Ride A Hot Air Balloon Over The Teotihuacan Pyramids In Mexico City
Upon my return from my four-month Remote Year journey, a common question asked was, “What was your favorite part?” Besides meeting my dad’s family in Lima, Peru, the coolest experience I had — hands down — was riding a sunrise hot air balloon over the Teotihuacan Pyramids outside Mexico City. It was beautiful, a little bit terrifying, and an unforgettable memory. Everything about it was just amazing, and I highly recommend you do it if you have the time and money!
What company did you use?
So this was actually set up through Remote Year’s portal (which is only accessible to members), but they booked through Sky Balloons.
What does it include?
We did the Flight Adventure, which includes transportation to and from your hotel in Mexico City, champagne, breakfast buffet, coffee, and access to the Teotihuacan Pyramids. Note that pickup in CDMX is at 5:30 a.m. and you absolutely cannot be late. The hot air balloon rides start around 6:30 a.m., and you’ll get the most amazing sunrise view of the pyramids. It’s worth it! You can read more about the process here.
How much does it cost?
$2960 MXN per person, which is about $150 USD.
Is it scary?
You are floating. In the air. In a wicker basket. That’s powered by fire. Yes, it can be a little scary — but what’s life without some risk?? If this gives you any ease of mind, NBC News states that there have been a total of 70 hot air balloon-related fatalities from 2002 - 2012. It is so incredibly rare, and you shouldn’t sacrifice a good time out of fear. The scariest part is the landing because you think you’re about to bodyslam some cacti — but we landed directly in the bed of a truck. It was quite impressive, actually. The views are outstanding and I promise you will not want to miss this. The employees operating these things are licensed and do it every single day. They will not go in a balloon if weather is bad, or if they see warning signs. Enjoy life! Ride the balloon! See the pyramids from above as the sun is rising! It’s unforgettable.
What are the Teotihuacan Pyramids?
It's home to the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon, which are believed to have been constructed around 200 CE. With the Flight Adventure package, it includes entrance to the pyramids. You can climb them and see some cool landscapes from up top, but it can’t beat the hot air balloon view (especially since no one is on the grounds that early).
Overall thoughts:
This was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had and I would do it again in a heartbeat (even though I was scared). If you have the time and money while visiting CDMX, I 100% recommend you go. It’s amazing!
Have questions about Remote Year? Feel free to drop me a line at info@ariellesays.com and I’d be happy to tell you all about my experience!