Top Picks: Hot Air Balloon Ride at Teotihuacan
A hot air balloon ride over Teotihuacan is one of the coolest things we’ve ever done, and it’s one of my readers’ favorite activities, too! Here’s everything you need to know about planning and booking your trip above the clouds in the pre-historic skies of Teotihuacan.
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Book Your Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride
✅ Skip-the-line tours
✅ Beat the heat & the crowds
✅ Pickup from Mexico City
✅ Time to climb the pyramids
✅ Breakfast included
Tips for Planning Your Hot Air Balloon Flight
A Google search of “teotihuacan hot air balloons” or “mexico city hot air balloons” is a good place to start (and probably how you got here!). But you’re going to get a million different results. How do you figure out which of the Teotihuacan hot air balloon experiences is really worth it? Which ones are legit, and which ones are scams? Paying attention to the fine print is super important, so keep the following in mind.
First things first — Teotihuacan is about an hour outside Mexico City, so if you’re staying in CDMX, don’t forget to take transportation into account. Some of the hot air balloon experiences you can book offer pickup from the city and drop-off at the end of the day. Some might even pick you up directly from your hotel, while others may provide transport from a designated pickup point (such as the Ángel de la Independencia).
Because most of the Teotihuacan hot air balloon experiences take place around sunrise, you’re going to be in for an early morning. If you get personal hotel pickup, you can roll out of bed and be downstairs at the last minute. If you don’t have the personal pickup, make sure you’re able to get yourself to the pickup point at the designated time — which might be around 4:30 am! But other available tour groups may not provide any type of transportation.
Another thing to consider is whether you want to spend time visiting the “archaeological zone” of the pyramids. Several of the companies I researched only provided the Teotihuacan hot air balloon experience, but entry to the pyramids was not included. This may or may not be important to you — but keep it in mind. I personally did want to visit the pyramids up close again, like I’d done during my first visit.
Also, the majority of Teotihuacan hot air balloon experiences will be shared with other travelers. I believe about 12 passengers can fit in the balloon basket. But if you want a private event — maybe you want to do a sunrise Teotihuacan hot air balloon proposal! — then you can usually just pay more at booking to have it all to yourself.
Comparing Companies & Booking Your Hot Air Balloon Flight
As you research your trip to Teotihuacan, you’ll notice that there are seemingly hundreds of hot air balloon tour providers, which can make it tricky to pick the best one for you. Personally, Matt and I had a great experience with Flying Pictures — but it seems like they’ve changed their offerings since our trip, so I can no longer say they have the best overall package for the price.
Here’s what to consider when booking your experience:
- Pickup & Dropoff Service: Having to be out at the pyramids for sunrise, it was a non-negotiable to book a tour that offered pickup and dropoff in Mexico City. Flying Pictures picked us up directly from our hotel, and they also dropped us off at the end of the day.
- Reasonable Price: The prices for hot air balloon flights at Teotihuacan seem to have been increasing in the last few years, pretty much across all companies. You should expect to be paying at least $180 for a trip that includes pickup/drop off in Mexico City, and that’s for the most basic package available
- Entry to the Archaeological Zone or other Add-Ons: The price we paid for our Teotihuacan hot air balloon experience also included entry to the Teotihuacan archaeological zone, which was something that not all tour providers offer. There are also options to visit caves or shrines in the area, so that’s another option depending on what you’re interested in.
With that being said, here are a few of the most popular Teotihuacan hot air balloon tours that my readers love:
Note: All prices listed above include pickup/drop-off in Mexico City. Most of them offer cheaper packages as well, but you’re responsible for your own transport which is not ideal unless you’re already staying in the area.
Booking Options: Hot Air Balloon Flight
Our personal favorite way to book travel experiences is with Viator, particularly because of their Viator Rewards Program. That’s because each time you book with Viator, you earn cash/credit toward your next Viator experience! I love it because you can save actual money on future bookings, so it’s kind of like having a little discount each time.
But if you prefer other tour operators, like TripAdvisor or GetYourGuide, you can find other Teotihuacan hot air balloon companies as well:
- Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Flight / Volare: TripAdvisor
- From Mexico City: Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Flight with Cave Breakfast: GetYourGuide
Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloons: Frequently Asked Questions
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 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.
How far away is Teotihuacan from Mexico City?
If you book through a hot air balloon experience, the trip to Teotihuacan from Mexico City should take about 30-45 minutes, depending on whether you need to stop to pick up other passengers. The ride back to CDMX will likely take longer dealing with city traffic in the afternoon.
How do you get from Mexico City to Teotihuacan?
While it’s possible to get out there with the public bus — I’ve done it myself — you definitely won’t want to do that if you’re doing the hot air balloon experience. It can take much too long, and it would be too early in the morning as most of the hot air balloons lift off at sunrise. If you book your experience through a reputable company, they should offer pickup at your hotel or from a meet-up point.
What do you wear for a hot air balloon ride in Mexico?
Be sure to wear clothing you’re comfortable in, and remember that being in a hot air balloon, it may be chilly at altitude! And since most tours start before sunrise, it’s usually pretty cold before the sun comes up.
Is there a dress code for visiting Teotihuacan?
There is no dress code for visiting Teotihuacan. But if you’re there in the summer, you may want to wear clothing that will help keep you cool as it can be hot when you’re visiting the archaeological zone, and there is no shade. Also, don’t forget your sunscreen!
How much does a hot air balloon ride at Teotihuacan cost?
You should expect to pay at least $150 per person. While you also might be able to book this type of hot air balloon tour on Airbnb, be careful of booking an Airbnb experience that claims to only be about $11 USD. According to some of the reviews I read on these types of bookings, these are individuals who are basically taking your money as a “booking fee” and then setting you up with one of the main hot air balloon companies, and you still have to pay the rest of the price later. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
Keep in mind that if you select ana option that includes pickup and dropoff in Mexico City, that is going to add to the price. Any trip that is around $150 likely will not include transport — though wasn’t the case back in 2022 when we took our hot air balloon flight, where we paid about that price to be picked up and dropped off at our hotel in CDMX. In 2025 or 2026, you’ll be more likely to pay $180-$220 USD.
Is a hot air balloon ride at Teotihuacan safe?
A hot air balloon ride at Teotihuacan is generally safe! Though it is true that there have unfortunately been a couple of Teotihuacan hot air balloon accidents in the last couple of years. 🙁 The April 2023 incident seemed to be a one-off situation that would not have put any tourists in danger, though the May 2025 incident was a tourist flight with the company SkyBalloons.
With more than 20 companies offering hot air balloon flights at Teotihuacan, Mexican news sources I read around the time of the incident reported that there were 18 visits by inspectors to the hot air balloon providers, and it turned out that some did not hold the correct Civil Protection certificate. I am guessing that all companies still offering flights have been under extremely close scrutiny in recent months. You know how they say that air travel is always safest right after a plane crash? I’m hoping that’s true in this case, too.
Remember to always be smart, do your research, and don’t do anything that makes you feel unsafe.
Is there a weight limit for taking the hot air balloon at Teotihuacan?
There does seem to be a weight limit of about 100-120 kg (220-264 lbs) per person, though this depends on the company. I don’t remember this from when I booked in 2022, but now most companies seem to ask you to enter your weight at the time of booking. Some tours seem to give the option to pay an extra $35 MXN (~$2 USD) per kilogram extra.
If you have any other specific questions about the weight limit, I recommend reaching out to the companies you’re considering in advance.
How long is a hot air balloon ride in Mexico City?
Most of the hot air balloon rides last about 30-45 minutes. It depends on the weather that day, your pilot, and other factors.
How long does the hot air balloon experience last?
Our day started at 5:30 a.m. when we were picked up at our hotel, and we were dropped off around 1:30 p.m. — so it was a full 8-hour day! But the day included pickup, the drive there, the hot air balloon experience, a breakfast buffet, time in the archaeological zone of Teotihuacan, and the drive back. We definitely stayed busy.
Is taking a hot air balloon ride at Teotihuacan worth it?
Visiting Teotihuacan by hot air balloon in Mexico was totally worth the money, in my opinion. The whole day was impeccably planned and executed by the Flying Pictures team, making it really easy on us travelers. And the views we got, of both the pyramids and the other hot air balloons at sunrise, were breathtaking. If you’re not afraid of heights, I highly recommend it!
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