Before you fly ·
The launch field sits at 2,300 m (7,550 ft) and dawn runs 4 to 9 °C (39–48 °F), so dress in layers you can peel off: it is genuinely cold when you arrive and by 9 a.m. it is not. Closed shoes are required. Below is the layer list, the packing list and a straight answer on age, pregnancy and weight — before you pay, not at the field.
2,300 m · dawn · layers
You are not dressing for one temperature, you are dressing for the swing. The same clothes have to work at 5 a.m. and at 9 a.m.
Dry season runs November through May. June to October is the rainy season — mornings are still flyable, evenings are not.
| When | Temperature | What it feels like | What to be wearing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4:30 – 5:00 a.m., pickup | 4–9 °C (39–48 °F) | Cold, dark, still | All three layers on. Hat if you feel the cold |
| 6:00 a.m., at the field | 4–9 °C (39–48 °F) | Coldest part of the morning, standing on open ground | Everything on, hands free for the briefing |
| 6:15 a.m., in the basket | Cold air, warm overhead | 45 minutes aloft; the burner throws real heat | Outer layer on; nothing loose that can blow off |
| 7:45 a.m., landing | Climbing fast | Warming once the sun clears the pyramids | Start shedding the outer layer |
| 9:00 a.m., the zone | Well above 9 °C | Full sun at altitude | One layer, sunglasses, sunscreen |
Short list. Everything on it earns its place.
Print this or keep it on your phone; it also goes out with your confirmation email.
| Bring | Why | Leave behind |
|---|---|---|
| Closed shoes | Required. You stand for the whole flight and land on uneven ground | Sandals, heels, anything backless |
| Long trousers | Warmth at dawn, and protection on landing | — |
| Three layers on top | The temperature swing is the whole problem | One heavy coat you cannot take off |
| A camera with a strap | Nothing loose in an open basket | Drones — not permitted over the zone |
| Sunglasses and sunscreen | Full sun at 2,300 m within two hours | — |
| A hat that fits tight | Or one that lives in your pocket | Wide brims that catch the burner draught |
Two of these are absolute. We publish them here because the worst thing we can do is take your money and turn you away on the field.
These are conditions of flight. Asking us to make an exception on the first two puts a crew's licence at risk.
| Condition | Answer | No exceptions? |
|---|---|---|
| Children under 5 | Cannot fly. Minimum age is 5 years | Absolute |
| Pregnancy | Cannot fly, at any stage | Absolute |
| Mobility | You must be able to stand unaided for the whole flight and climb into the basket | Talk to us first |
| Weight | Every passenger is weighed on the field; heavier passengers may carry a surcharge | Ask when you book |
| Fear of heights | Allowed, and common. Nobody will make you board | — |
The weigh-in is public. Weight determines basket balance and fuel load, so it is not something a crew can take on trust. It happens in front of the other passengers. We would rather you read that here than discover it in the queue.
People search for it constantly, so it deserves a real answer instead of a no.
Balloons fly at dawn because that is the only part of the day when the air over this valley is stable. As the ground heats, thermals build and the wind turns; by mid-morning the conditions that make a balloon calm and predictable have gone. It is physics, not scheduling.
Plan the rest of the day around it with the hour-by-hour itinerary. That is also why a cancelled flight moves to another morning and never to that same afternoon — and why booking the first usable day of your trip matters. See how the months compare.
Send us the seven questions before you send us a peso. AFAC-certified pilots, passenger insurance in all seven packages, a free reschedule if the morning is not safe, and rides from $2,100 MXN. Book online or message our English-speaking team.
Mon–Sun, 5:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunrise flights,
subject to weather conditions.