Are you looking for a fun activity to do just outside of Mexico City? I would 100% recommend booking a hot air balloon ride over the Teotihuacán pyramids.

What is Teotihuacán?

Teotihuacán is an ancient city/archeological site located 40 kilometres northeast of Mexico City. The most prominent ruins are the two pyramids: The Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. The archeological site is open to visitors and can be reached by car or public bus.

Which company should I choose?

If you look up ‘hot air balloon rides in Teotihuacán’, you’ll notice that there is an overwhelming amount of options. It seems that the most popular company is Volare. Other highly-rated companies include Sky Balloons, Flying Pictures and Volar en Globo.

My friend and I wanted to book with Volare, but we procrastinated and only checked for spots one day in advance (don’t be like us, book in advance!!). We contacted a couple companies on WhatsApp, and Volar en Globo was able to squeeze us in for the next day.

We chose the standard shared balloon ride (2500 MX/200 CAD/145 USD), but there are options for a private ride, small group, etc. The price and packages offered by all the companies are pretty similar, so I don’t think it really matters which company you choose.

Some companies do not include the shuttle/driver in the price (this was the case for Volar en Globo), but I recommend you choose this option because the balloon rides are early in the morning and it would be hard to find your own way at that time.

The total for one person, including the round trip shuttle, was 2850 MX (220 CAD/160 USD). We paid a 1000 MX deposit online for two people and paid the rest on site by credit card. They charge an extra 4% if you pay by card, so it’s best to pay with cash if possible.

What to expect

This is our experience with Volar en Globo, but I assume it would be similar with any other company.

• The driver picked us up at our AirBnb at around 5:15 am. The hot air balloon rides are only offered at sunrise.
• We arrived at the hot air balloon “airport” about an hour later where we had a light breakfast (coffee and a pastry).
• They got the balloons ready while we took pictures.
• We boarded the balloon and took off as the sun rose. The ride lasted around 45 minutes.
• We landed and had a (non-alcoholic) toast, then we were driven back to the “airport”.
• They presented us with a flight certificate, and then we had an option to purchase the professional pictures and videos they took with a drone while we were in the air.
• We had a buffet breakfast and headed back to Mexico City at 12:30 PM. They drop you off at the Ángel de la Independencia or the Palacio de Bellas Artes.

Tips and tricks

Here are some things to keep in mind to optimize your hot air balloon experience:

• It’s quite chilly in the morning, so be sure to wear a light jacket.
  
• The balloon is divided into 4 quadrants and each quadrant fits 4 people. That means there is a total of 16 people per balloon; honestly, it’s pretty crowded. The best spots are obviously on the outside, closest to the edge of the basket, so don’t rush to board the balloon! My friend and I were busy taking pictures, so we were the last ones to board, which worked out for us in the end.
  
• You will have to climb at least 1 metre to get into the hot air balloon basket. Be sure to ask for accessibility options if you have a physical disability.
  
• The jet used to propel the balloon is hot (duh) and you’ll feel it burning your head. Ultimately, it was bearable, but you may want to wear a hat/cap.
  
• If you’re afraid of dropping your phone, you should put it on a lanyard around your neck.
  
• The pilot most likely only speaks Spanish, but they won’t talk much other than the safety spiel before takeoff. Just don’t lean over the sides of the basket, and bend your knees and hold on when bracing for landing.
  
• There is an option to visit the archeological site after the balloon ride instead of going straight back to Mexico City. The company will drive you there at no additional cost, and you will have around an hour to explore before they take you back to the city. You will, however, have to pay for admission to the ruins separately.

Conclusion

Flying over Teotihuacán is a once in a lifetime experience and was definitely the highlight of my trip to Mexico City. I would recommend this to anyone visiting CDMX!