Booking choice: The flight with breakfast, from $145 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Every Teotihuacan balloon flight leaves at dawn, when the air is calmest. So the real question is not the time of day but the time of year, and which day of your trip.
Here is how the seasons compare.
The quick answer
November to April, the dry season, gives the clearest skies and the most reliable flying, with cold dawns. June to September is the rainy season: storms mostly come later in the day, but more mornings are cloudy or grounded. Fly on a weekday for fewer balloons and quieter ruins, and book one of your first mornings so a weather day can be moved.
What is the best month for a balloon ride?
November to April, the dry season, for clear skies and fewer weather cancellations.
| Season | Months | Skies | Dawn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry season | November to April | Clearest, best views of the volcanoes | Coldest, near freezing in mid-winter |
| Hot, dry spring | March to May | Clear to hazy | Cool |
| Rainy season | June to September | More cloud, some grounded mornings | Mild |
| Shoulder | October | Clearing after the rains | Cool |
Travelling in the dry season? Check your date early: it is also the busiest time.
Check dates for the flight with breakfastWhat time does the flight leave?
At sunrise: take-off is usually around 6:30 to 7 AM, after a pickup from Mexico City at about 4:00 to 5:10 AM.
Dawn air is the calmest of the day, which is why balloons fly then. The whole flight, from take-off to landing, lasts about 45 to 60 minutes.
Is the rainy season a bad time to fly?
Not necessarily: many mornings are fine, because the storms mostly come in the afternoon, but cancellations are more likely.
If you travel between June and September, keep your flight early in the trip and stay flexible. Flyers also report occasional fog in other months that pushes a flight to the next day.
When is it most crowded?
Weekends, holidays and the spring equinox around 21 March, when crowds gather at the Pyramid of the Sun.
On busy mornings dozens of balloons share the sky, which makes great photos but busier launch fields and ruins. Weekdays outside holidays are calmer.
Prefer a smaller group on a busy morning? This option caps groups at 16.
Explore the small-group flightWhich day of your trip should you fly?
One of your first mornings, so a weather cancellation can be rescheduled.
Operators usually offer another morning if the pilots stand down. That only helps if you have mornings left. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before also lets you shift if the forecast turns.
Does jet lag help?
Often, yes: if you arrive from Europe, a 4 AM start in your first days feels much easier.
Flyers from Europe often find the early pickup painless early in the trip. Travelers from the Americas may prefer to fly once settled.
How should you plan the rest of the day?
Keep the afternoon light: you will be back in Mexico City around early to mid-afternoon, tired.
Return traffic can be slow. If you skipped the flight-only option, the package brings you back. See what to wear for the cold-to-hot morning.
Picked your morning? Check dates with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the flight with breakfastFrequently asked questions
Can you fly every day of the year?
Operators fly most mornings year-round, weather permitting.
Is a sunset balloon flight possible at Teotihuacan?
Flights here are dawn flights, when the air is calmest.
Is December a good time?
Yes for clear skies, but it is the coldest month at dawn and a busy holiday period.
Ready to book
Choose your flight
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Balloon Flight with Breakfast Included
- Shared hot air balloon flight at sunrise
- Coffee or tea before take-off and a sparkling wine toast after landing
- Breakfast at La Cueva Teotihuacán, a restaurant inside a natural cave
Balloon Flight with Pickup & Pyramid Time
Small groups, and back in the city by early afternoon
Volare Shared Flight from Mexico City
Mexican or American breakfast, and an option with extra pyramid time
