Is the Hot Air Balloon at Teotihuacan Worth It? Honest Review (2024)
So you’re considering taking a hot air balloon ride at Teotihuacan, but wondering if it’s worth the money? You’ve come to the right guide!
As a travel blogger that lives in Mexico, I have personally gone on the hot air balloon ride at Teotihuacan and have all the insights you need to make an informed decision.
This bucket list experience is one of the most popular activities in Mexico City, offering breathtaking views over some of the largest pyramids in the world.
⌚️ Don’t have time to read the whole review?
The Teotihuacan hot air balloon ride is 100% worth it if you go with a reputable company like this one–which has more than 1,400 5-star reviews!
In this post, I’m sharing my honest review of the Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour, including everything you need to know about the experience, including the cost, safety information, a detailed itinerary, tips, and more!
So if you’re planning to visit Mexico City soon and are looking for an exciting way to explore the Teotihuacan pyramids, this post will help you decide if the hot air balloon ride is worth it.
Ready to find out if the hot air balloon Teotihuacan tour is right for you? Let’s get started!
Is the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Worth It?
From my experience, I can confidently say that the Teotihuacan hot air balloon ride is 100% worth it! It’s an awe-inspiring experience that deserves a spot on everyone’s bucket list.
I personally went on this sunrise Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour and it was honestly one of the coolest travel experiences I’ve ever done–and as a travel blogger I’ve done a lot!
Plus, this hot air balloon excursion is one of the safest and highest-rated Teotihuacan hot-air balloon rides you’ll find–you can read the more than 1,400 5-star reviews here!
Everything about the tour was seamless and super well organized. From the hotel pick-up to the check-in process, everything was very quick, efficient, and on-time.
And as a solo female traveler, I felt super safe and comfortable the entire time–even with it being my first time and my slight fear of heights!
The experienced pilot provided detailed safety instructions before the ride and the entire experience was extremely safe and enjoyable.
Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour–it was definitely worth it and a once in a lifetime experience!
About the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Tour
Next, let’s go over some of the basics on the Teotihuacan hot air balloon:
What’s the Teotihuacan hot air balloon ride like?
The hot air balloon ride at Teotihuacan is an approximately one-hour experience that takes you high above the Teotihuacán pyramids, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at sunrise.
You’ll enjoy absolutely incredible views from the basket of the hot air balloon, including the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, as well as the remaining structures and roads of the ancient city.
The balloon pilot will point out some interesting historical sites, as well as some beautiful mountain landscapes in the distance. It’s a truly unique experience that you won’t forget!
How long is the hot air balloon ride in Teotihuacan?
The actual hot air balloon ride over the Teotihuacan pyramids lasts for about one hour, but the total experience will take 6-9 hours depending on whether or not you want to stay and do a guided tour of Teotihuacan.
The total tour duration also includes the check-in process, the flight duration, breakfast, and round-trip transportation to and from your hotel in Mexico City.
Where do Teotihuacan hot air balloons leave from?
The hot air balloons leave from launch sites located just outside the Teotihuacan archaeological site, which is located about an hour from Mexico City.
To get there, you can either choose to take the round-trip transportation offered by the tour provider, drive yourself, or take an Uber from Mexico City.
How much does the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon cost?
The Teotihuacan hot air balloon price starts at around $165 USD per person.
The tour includes the hot air balloon flight over Teotihuacan, as well as coffee and breakfast snacks followed by a champagne toast and buffet breakfast after the flight.
And there is an additional cost if you add on round-trip transportation from Mexico City.
Is the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride Safe?
Yes, the hot air balloon ride at Teotihuacan is safe as long as you go with a reputable company. The pilots are licensed and experienced, and the hot air balloon is regularly inspected for safety purposes.
I personally went with this tour company and I felt very comfortable and safe during the entire tour. Plus, our pilot was a former pilot in the Mexican Air Force so that gave me added peace of mind.
In full transparency, there have been Teotihuacan hot air balloon accidents in the past, but they have typically been with unregistered companies that do not operate within the applicable legal and regulatory frameworks.
That’s why it’s important to book with a certified company for your hot air balloon ride in Teotihuacan. It might cost a little more but it’s more than worth it for the added safety measures.
Of course, there are always risks involved when flying in a hot air balloon and safety is never guaranteed so it’s best to do your own research and only go if you are comfortable.
But fatal hot air balloon accidents are rare and if you go with a reputable company and follow all of the safety instructions provided by your pilot, you should have a very safe and enjoyable experience.
Why Book the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon?
Here are just a few reasons why you should consider taking the hot air balloon ride at Teotihuacan:
- Bucket list experience: The Teotihuacan balloon tour is definitely one for the bucket list! If you’ve ever dreamed of flying in a hot air balloon, this is amazing place to do it.
- Amazing views: Nothing beats the bird’s-eye view you get from above in a hot air balloon! The ancient city of Teotihuacan has a unique geography nestled between mountains and lush green terrain, so you get to see a range of beautiful landscapes from the sky.
- Sunrise setting: Seeing the pyramids at sunrise adds an extra layer of beauty and magic to the hot air balloon experience! And it happens before the pyramids open to the public so you’ll get to see the pyramids in all their glory.
- Affordable experience: Compared to other popular hot air balloon destinations around the world, the hot air balloon ride in Teotihuacan is relatively affordable.
What’s Included in the Hot Air Balloon Tour at Teotihuacan
Here’s what’s included in the Teotihuacan balloon ride:
- ✅ 45 min–1 hr hot air balloon flight
- ✅ Breakfast
- ✅ Coffee and/or tea
- ✅ Air-conditioned vehicle
- ✅ Champagne toast
- ✅ Pickup from Mexico City in selected hotels (Available for options with round-trip transportation)
- ✅ Diploma
Not included:
- ❌ Cost of the access to the Archaeological Site ($90 MXN per person, in cash at the entrance of the site)
- ❌ Optional guided tour of the archaeological zone ($580 MXN per person)
- ❌ Gratuities
How to Book the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Tour
The best way to book the Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour is by booking online in advance–you can book the tour online here.
This will help you secure your spot and ensure that you don’t miss out on this unique experience while in Mexico City.
Teotihuacan hot air balloon rides are some of the most popular tours in Mexico City and with limited spaces available in the basket, it’s best to reserve your spot in advance.
I recommend booking on Viator because they have a flexible cancellation policy where you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours in advance.
Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Tour Itinerary
Here’s a detailed itinerary and what to expect on Teotihuacan hot air balloon flights:
Hotel Pickup from Mexico City
Your tour will start with a very early pick-up at your hotel in Mexico City. Pickup times will depend on the location of your hotel or meeting point but typically start at 4:00AM.
I was staying at Hotel Volga in the Reforma neighborhood and was picked up at 4:15AM and there were 4-5 pickups after me.
The van was very new and comfortable with air conditioning and it even had USB charging ports.
The driver will take you to the launch site located outside the city and it’s about a one-hour drive. It will still be dark so there’s not much to see on the morning drive!
Arrival & Check-in
Once you arrive to the launch site, you will line up to complete the check-in process, get your wristband, and sign the liability waiver.
After you check-in, there’s a coffee bar in the check-in lobby where you can get tea, coffee, and breakfast snacks like fruit and cookies.
There’s also an outdoor seating area with heat lamps where you can enjoy your coffee and wait for the hot air balloon to be ready. They also have a cute souvenir truck here!
You’ll get to see the hot air balloons being prepared and inflated for the flight so it’s a great opportunity to take some photos.
Everything is super well organized and efficient–the van arrivals were staggered so there weren’t really any lines and the staff kept us informed with a loud speaker (in both Spanish and English).
Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride
Once the hot air balloons are ready, they will call your name to organize everyone into the groups. Groups typically consist of 12 people and are arranged by language preference.
They’ll then lead you to your assigned balloon and you’ll climb into the wicker basket. There are small rectangular openings on the side of the basket that you climb as a ladder and then swing your legs over the top.
The pilot will give you a brief safety instruction and then within minutes, you’ll be up in the air! It’s pretty cool to see the flames igniting and lifting you off the ground.
I’ll admit that I have a slight fear of heights but I honestly didn’t have any issues during the entire flight.
I felt a little nervous right at lift off but the hot air balloon moves at a really slow, steady pace and you don’t feel like you’re in any danger.
Plus, you’ll be so distracted with taking photos and videos that you won’t even have time to think about the height!
The flight will take about one hour and you’ll get to fly over the ancient city of Teotihuacan and its pyramids including the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon.
The views from above are absolutely breathtaking and you can even see some of the mountains in the distance!
The pilot will expertly navigate the hot air balloon over Teotihuacan and take you right above the ancient pyramids for an unobstructed view.
They can’t control the direction of the winds but they can control the altitude so you’ll be at various altitudes throughout the flight.
It’s really an incredibly breathtaking experience! I was so blown away by the beauty of it all. It felt kind of like one of those awe-inspiring moments that makes you feel alive!
Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Landing
When it’s time to land, they will begin to lower the hot air balloon and the pilot will navigate towards an empty field.
The landing itself is actually quite gentle–all you have to do is hold onto the handles inside the balloon basket and slightly bend your knees.
Then once you hit the ground, they’ll lift off the ground again by just a few feet to get the balloon and basket into the back of the trailer.
While the ground crew is packing up the balloon, the pilot will pour some celebratory champagne to toast your flight!
Then you’ll climb out of the basket and into the waiting van to be driven back to the depot, which is about a 30 minute ride (depending on where your balloon lands).
Breakfast
When you arrive back to the starting point, they will provide a hot breakfast in a cute back courtyard area.
The breakfast buffet consists of scrambled eggs, red and green chilaquiles, beans, and fruit, as well as orange juice and coffee.
The breakfast is nothing spectacular but you are treated to a full mariachi band playing live music while you eat!
It’s a nice way to end the experience and you can bond with some of the fellow tour-goers.
Teotihuacan Pyramids Guided Tour (Optional)
If you have the time and energy, you can choose to add on a guided tour of Teotihuacan’s pyramids. This is not offered by the hot air balloon company but a separate local provider.
When booking your tour online, you can choose to add on extra time to visit the Teotihuacan pyramids, which basically extends your tour by an extra 3 hours to give you time to walk around the pyramids.
However, it does not include entrance fees or a tour guide so you’ll have to pay for that separately.
You can either choose to visit the ruins and walk around on your own which costs around $90 pesos for the entrance fee.
Keep in mind though that the pickup to go back to Mexico City is about 4 hours later so that’s a lot of time to fill on your own!
The other option is to hire a tour guide for a full guided walking tour, which costs around $580 pesos (~$35 USD) per person. Cash or credit cards are accepted.
I personally chose to go with the guided tour, which includes a certified tour guide and all transportation around the archaeological site of Teotihuacan.
You start the tour at a visitor shop where you learn all about obsidian, taste some pulque and tequila, and do some souvenir shopping.
This part was a little boring for me–but since I live in Playa del Carmen, I’m used to seeing these types of things.
Once you’re done with visiting the shop, your tour guide will take you to the pyramids and explain all about the history, architecture, and significance of each one.
Unfortunately you’re not able to climb the Teotihuacan pyramids at this time but you get pretty close and still get amazing views from the ground.
And compared to what you’ll see on a Chichen Itza Mayan ruins tour in the Yucatan peninsula, the pyramids of Teotihuacan are MUCH larger, and are really impressive to see from the ground as well.
Then we visited an underground cave known for its healing energy and got to stand in front of a light beam to see our auras. I personally couldn’t see any auras but some people in the group could!
Even though it was tiring after the early hot-air balloon ride, I’m glad I opted for the guided tour because I learned way more about the Teotihuacan pyramids that I would have on my own.
Hotel Drop Off
At the end of your tour, you’ll be picked up and brought back to your hotel in your original tour van.
You can expect the Mexico City traffic to be pretty heavy in the early afternoon so it will take much longer to get back to your hotel. I got back to my hotel after 2PM.
What to Wear on the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Tour
It’s important to wear warm layers because it can be very chilly in the mornings in Mexico City no matter the time of year.
I went at the end of June and it was in the 50’s Fahrenheit at 4AM, even though it was high 80’s during the day!
I wore leggings with a short-sleeved shirt with both a hoodie and a jacket, and comfortable sneakers. And then you can remove your layers when it warms up later in the day.
Here’s what I recommend wearing on Teotihuacan hot air balloon trips:
- Warm Layers: As mentioned, it’s much colder in the mornings than you would expect in Mexico City. So it’s best to wear warm layers like a shirt, hoodie, and/or a jacket that you can remove as the temperatures heat up.
- Pants: Opt for pants, jeans, or leggings instead of shorts as it will be colder in the mornings and while you are in the air.
- Comfortable Walking Shoes: You’ll be doing a lot of walking around the pyramids so it’s best to wear comfortable closed-toe walking shoes like sneakers or tennis shoes.
- Belt Bag or Small Backpack: There’s isn’t much space in the basket of the hot air balloon so it’s best to bring a belt bag or small backpack for your personal items like phone, wallet, and camera.
What to Bring on the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Tour
Here’s what I recommend bringing on the hot air balloon tours over Teotihuacán:
- GoPro or action camera: The views from the air are absolutely incredible so bring your action camera or GoPro to capture some epic footage. Just be sure to keep it secured so you don’t accidentally drop it!
- Umbrella: It’s also a good idea to bring a compact umbrella in case it rains. Rainy season in Mexico City is typically during the summer months. Also, the sun can get pretty hot during the day so you might need some extra shade.
- Sunglasses: You’ll definitely want to bring your sunglasses if you choose to walk around the pyramids as it can get very bright when the sun is out.
- Sunscreen: When the sun comes out, it can be pretty strong and there is little shade at the ancient ruins of Teotihuacan. Bring along some sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun.
- Portable charger: If you have space, it’s not a bad idea to bring along a portable charger to keep your phone fully charged. My phone battery was getting pretty low after all the pictures and videos I was taking from the hot air balloon ride!
- Money for the guided tour: If you choose to add a guided tour of Teotihuacan, you’ll need to pay for the guided tour separately. The cost is around $580 pesos (~$30 USD) and cash or credit cards are accepted.
- Cash for tips: While tips are not required, it is recommended to tip the pilot, crew, and optional tour guides for their great service. I think you will be happy to leave a tip after this experience!
Tips for a Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Ride
Follow these tips to make the most of your experience:
- Book with a reputable company: Be sure to book your tour with a reputable company like this one for the best experience. You might find balloon tours for a cheaper price, but you want to make sure that your tour is safe and the company is following all safety protocols.
- Bring a GoPro: The views from the air are pretty amazing, and you’ll want to capture it all with a GoPro or action camera!
- Dress in warm layers: Even though it can be pretty warm in Mexico City during the day, the temperatures will drop significantly at night and in the early mornings, so make sure to dress in warm layers that you can remove as it heats up.
- Bring sunscreen: Don’t forget to bring sunscreen to use when you’re walking around the pyramids. There is little shade at the ruins.
- Setup a wakeup call: Make sure to setup a wakeup call from your hotel or set an alarm so you don’t miss the early morning pickup!
- Go for the guided tour: Even though it may be tiring after your hot air balloon ride, I would highly recommend going for the guided tour of Teotihuacan. I learned so much more from the guided tour than if I had visited on my own.
- Wear comfortable walking shoes: Make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes, as you’ll be doing a lot of walking around the pyramids and archaeological site.
- Bring a portable charger: If you have some extra space, it’s not a bad idea to bring along a portable charger to keep your phone fully charged. You’ll be taking tons of photos and videos!
Hot Air Balloon Teotihuacan Pyramids: FAQs
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the hot air balloon ride Teotihuacan:
It is recommended to spend at least 2-3 hours at the archaeological site. If you choose to add a guided tour, it will take around an extra 1-2 hours since the tours include added attractions.
You should wear pants with a jacket or sweatshirt and comfortable walking shoes on Mexico City hot air balloons. It’s important to dress in warm layers as it can be very chilly in the mornings in Mexico City.
Teotihuacan is located about 30 miles (48 kilometers) from Mexico City. It takes around 1-2 hours to get there by car depending on traffic.
If you book a group tour, the hot air balloons at Teotihuacan typically hold up to 12 people. The basket is divided into quadrants with 3 people per quadrant.
The pick-up for the Teotihuacan Mexico City hot air balloon tour typically starts at 4:00AM. This depends on your hotel location and the exact time will be confirmed at the time of booking.
Yes, Teotihuacan balloon tours operate all year round. It only rarely gets cancelled due to Teotihuacan weather conditions.
No, you used to be able to climb the Sun Pyramid at Teotihuacan but it is currently not allowed.
Yes, kids ages 5 and older are welcome on the hot air balloon Mexico City Teotihuacan sunrise tour.
It will depend on the weather conditions, altitude, and time of year but I did not feel a noticeable difference from the temperatures on the ground.
Final Thoughts: Is the Teotihuacan Hot Air Balloon Worth It?
So, is the Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour worth it? I hope these honest Teotihuacan hot air balloon reviews have helped you decide for yourself.
I thought it was 100% worth it and it’s honestly one of the coolest travel experiences I’ve ever done–and a bucket list-worthy experience!
And even if you’re afraid of heights like me, there’s no need to worry since the hot air balloon ride is very smooth and steady.
I personally went on this Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour and would highly recommend them–this company offers the best hot air balloon at Teotihuacan!
I felt very safe and comfortable with the pilot and crew, and I had an unforgettable experience.
So, if you’re looking for an unforgettable adventure while visiting Mexico City, the Teotihuacan hot air balloon ride really shouldn’t be missed!
Are you ready to book your Teotihuacan hot air balloon sunrise tour?!
