Visiting Teotihuacan In a Hot Air Balloon

If riding in a hot air balloon isn’t on your bucket list, keep reading! Located 30 miles northeast of Mexico City lies the ancient holy city of Teotihuacan. Easily recognizable for its towering pyramids, Teotihuacan is one of the most historically and culturally significant cities in Mesoamerica. During its peak, the city was home to as many as 250,000 people. However, many details about the city remain shrouded in mystery. Historians believe the Mayans built the city between the first and seventh centuries AD. By 1400 AD, the Aztecs discovered and occupied the city, renaming it Teotihuacan, meaning “The City Of The Gods.”

The city itself is quite impressive. So much so that in 1987 UNESCO designated Teotihuacan a World Heritage site. In addition to using advanced building techniques to construct the pyramids, the builders and planners of Teotihuacan laid the city out in a grid system, perfected the acoustics, had a system for freshwater delivery, and perfectly aligned the pyramids with solar and lunar events. Today, this ancient holy city draws over 10 million visitors per year!

I recently booked a day trip from Mexico City to explore and learn more about this fascinating historical site. Not only did I stand in this holy city with awe and admiration, but I even took an aerial view by floating above the complex in a hot air balloon. In this post, I’ll break down everything you need to know about taking a hot air balloon and visiting the incredible ancient city of Teotihuacan!

An Early Start

I stood outside my hotel in the cool, pre-dawn air as a Mercedes Sprinter van arrived to pick me up. After an hour’s drive through the darkness, the sun began to rise just as we arrived at the launching point.

Our guide escorted us into the waiting area of the small, stand-alone building to complete the check-in process. A kind woman offered us coffee and pastries while we waited for the balloons to inflate fully. The waiting room had a bank of lockers to store your belongings free of charge.

The Flight

A pilot directed me to a balloon with four other guests. We all clambered awkwardly into the hot air balloon’s oversized basket. Almost immediately afterward, the pilot let the flames roar overhead, causing us to lift off the ground and float gently away. The sunrise views were stunning throughout the 45-minute balloon flight. With mountains in the distance, we flew over verdant, fertile farmland and small rural communities. We even got our first views of the famed pyramids of Teotihuacan!

We floated through the sky at varying altitudes, going whichever way the wind dictated. For much of the flight, we snapped photos and admired the scenery in peaceful silence. The views were breathtaking, and all the problems of the world seemed to melt away as we soared high above.

The Landing

As our flight came to its end, we lost altitude and watched nervously as the ground drew closer and closer. While we made our impressively smooth landing, the locals began to appear from their homes with big smiles and friendly waves. Several children even ran out the watch us land with wide eyes and cheerful grins.

Safely on the ground, we toasted the successful flight and landing with a celebratory glass of champagne provided by our gracious and talented pilot. Sky Balloons’ employees had tracked us down in a van and assisted with the landing. As our group sipped champagne, the balloon workers began packing up the balloon and basket onto a small trailer towed behind the van. When they finished packing up, we piled in the van with empty cups to ride through the small villages and back to Sky Balloons’ HQ. Overall, a resounding success.

Back at Sky Balloons Mexico, you have the option to purchase photos of your flight for 800 pesos (~$40 USD). A GoPro attached to the ballon captures the images throughout your flight. You can view the photos before deciding whether or not you wish to purchase them.

An Unexpected Stop

After the hot air balloon flight, we loaded ourselves back into the sprinter van for the 10-minute drive to breakfast. After filling my plate at the buffet, I was invited by two couples from El Salvador to join them at their table. We spent the next 45 minutes getting to know each other over breakfast and coffee. They were all fantastic people with fascinating stories to tell. I ended up spending the rest of the day as their adopted “5th wheel”.

With our bellies full, we piled back into the van for a half an hour drive to Teotihuacan. Or so we thought. This was the point in the day when they snuck in the oldest tour trick in the book. The driver stopped just outside the historic site of Teotihuacan. Thinking we had arrived at the pyramids, we exited the van with excitement.

Unfortunately, we found ourselves in a small gravel lot, not at the entrance to the pyramids of Teotihuacan. A local guide began giving us information on the ancient Aztec way of life, including how they harvested up to 6 liters of drinking water from a single native plant in the harsh arid environment. At first, it was really interesting. That changed pretty quickly, though.

The Old Bait & Switch

It wasn’t long before our friendly host began to show us how jewelry and trinkets are made from silver and obsidian. Then he treated us to samples of mezcal and another spirit called pulque, made with an ancient Aztec recipe. That part, we didn’t mind too much. But then our host proceeded to escort us to an adjacent gift shop to buy figurines and cheap tequila. I guess pumping some booze into our system was just a crafty sales tactic!

One thing I absolutely loathe about organized tours is when they force you into an unwanted souvenir buying situation. Especially without any prior warning. I rarely buy souvenirs during my travels and typically always avoid cheap, mass-produced knick-knacks at all costs. So, being duped into this unnecessary stop was slightly annoying. I could tell my new friends felt the same way. However, no one was overly pushy about making any purchases, which was nice. The group and I stayed polite and feigned interest as we tried to make the best of the situation.

My disinterested party and I took a quick lap around the gift shop and headed out. The entire stop took a little under an hour. The silver lining was that we did actually learn some interesting facts about the Mayans and the Aztecs. So, certainly not anything to stress over. Soon enough, we were finally on our way to visit the ancient city of Teotihuacan.

Visiting The Pyramids Of Teotihuacan

Five minutes later, as we unloaded from the van at Teotihuacan, all memories of the gift shop vanished. Aside from the pulque and mezcal tasting, the previous stop yielded another positive for our group. We hired a local tour guide to show us around the complex and teach us all about the site and its inhabitants. The five of us chipped in and hired him for 900 pesos. (About $45 USD). The knowledgeable guide truly made our visit to the site much more enjoyable and enlightening.

As we walked the grounds, we were a little disappointed to learn that climbing the pyramids is no longer allowed. This practice was halted during the Covid crisis and for good reason. Millions of visitors climb these ancient stone structures every year, causing extensive damage. So, for preservation’s sake, climbing the pyramids is currently forbidden.

Other than that, we were all blown away by how advanced the city of Teotihuacan truly was for its time. Our guide explained to us the purposes of each building and pyramid in the city. As well as the significance of their positioning in relation to the sun and the moon. We were shocked to learn about how the entire city was essentially one big calendar!

Bonus Tip* If you find yourself in Teotihuacan, staring in awe at the pyramids, only to be struck by a sudden paralyzing fear that you are moments away from being mauled by a jaguar, don’t worry! That’s just an enterprising local selling souvenir whistles that make Jaguar sounds. He must have sounded that whistle a dozen times during our visit, and at least one of us flinched each time!

Tequila in a Cave

When our tour ended, the plan was to get back in the van for the return ride to Mexico City. However, my new friends invited me to skip the ride back and join them for lunch. They had learned about a restaurant nearby called La Gruta Restaurant. The food was fine, but nothing to write home about. The setting, however, made it worth the visit. La Grutta has been in operation since 1906, but the coolest part about it is its location. The entire restaurant is in a massive cave! Aside from the fact that it’s just fun to be in a cave, the cave also provided a welcome shade and protection from a potential rainstorm. My new friend Gerardo was celebrating his birthday. So, of course, we felt obligated to indulge in some celebratory tequila and ice-cold cervezas!

Return To Mexico City

A few hours later, we reached out to our tour guide, who was more than happy to give us a lift to the local bus station. The bus arrived shortly after we did, so we didn’t have much of a wait at all. For around $2 USD per person, we got a true local experience and hitched a ride back to Mexico City on the local bus. I had dinner plans that night, so once we arrived in Mexico City, I parted ways with my new friends from El Salvador.

The people you meet while traveling are often the best part of any trip. Before going our separate ways, my new friends and I made sure to exchange contact information. I was so appreciative that they let me into their inner circle for a day, as it made my experience exponentially more enjoyable and enlightening. Learning about their stories and background was every bit as interesting and educational as learning about the ancient peoples of Teotihuacan. Gerardo and his crew definitely left a lasting impression on me, and I hope that I did the same for them in some small way. The entire experience of taking the hot air balloon ride and visiting Teotihuacan was unforgettable, but meeting amazing people along the way is what makes a trip truly special. For that, I am very grateful.