’ll need to show it at check in.
There was much needed hot coffee (and tea) and light snacks for everyone in the check in area.
After everyone was checked in, we waited a few minutes before boarding the hot air balloon. There is a waiting area outside and you can watch how they get the balloons ready. There were some that were going up in the air from the nearby ports, which was fun to see.
Once the balloons were ready, we started the boarding process around 6.40 am. They split people in groups and assign them to a balloon. Each balloon holds up to 16 people plus the pilot.
The flight
After the brief safety instruction, we were off! The flight takes anywhere between 45-60 minutes, depending on weather and wind that day.
Hot Air Ballooning is weather dependent, and the wind is the deciding factor which way the balloon actually goes and where it lands.
I got lucky with a perfect morning, and it was a very peaceful, steady and smooth flight. We were basically floating around the entire site and got really close the Pyramids. Seeing the structures of Teotihuacán and the size of the archaeological site from above was incredible.
Landing
As the flight was nearing the end, we headed towards an open field. Landing was very smooth, much smoother than I expected. Especially compared to my first hot air balloon flight when we landed sideways and everyone was upside down.
Once we touched down, the crew was already there helping us out and packing up the balloon.
Champagne toast
Once on the ground, it was time for some champagne. The pilot opened up a bottle, and we all toasted to a successful flight and landing.
This is a tradition that goes back to 1780s when the very first hot air balloon flight took place in France. At the time, balloons were a novelty and pilots began landing with champagne to ease the concerns of landowners. Who often were not sure what to make out of the strange objects floating in the sky.
Eventually it became a ritual after every successful hot air balloon flight and the tradition continues until today.
Breakfast
After the flight and champagne toast, we got back into the van and were brought to the balloon port (same place where we checked in). We all received our flight certificate which makes for a nice souvenir.
Breakfast was buffet style, nothing special, but there were some Mexican staples like Chilaquiles, scrambled eggs, beans, some fruit, more coffee and juice. All that while Mariachi band played in the background.
Return to Mexico City
If you want to go back to the city right after breakfast, the return is at 9 am or shortly after. The drive back usually takes longer, as at this time of the day you hit the heavy traffic as you get closer to Mexico City.
Visit to Teotihuacán (optional)
If you choose to stay and explore the Pyramids or Teotihuacán, you get dropped off at one of the gates and get about 3 hours of free time at the site. You can go on your own or hire a guide. There are always guides near the entrances, but you can also sign up for a walking tour when you check in for the flight.
If you are not familiar with the history of Teotihuacán, you might get more out of your visit by going with a guide. The information you find on plaques in front of some structures are minimal.
When exploring alone, be aware how much you can do in those 3 hours. Teotihuacán is a huge site (which you will see as you are floating above it in the balloon), and that’s not long enough to explore it in depth. And by in depth I mean visiting all the structures and building, walking the entire length of Avenue of the Dead (it’s 2.5 km long) and back, visiting the museums and so on. Unless you are sprinting all over the place, you will not make it back to the van on time.
But 3 hours is long enough to cover the highlights. See the main Pyramids, climb the Pyramid of the Moon, walk some of the Avenue of the Dead and take some good photos.
Photos and videos
I brought both my phone and the Sony a7 III camera, and that worked great for me to get variety of footage. But honestly, your phone might be all you need. You can get pretty good pictures and videos. If you do bring a camera, make sure to have a strap, so you don’t lose it mid-flight.
One of the staff members was also taking photos of everyone as we were getting ready to board the balloon, as well as at take-off. Volare also had a Insta360 attached and took some drone videos as we were floating in the air.
All of those are available to purchase afterwards from 1,000 – 2400 MXN depending what package you want. You can decide whether you want just photos, or photos and drone footage, drone and Insta360 and so on. Or maybe you’re happy with your own pictures and don’t want to buy anything.
What to wear
Early mornings in Mexico City tend to be cold, so it will be chilly when you leave the city and first take off. You’ll need long pants, long sleeve shirt/sweatshirt, and depending on time of year, even a hat. But dress in layers, especially if you are planning to stay at the Pyramids after the flight.
Once the sun is out, it gets pretty hot and it’s an open field with very little shade. Be sure to bring sunscreen, hat, sunglasses and water.
What to bring
- Passport or ID – you’ll need it for check in
- Phone/Camera
- Sunscreen
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Water bottle – you can refill it at breakfast
Hot Air Balloon in Mexico City Tips
- Weather – hot air balloon flights over Teotihuacan are a year-round activity, but keep in mind they are weather dependent and can get cancelled if it’s too windy. It happened to be on my first trip to Mexico City. That’s why I suggest booking it at the beginning of your trip. This way if weather doesn’t cooperate, you’ll have a chance to reschedule.
- Dress in layers – early mornings in Mexico tend to be chilly, but it gets hot later in the day. Layers are your best friend, especially if you plan on staying to explore the Pyramids after the flight.
- Bring cash – be sure to have some cash on you to tip the crew and to pay for the entrance to the Pyramids, the guide etc. (if you are planning to visit)
Is the Hot Air Balloon over Teotihuacán worth it?
Unless you have a fear of heights, absolutely hate getting up early or you’re visiting Mexico City on a strict budget, a Hot Air Balloon over Teotihuacán is absolutely worth it. Most people who’ve done it will tell you it was one of the most memorable experiences they’ve had.
This was my second Hot Air Balloon flight. I’ve done it once before on a safari in Kenya, when we flew over Masai Mara Reserve. It was a great experience as well, but if I was hard pressed to choose which one I liked better, it would be Teotihuacán.
The combination of seeing the Pyramids from above, the perfect weather and breathtaking views, made this experience one of the best I’ve had. If you are on the fence, whether to add this tour to your Mexico City itinerary, I say a 100% yes!
READ MORE:
- How to Visit the Pyramids of Teotihuacán from Mexico City on Your Own
- Chichen Itza in Mexico – How to Plan the Perfect Visit
- How to Visit Coba Ruins – One of the Best Mayan Sites in Mexico
- Swimming with Whale Sharks in Isla Mujeres, Mexico
- Best Things to do in Morelia, Michoacán – The Most Underrated City in Mexico
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