Balloon flights at Teotihuacán are regulated by AFAC, Mexico’s federal civil aviation agency, which requires a permit, insurance and licensed crews, and which in 2026 stepped up checks in the valley after a run of incidents. No public list of authorized operators exists, so the useful checks are yours to make: ask for the company’s AFAC permit, the pilot’s licence and proof of passenger insurance, and listen to the briefing. Health rules differ by operator and are strict, so read your listing’s restrictions before you pay.
Hot Air Balloon Flight + Breakfast at La Gruta + Pick Up in CDMX or We Fly
- 4.9/5 (4,822 reviews)
- 3–9 hours by option
- Free cancellation
- Operated by We Fly
Includes Shared balloon flight of 30 to 60 minutes · Travel insurance · Breakfast (flight plus La Gruta, express and …
You'll choose your date and complete the booking on Viator. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.
Who regulates the flights, and what changed in 2026
AFAC (Agencia Federal de Aviación Civil), part of Mexico’s transport ministry, is the authority for commercial balloon flights. As summarized by the Mexico City outlet Chilango after the 2023 fire, an operator needs an AFAC permit, must comply with the official standard NOM-008-SCT3-2002, must carry valid insurance for passengers and third parties, must use licensed or certified aeronautical staff and must maintain its equipment. In March 2026 AFAC restated the rules: companies must meet operation, maintenance and training requirements, including periodic inspections, pilot certification, emergency protocols and suitable weather.
The bigger change came on the ground. In February 2026 the authorities announced a permanent AFAC operational commission for the valley, with a daily presence on site, working with civil protection and the municipal offices of San Juan Teotihuacán and San Martín de las Pirámides. Its job, as announced, is to check the condition of balloons and facilities, airworthiness certificates and landing procedures, and to decide whether the weather allows flights. Milenio reported on 30 April 2026 that the commission was operating from 5:00 to 9:00 a.m. with AFAC present, that a pilot review programme had started on 25 April, and that 24 companies offered balloon rides in the two municipalities. Two companies from outside the area, one from Atizapán and one from Pachuca, were flagged as operating in the airspace.
The scale matters when you read the incident list below. The 2026 reports describe more than 20 companies and, on one inspection day, 46 balloons in operation. That is a busy sky. Whether the new commission is still running every morning in October 2026 is not something we could confirm from the reports.
The March 2026 inspection and the three suspensions
On 29 March 2026 AFAC carried out a verification visit to the balloon ports of the Teotihuacán valley with state and municipal authorities, civil protection and the state’s verification institute. According to UnoTV and other outlets reporting AFAC’s communiqué, released on 3 April 2026, inspectors checked 23 of the 46 balloons in operation that day, and owners showed their documentation.
Three businesses were suspended and sealed by civil protection: Volar en Globo, Sky Ballons and Nuevo Ciclo. The communiqué gave the reason only as “various irregularities detected during the inspection”. It did not say what the irregularities were, so it is not known whether they were paperwork problems or anything that affected passengers. We could not find whether the three businesses have since reopened. The inspection also covered only half of the balloons in operation that day, so the other 23 were not checked on that visit, and the result says nothing either way about them.
What a traveler can take from this: inspections happen, they find problems, and the names involved were made public. If you book through a reseller, find out which balloon company actually flies you, and compare that exact name, not a similar-sounding brand. Several listings send the exact balloon-port location only in a message the day before, so ask earlier if you want to know.
Other experiences
Other Teotihuacán balloon flights to compare
More ways to explore the area. Each listing shows its own cancellation policy.
Incidents on record
These are the incidents reported in the sources we use, as reported, without speculation about causes that the authorities have not given.
| Date | What was reported |
|---|---|
| 1 April 2023 | A tourist balloon caught fire in flight over the Teotihuacán area and fell. Two passengers from Mexico City died and a 13-year-old girl was injured. The pilot was detained. The cause was never confirmed in the reports we found. |
| 12 January 2025 | A balloon fell at Axapusco, with three people injured (one press report). |
| May 2025 | A balloon fell near Teotihuacán with at least 12 injured, according to one press mention without further detail. |
| January 2026 | At least three forced landings: one outside the designated zone with six aboard, damaging pipes on a house; one sudden descent in bad weather with ten aboard and no injuries; one landing in Acolman without damage. |
| 16 March 2026 | A balloon, registration XA-OZY, operated by Happy Puerto according to AFAC-based reports, struck power lines in Teotihuacán. Two British tourists suffered burns from an electric discharge, not life-threatening. AFAC opened an administrative investigation. |
| 21 April 2026 | A Balloons Paradise balloon landed beside the Pyramid of the Sun, reportedly out of fuel, with no injuries. AFAC and the transport ministry opened an investigation and said sanctions could follow. |
A regional outlet, Posta, counted roughly a dozen balloon incidents in the area between 2022 and 2026, including the two deaths in 2023. Its own figures are not fully consistent, so read that as a press tally, not an official one. After the 2023 fire the local balloon federation said the balloon did not belong to any of its member companies.
Some of the listings sold on this site name the balloon port they use. Amigo Tours’ GetYourGuide listing, for example, sends travelers on its no-transport option to the Balloon’s Paradise balloon port. Knowing the operator lets you read its record for yourself.
What a traveler can check
Authorities quoted by Posta in February 2026, and Chilango in 2023, advise confirming that a company holds a valid AFAC permit before you board, and asking for proof of insurance and the pilot’s licence. Many operators state their credentials in their listings. Visita Teotihuacán, for example, says it has all the documentation and certifications AFAC requires, and We Fly says its pilots are AFAC-certified. These are the companies’ own statements, which is why asking costs nothing.
- AFAC permit: ask the company, before booking, for its operating permit. A reseller should be able to tell you which company flies.
- Pilot licence: ask at check-in. It is a reasonable question and a good company answers it.
- Insurance: some listings include it by name. We Fly’s flight with breakfast at La Gruta lists travel insurance among its inclusions, and Vive Vuela and Arc Tours list passenger insurance during the flight. We Fly asks for photo ID at check-in because guests are registered under the flight insurance.
- Your details: by government order, according to Amigo Tours’ Viator listing, operators must collect each passenger’s name, weight and health conditions. Give your true weight; it is used to load the basket.
- The briefing: a short safety briefing before take-off is listed by several operators, and the Zuyuá private flight lists a safety briefing and insurance among its inclusions. Listen to what the crew says about landing, hold on where you are told, and follow the pilot’s instructions in the basket.
- The pilot’s call: Globos Aerostáticos Teotihuacán states that the pilot decides whether take-off happens, and an early landing for safety is not grounds for a refund. A cancelled or shortened flight is the system working.
Health restrictions by operator
Operators publish their own rules, and they are not identical. Check the listing for your exact flight.
| Operator (listing) | Not allowed or not recommended |
|---|---|
| Viaja Teotihuacan | Pregnant people at any stage; heart problems; recent surgery; back, spine or knee problems; anyone under the influence of alcohol or other substances |
| Tlatoani | Spinal injuries; pregnancy; poor cardiovascular health; prostheses of any type; travelers missing a limb or with problems standing |
| We Fly (Viator) | Spinal injuries; pregnancy; poor cardiovascular health; under 4; anyone under the influence |
| Amigo Tours (GetYourGuide) | Under 4; pregnancy; mobility impairments; wheelchair users; respiratory issues; high blood pressure |
| Vuelo en globo Teotihuacán (GetYourGuide) | Under 5; pregnancy; back problems; mobility impairments; fear of heights; recent surgery |
| Globos Aerostáticos Teotihuacán (own terms) | Pregnancy; under 4 or shorter than 1.20 m; high blood pressure; recent fractures or surgery; cardiorespiratory, spine or knee problems; vertigo; intoxication |
Volare’s listing marks the experience as wheelchair accessible but warns that some disabilities may make participation impossible and asks you to consult the operator first. Weight rules vary too, with surcharges above about 95 to 100 kg; Volare sets a maximum of 120 kg and Globos Aerostáticos Teotihuacán will not fly passengers over 140 kg. Our weight limits guide and guide to flying with children go into the details.
Putting it in proportion
On the March 2026 inspection day 46 balloons were in operation in the valley, and the incidents above are the ones the press and AFAC reported over four years of that traffic. They are a reason to choose with care, not a reason to panic, and also not a reason to assume any company is beyond question. Choose an operator that answers your questions about permits and insurance, follow the crew’s instructions, and accept a weather cancellation without argument. Our comparison of the flights we review and the weather and cancellations guide cover the rest of the decision.
Frequently asked questions
Who regulates hot air balloons at Teotihuacán?
AFAC, the federal civil aviation agency. Operators need an AFAC permit, valid insurance and licensed staff, and since 2026 a permanent AFAC commission has been announced for daily checks in the valley.
Has there been a fatal balloon accident at Teotihuacán?
Yes. On 1 April 2023 a balloon caught fire in flight and fell; two passengers died and a 13-year-old girl was injured. We found no fatal balloon fire in 2024 or 2026.
Which companies did AFAC suspend in 2026?
After the 29 March 2026 inspection, Volar en Globo, Sky Ballons and Nuevo Ciclo were suspended for irregularities that AFAC did not specify. We could not confirm whether they have reopened.
How can I check a balloon company before booking?
Ask for its AFAC permit, the pilot’s licence and proof of passenger insurance. There is no public AFAC list of authorized Teotihuacán operators that we could find, so you have to ask.
Can I fly if I am pregnant or have a heart condition?
No. Pregnancy is excluded or not recommended by every operator in the table above, and most of them also rule out heart or cardiovascular problems.
Pick your sunrise
Flights leave at dawn and the best dates in the dry season fill early. Compare options and check your date.
Check dates and prices