Teotihuacan: Hot Air Balloon Flight & Mexican Breakfast

Summary

Float above teotihuacan’s pyramids at sunrise then share breakfast and music with locals

You’ll wake before dawn in Mexico City for a hot air balloon ride above Teotihuacan’s pyramids, sharing coffee as balloons inflate in the early chill. Float quietly over ancient ruins as sunlight spills across the valley, then celebrate with a mariachi breakfast and traditional toast before heading home—still buzzing from it all.

What’s the experience like?

I was still rubbing sleep from my eyes when our van pulled away from Mexico City — the streets mostly empty, that blueish half-light before dawn. The driver, Armando, had this quiet way of pointing out things as we sped past: “That’s the House of Tiles,” he said, barely louder than the radio. I didn’t expect to feel nervous until I saw the balloons at Volare’s port, all half-inflated and wobbling like giant paper lanterns. Coffee smelled strong and sweet, mixed with something fried from a nearby kitchen. Everyone was whispering or laughing softly — maybe it was nerves or just not being awake yet.

Our pilot, Luis, had flown for years (he said his abuelo taught him). He grinned as he showed us how to climb into the basket — not very gracefully on my part. The ground crew counted down in Spanish and suddenly we were floating up, so smooth it felt fake for a second. The sun came up behind the Pyramid of the Sun (fitting), throwing gold light over everything. You could see San Juan Teotihuacan and San Martin de las Piramides spread out below — little squares of color, smoke curling from breakfast fires. Someone pointed out tiny people walking near the ruins; they looked like ants. I tried to take photos but honestly just ended up staring most of the time. There was this moment where it went really quiet except for the burner’s whoosh and some birds — I remember thinking how old everything down there must be.

Landing was bumpier than I thought (Luis laughed and called it a “Mexican landing”). We all cheered anyway. There was a toast with bubbly stuff that tasted better than expected at 7am, then they handed us diplomas — kind of silly but everyone took photos holding them up like schoolkids. Back at the port there was mariachi music already going and trays of chilaquiles and eggs coming out fast; I ate way too much but couldn’t help it. A woman named Marisol asked if I’d ever tried tamarindo juice before (I hadn’t) and she insisted I drink two glasses. My Spanish is pretty bad but nobody seemed to mind.

You can stay after for more time at Teotihuacan if you want — some people did but I was full and happy to head back to Mexico City with that weird mix of tiredness and adrenaline you get after doing something new. The city felt louder coming back in daylight. Sometimes when I see balloons now I think about that sunrise over ancient stones — hard to explain unless you’ve floated above them yourself.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Teotihuacan hot air balloon flight

• Hotel pickup in Mexico City
• Check in at Volare Balloon Port
• Enjoy coffee and watch balloons inflate
• Take off and fly over Teotihuacan Valley
• See Teotihuacan archaeological site from air
• See San Juan Teotihuacan town from air
• See San Martin de las Piramides town from air
• Land and have traditional toast
• Return to Volare Balloon Port
• Receive flight certificate
• Enjoy Mexican breakfast with Mariachi music
• Optional visit to Teotihuacan Archaeological Zone
• Return to Mexico City hotel

Top questions

How long does the Teotihuacan hot air balloon flight last?

The flight lasts between 30 and 50 minutes depending on weather conditions.

Is pickup from Mexico City included in this tour?

Yes, hotel pickup is included if you select that option during booking.

What do you see during the hot air balloon ride?

You’ll see Teotihuacan Valley, including views of the archaeological site, San Juan Teotihuacan, and San Martin de las Piramides.

Is breakfast included after the balloon flight?

Yes, a Mexican buffet breakfast with mariachi music is included at the balloon port after your flight.

Are children allowed on this tour?

Children under 5 years old are not allowed to take the balloon flight.

Is this hot air balloon tour wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible; notify during booking if special requirements are needed.

Do you fly directly over Teotihuacan pyramids every time?

The flight path depends on wind conditions; sometimes you may not fly directly over the archaeological site.

What happens if weather conditions aren’t good for flying?

The flight may be canceled or rescheduled if weather conditions are unsafe for flying.

What’s included

Your day includes optional hotel pickup from Mexico City, coffee and snacks on arrival while watching balloons inflate at Volare Balloon Port, a shared hot air balloon flight over Teotihuacan Valley with an experienced pilot, a traditional toast upon landing with diploma certificate, plus a full Mexican buffet breakfast accompanied by live mariachi music before returning to your hotel or exploring more on your own.