Balloon Flight Over Teotihuacán with Drone Video: A Review
Phone photos from a balloon basket are great — until everyone's arm is in the shot. Explora México's balloon flight over Teotihuacán solves that with an optional drone package that films your balloon from the outside, plus a tequila and pulque tasting after you land. Here's what the day is really like and whether the drone add-on is worth it. (Want the bigger picture? Compare all the balloon tours side by side.)
About This Activity
Up to 24h in advance — full refund
Your balloon filmed from the air
Flight, breakfast, tasting, pyramids
English and Spanish
From your Mexico City hotel
1,603 reviews · 4.8★
Why This Balloon Flight Over Teotihuacán Stands Out
Most balloon tours leave you with phone photos and a certificate. Explora's hook is the optional drone footage — a short film of your actual balloon drifting over the valley, shot from the outside, which is the one angle you can never capture yourself.
The flight is a solid 40–50 minutes, on the longer end for the valley, and the group is capped at 20 with bilingual guides. After landing, the tour adds a tasting of tequila and pulque — the latter a fermented agave drink most visitors never try — alongside a cave-restaurant breakfast.
It's a good middle option: more polished than the budget tours, cheaper than the small-group premium flights, with a keepsake video you'll actually rewatch.
See it in action
Highlights: What You'll Remember
The longer 40–50 minute flight means more time drifting over the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon, and the Teotihuacán archaeological zone below.
The pulque tasting is the sleeper highlight — it's an acquired taste, but trying it with a guide who explains its role in the ancient city is the kind of detail that makes a tour memorable. And if you spring for the drone footage, you'll leave with a video that looks like it belongs in a travel ad.
What's Covered in the Price
The package includes:
- Optional hotel pickup and drop-off in Mexico City
- 40–50 minute balloon flight over the valley
- Champagne toast and flight certificate on landing
- Breakfast in a cave restaurant
- Tequila and pulque tasting with a cultural talk
- 1 hour of free time at the pyramids
Not included
The drone footage is an optional paid add-on. The site entrance fee (~$12 USD / 210 MXN) is paid at the gate, and tips are optional.
How the Day Runs
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4:45 AM
Hotel pickup (optional)
Collected from your Mexico City hotel if you added transport.
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5:45 AM
Arrive and check in
Get weighed and briefed; the crew inflates the balloon.
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6:20 AM
Takeoff at sunrise
A longer 40–50 minute flight over the valley and pyramids.
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7:30 AM
Landing, toast and certificate
Champagne and your flight certificate — and your drone footage if booked.
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8:00 AM
Cave breakfast
A Mexican breakfast in a cave restaurant.
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9:15 AM
Tequila & pulque tasting
Sample tequila and traditional pulque with a short cultural talk.
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10:00 AM
1 hour at the pyramids
Walk the Avenue of the Dead before heading back.
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11:30 AM
Return to Mexico City
Back at your hotel around midday.
Best Time to Book
The drone footage looks best on a clear morning, so the dry season is doubly worth targeting here.
| Season | Conditions | Crowds | Booking tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov–Apr (dry/peak) | Clearest skies — best drone shots | Busiest | Book 2–3 weeks ahead |
| May (shoulder) | Warm, mostly dry | Moderate | Great value |
| Jun–Sep (rainy) | Greener, more cancellations | Quietest | Keep a backup date |
| Oct | Cooling and clearing | Moderate | Reliable |
If the drone video is the reason you're booking, aim for a clear, calm morning between November and April.
Important Things to Know
Like every balloon tour here, flights are weather-dependent and refundable or reschedulable if conditions are unsafe.
The drone footage is an extra cost — confirm the price when you book. Transport is optional too, the site fee is separate, and the usual cold-dawn, patchy-signal caveats apply.
What to Wear and Bring
Same two-climate morning as every valley flight:
- Warm jacket and layers for the freezing dawn
- Lighter clothes for the pyramids later
- Closed-toe shoes for the basket
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
- A phone or small camera (the drone handles the wide shots)
Who It's Best For
Great for: content creators, couples who want a keepsake video, and curious travelers up for trying pulque. Skip it if you:
- Don't care about the drone add-on and want the lowest price
- Are traveling with very young children
- Are pregnant or have a serious heart or back condition
- Can't stand for the length of the flight
Where It Happens
Drone-Video Balloon Flight FAQ
Is the drone footage included in the price?
No — it's an optional paid add-on. If a professional video of your flight matters to you, confirm the cost when booking; otherwise you can skip it and pay the base rate.
How long is this flight compared to others?
It's a 40–50 minute flight, on the longer end for the valley. The full day runs about 6 hours including breakfast, the tasting and pyramid time.
What is pulque?
A traditional fermented agave drink that predates tequila and was important in ancient Mexico. It's an acquired taste — trying it with a guide's context is part of the fun.
Is transport from Mexico City included?
Hotel pickup is optional. If you don't add it, plan to reach the balloon port yourself by about 5:30 a.m.
How big is the group?
Capped at around 20 travelers, with bilingual English and Spanish guides.
What Travelers Say
Paid for the drone video and have zero regrets — it's the clip everyone asks about. The flight itself was longer than I expected, too.
Trying pulque at sunrise after floating over the pyramids was peak Mexico. Guides spoke great English and explained everything.
Good value for a 40-plus minute flight. Skipped the drone and still came home with great phone photos.
The whole morning was smooth and well organized. The cave breakfast was fine; the tasting and the flight were the standouts.
Plan the Rest of Your Morning
Comparing the field? See all the balloon tours ranked, read our prices and timing guide, or skim the common questions first.