Taking a Teotihuacan hot air balloon ride from Mexico City was an unforgettable experience, but it was almost an “accidental” bucket list item for me! Despite a previous trip to these ancient pyramids, I didn’t even realize you could take a hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacan until a couple of days before we went. Keep reading to find out what it’s like and what to expect!

While I first visited Mexico City as a solo female traveler in 2018, my most recent trip was completely different. First, I was working as a “digital nomad” while there instead of being on vacation; second, I was there for three weeks instead of five days; third, (my now-husband) Matt was there with me!

So despite my previous visit, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect from my trip. All I knew was that I wanted to take Matt to the ancient city of Teotihuacan — one of my favorite experiences from the first time I went! But I had no idea what was going to await me in the ancient Mesoamerican city. (Did I mention that a pandemic had also come along since the last time?) So I did what most millennials would probably do: I opened Instagram, typed in “Teotihuacan,” and decided to check out the geo-tagged photos to scope out the current situation.

I was mostly expecting to see photos of sweaty, sun-baked tourists smiling under the Central American sun. (This is what happened to me the first time.) But instead, I found countless photos of… hot air balloons at Teotihuacan?

I’m not sure how I missed that during my first trip to CDMX, but apparently it’s super popular to take a Teotihuacan hot air balloon ride! I personally LOVE unique travel experiences, and I’d never been in a hot air balloon before, so I knew I had to do it. We were on the bus into Mexico City’s center when I brought up the topic to Matt: “Sooooo, theoretically, how would you feel about taking a hot air balloon over Teotihuacan in a few days?”

Thankfully, he was totally on board with the idea! So once he gave me the “okay,” I got started on researching how to visit Teotihuacan by hot air balloon. We wanted to make sure we got the best experience, for the best price.

Here’s everything you need to know while planning your own sunrise Teotihuacan hot air balloon ride from Mexico City — from booking to pickup and landing, from breakfast to visiting the pyramids.

How to Choose a Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Tour from Mexico City

We booked our Teotihuacan hot air balloon ride from Mexico City with a company called Flying Pictures, which we felt offered the best value for the best price when we went.

Just be sure that, whatever company you book with, it includes transportation between Mexico City and the pyramids if you need it. (I think most people need it!) Teotihuacan is already pretty far from CDMX, and it’s even farther when you need to be there at 5:30 a.m. and there isn’t much public transportation available.

You might be surprised when you realize how many different tour options there really are, and all of them vary slightly on what they include and what the overall experience will be like.

What To Expect: Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride from Mexico City

While tour operators can vary, there are a few things you will likely be able to expect on the day you take your Teotihuacan hot air balloon ride from Mexico City.

• Price: You should expect to pay at least $150 USD per person for your tour. If you see a price that seems too good to be true, double check the details. Some listings only charge a small “booking fee” at first, but you’ll pay the full cost later. 
• Early start: You’ll be waking up around 4-4:30 a.m. for your hot air balloon flight. If your tour includes transportation from Mexico City, the earliest pickups often start around 5 a.m. 
• Flight duration: The hot air balloon flight will last about 30-45 minutes. This many vary slightly based on weather conditions.
• Pyramids access: You might not get to visit the pyramids up close. If this is important to you, make sure your Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour includes a visit to the archaeological zone.
• Total time: The whole day will probably last a minimum of 6 hours. Most tours include a breakfast buffet in addition to the balloon ride, and it takes at least an hour each way to get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City.

Our Day: Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Experience Itinerary

If you’re more of a visual learner, Matt put together this video of our day with Flying Pictures so you can see for yourself what it was like!

 
Otherwise, keep reading to learn exactly what our day included — from early morning pickup, to the hot air balloon flight, to breakfast, to pyramid time, to drop-off back in Mexico City. (And everything in between!)

Keep in mind that if you go with a different tour group, your day won’t look exactly like ours did. Though some of the basics will likely be the same! And whoever you choose to go with — whether it’s Flying Pictures or someone else — I’d love to hear what your day looked like (what was the same? what was different?) so feel free to leave me a comment!

Hotel Pickup for a Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride from Mexico City

The downside of a sunrise experience… having to wake up at 4:45 a.m. in order to get ready for pickup. And unfortunately, I was too hot/too excited to sleep well! At 5:30 a.m., we went outside to find our Flying Pictures driver waiting for us, after he sent a text that he had arrived — right on time.

Knowing it would be an early start, we woke up at 4:45 a.m. in order to get ready for pickup. Unfortunately, I didn’t sleep much at all the night before… probably a combination of the hot summer night and excitement for the day ahead. At 5:30 a.m., we stepped outside our hotel, and the Flying Pictures driver texted me that he had arrived. Turns out, the big white van parked on the street was for us.

Arriving at the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Launch Site (“Globopuerto”)

We were the first ones picked up that morning, so we made two more stops in Mexico City to pick up two more groups of people. And finally, we were on our way to Teotihuacan! I thought I’d be able to sleep in the car, but the highway was a little too bumpy for that. We eventually arrived to the balloon port just as the sun was starting to rise, around 6:45 a.m. And the hot air balloons were starting to inflate all around us. It was so surreal to think we’d be up in the sky so soon!

Before the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride: Check in, Coffee, and Snacks

As we stepped out of the big white van, we were greeted by a bilingual Flying Pictures staff member. She gave each of us a hot air balloon sticker, which was basically our balloon assignment, and we were supposed to wear them on our shirts. Then, she directed us to the sign-in, and showed us where the bathrooms were. And then she said to help ourselves to the coffee and snacks they provided! We even had the option to add some Kahlua or mezcal to our coffee. I politely declined. 😆

Flying Over the Teotihuacan Pyramids: What the Ride Was Like

When it was time to get ready for our journey, we followed the Flying Pictures team to our assigned balloon. And I have to say — I think ours was one of the prettiest balloons out there! Most of the other balloons from other companies were branded with their own company name, but this wasn’t the case for ours. I thought that was kind of cute. (And I still have my little balloon sticker from that day!)

As we climbed aboard the hot air balloon, we used the designated footholds in the basket. The basked was separated into four quadrants with a separate section for the pilot in the middle. Everyone from our pickup van in the morning joined us, as well as one other set of friends, so each of the four groups had our own little corner of the basket.

Like I said — this was my first time (and still only time) ever flying in a hot air balloon. I’m not really afraid of heights, but I still wasn’t really sure what to expect. But it still felt a lot more sturdy and weirdly normal than I thought it would!

Here were the two most amazing things about taking the hot air balloon.

1. Seeing the Teotihuacan Pyramids from above. It was honestly the best way to really appreciate the magnitude of them, especially since you aren’t allowed to climb to the top anymore. Being up close and feeling so small was truly a crazy feeling.
2. Seeing so many other hot air balloons in the sky! It was hard to count, but I was at least able to count 30 other balloons in the sky. It was breathtaking!

This was when I knew a Teotihuacan hot air balloon ride from Mexico City was so worth it. 🥰

➡️ Check prices and availability for Teotihuacan hot air balloon rides here.

Champagne Toast After Our Teotihuacan Balloon Landing

We had basically the smoothest landing you could have ever asked for. The Flying Pictures team on the ground knew exactly what they were doing as they helped bring us in. (Though one other landing we saw was certainly less-smooth than ours — they, uh, more than grazed a tree as they landed, taking a few branches with them.)

Because we landed in a different place from where we’d started, we boarded another van to bring us back to the starting point. Once we were there, our pilot from the hot air balloon poured us glasses of champagne and shared a story about how champagne toasts became tradition after the world’s first-ever hot air balloon flight centuries ago, in France. While he told the story in Spanish, there were enough bilingual members of our group to help share the story with those who didn’t speak Spanish.

Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Photos and Videos: What’s Included?

The Flying Pictures staff members were so amazing about taking photos for us while we were on the ground — and we were pleasantly surprised to learn that there were also GoPro cameras on the balloon basket itself! These were constantly snapping pics of us during the flight. And a drone even captured our takeoff and part of our flight.

After we finished our toast, our group went inside a tent to check out the photos and videos — which were then available for purchase. Everything was such great quality, and we wanted to buy it all! We got a little unlucky with the fact that the GoPro on our side of the balloon ended up glitching and not taking any pics, but the ones from the other side of the balloon were really cute. So we just ended up buying the drone video. If you watched Matt’s Teotihuacan hot air balloon video and wondered how he got some of those shots… that’s how. 🙂

One more thing that I need to mention, apparently: I’ve read reviews from other bloggers stating that other Teotihuacan hot air balloon companies also record photos and videos… but then, they make the whole group (most of whom don’t know each other) decide together whether to purchase the footage or not. That sounds so uncomfortable!

I can’t speak for all companies, but thankfully, I know that Flying Pictures does not operate this way. We definitely had the personal choice on what to buy, and that was a choice that only Matt and I had to make together.

Breakfast After the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride

Once we were finished at the balloon site, we were each handed a breakfast coupon as we boarded yet another big white van. This time, our destination was a restaurant called Gran Teocalli. Apparently, many other companies were offering the same breakfast buffet perk, because the whole restaurant was full of people who had just visited Teotihuacan by hot air balloon.

The breakfast buffet was huge, with plenty of Mexican dishes as well as typical American dishes to keep everyone happy and well-fed. With an hour to eat, it was more than enough time, but we were glad it gave us the chance to check out the cute gift shop, where we got some hot air balloon souvenirs!

Note: As of 2025, it seems that several hot air balloon tour companies are working with different restaurants rather than Gran Teocalli.

Visiting the Teotihuacan Pyramids After the Balloon Ride

Next, it was time to load up the bus again and go back to Teotihuacan — this time, to visit the archaeological zone! When we arrived, I noticed the van hadn’t taken us to the very beginning of the Avenue of the Dead (Avenida de los Muertos), which is where the public bus had dropped me off during my first trip to Teotihuacan. I remembered that had been a long, two-mile walk under the hot sun, so I was a little confused about where we were going in.

It turns out that we were being dropped off somewhere between both the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. (Piramide del Sol y Piramide de la Luna.) Our driver told us we’d have an hour and a half to explore the area around the pyramids.

I was initially a little bit worried, thinking that it wouldn’t be nearly enough time. My first visit to Teotihuacan had lasted nearly all day! But once again, Flying Pictures knew what they were doing, and an hour and a half was plenty of time for the archaeological zone. With the strategic drop-off location between the two main pyramids, there was no need to spend an hour each way just walking to and from the “entrance.”

And also — unfortunately but understandably — visitors were no longer allowed to climb any of the pyramids or ceremonial platforms lining the avenue, like I’d been able to do during my first visit. What started out as a COVID mitigation measure in 2020, turned into the realization that the pyramids could be better preserved without 3.5 million people climbing them each year. 🙂

Again, I totally understood and agreed with the decision to not allow visitors to climb the pyramids. It was just a major change from my first visit, and it meant that once we were inside the archaeological zone, there wasn’t actually a whole lot to do except take a few pics and try to avoid getting the world’s worst sunburn. If you hire a tour guide (for an additional cost) like some people from our bus decided to do, that could be a good way to spend your time and learn more about the history of the pyramids. But Matt and I decided to just explore on our own.

However, as of May 2025, visitors are now allowed to climb to the first level of the Pyramid de la Luna! (Pyramid of the Moon, pictured above.) After five years of conservation work and updates for visitor safety, you are now able to climb 47 steps to the first platform, which is a big change! It’s not the same as climbing all the way to the top, but honestly being able to climb anything is just fun. I’m excited that visitors now have the opportunity to do so!

Return to Mexico City After Our Teotihuacan Balloon Adventure

When we’d been dropped off, our bus driver told us the meeting place and time for pickup — so we made sure to be there on time. And so we began our drive back to Mexico City. It had been a quick trip in the morning considering that there was no traffic at 6 a.m., but it took a bit longer to get back into the city in the afternoon. But we were dropped back at our place by 1:30 p.m.

At first, I was like, “Wow, we still have so much of the day ahead of us! What should we do next?”

And then, within minutes of getting back, we were both asleep. 🙂

Is a Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride Worth It?

When I travel, I feel like taking part in unique experiences is usually worth it — even if they cost a little more. And I have to say that visiting Teotihuacan by hot air balloon was absolutely worth the money. The Flying Pictures team was fantastic and professional at every step of the way, which made me feel safe and comfortable at all times. And the hot air balloon flight itself was absolutely stunning — both with seeing the pyramids, and all the other balloons!

As I mentioned, I was able to climb the pyramids at Teotihuacan during my first visit. And that was pretty much the best part of my trip, because I didn’t do the whole hot air balloon thing that time. So if I were to visit Teotihuacan on my own now — like I did the first time — and not get to climb them, I’m not certain if the whole thing would have felt “worth it.” However, adding the hot air balloon experience did make it feel worth it! And we had an amazing day — one that I will remember forever.

Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon: Quick FAQ

It’s totally understandable that you might have some questions about the whole thing. We also had a lot of the same questions, considering we’d never flown in a hot air balloon before. And there are so many options online that it can make it hard to know what to expect. So, to help you out…

How long is the hot air balloon ride at Teotihuacan?

Most of the hot air balloon rides last about 30-45 minutes. It depends on the weather that day, your pilot, and other factors. However, your tour will likely be a half or full day, so 6-8 hours.

How do you pronounce “Teotihuacan”?

For most English speakers, this pronunciation is pretty good: “Tay-oh-tee-wah-KAHN.” 🙂

Why is Teotihuacan important?

Teotihuacan was once the largest city in the pre-Colombian Americas. It is thought to have been inhabited between 100 B.C. and at least 550 A.D. During its peak, this thriving civilization was one of the top most populous cities in the world. These days, Teotihuacan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the most-visited archaeological site in Mexico.

What should I wear for a hot air balloon ride in Mexico City?

Be sure to wear clothing you’re comfortable in, and remember it might be cold when you’re up in the hot air balloon — especially since most tours start before sunrise! But don’t forget your sunscreen for visiting the archaeological zone afterward. I recommend dressing in layers.

Is Teotihuacan By Hot Air Balloon Safe?

While there was one major Teotihuacan hot air balloon accident back in April 2023, it seems this was an under-the-table type operation that would likely not be something bookable by tourists. (For more of my thoughts on this horrible situation, check out the comments below.)

However, in May 2025, there was yet another Teotihuacan hot air balloon accident that impacted a tourist flight. As of now, it seems that “only” injuries have been reported and those impacted are receiving treatment at a local hospital. Based on my research in the Spanish-speaking Mexican media sources, the company operating the flight that crashed was Sky Balloons. It appears that the balloon hit an “air bubble” in the sky.

During my hot air balloon flight at Teotihuacan, we used Flying Pictures rather than Sky Balloons. But Sky Balloons seems to be a well-rated company… so I guess it’s a question of whether their pilot was somehow negligent, or whether this was truly an unpredictable situation that could happen to even the most experienced hot air balloon team.

As travelers, we have to decide for ourselves what risks we’re comfortable taking. Remember to always be smart, do your research, and don’t do anything that makes you feel unsafe. Happy travels. 🎈

➡️ Want help choosing the right option? Check out my full Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour comparison — including cost, weight limits, and how to book.

Plan Your Visit To Mexico City: My Top Picks

 

Have you ever flown in a hot air balloon, or would you give it a try? What questions do you have about the Teotihuacan hot air balloon experience? (And be sure to check out my Teotihuacan hot air balloon FAQ.) Feel free to leave me a comment — I’d love to hear from you!

-Cathy

Learn About Other Hot Air Balloon Experiences Around the World:

• Hot Air Balloons in Bagan, Myanmar
• Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia, Türkiye
• Hot Air Balloon Ride in Marrakech, Morocco

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