Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise (Wanderlist Activity – US, New Mexico)
There’s nothing quite like floating over the high desert as the sun rises behind the Sandia Mountains. With its calm winds, wide-open skies, and nearly perfect year-round flying conditions, Albuquerque is known as the hot air ballooning capital of the world. I have been so fortunate to have taken a few hot air balloon rides now and each one has been different and interesting – see how the ride in ABQ went.
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Why Albuquerque Is the World’s Ballooning Capital
Albuquerque’s reliable weather patterns (especially the unique Albuquerque Box, a wind phenomenon that allows balloons to drift in a predictable loop) make it one of the safest and most calm ballooning destinations on earth.
Additional reasons ballooning thrives here:
- 300+ days of good flying weather
- Stable morning air
- Wide desert landscapes and stunning mountain views
- A rich ballooning culture supported by expert pilots
It’s honest mind boggling just how many balloons there are @ Balloon Fiesta!
Balloon Fiesta
Albuquerque is also home to the legendary International Balloon Fiesta, the largest and most photographed ballooning event on the planet. Every October, hundreds of colorful balloons fill the sky at once, creating an unforgettable spectacle.
Best Time of Year for a Balloon Ride in Albuquerque and Seasonal Tips
- October: The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The most iconic time of year to fly. During the Balloon Fiesta, you can witness:
- Mass Ascensions with hundreds of balloons taking off together (pictured in three of the above photos)
- Dawn Patrol where illuminated balloons launch before sunrise
- Special Shape Rodeos with whimsical character balloons
- Nighttime balloon glows that light up the field
- Flight reservations during Fiesta sell out nearly a year in advance, so book early if this is on your bucket list! Also note that the prices is typically 3x to 5x what prices are during the other parts of the year
- Year-Round Balloon Flights: Balloon rides operate all year, usually at sunrise when winds are calmest.
- Spring: Beautiful weather; wind can cause occasional rescheduling.
- Summer: Warm mornings and brilliant visibility.
- Fall: Peak ballooning season thanks to the Balloon Fiesta; book early.
- Winter: Crisp, smooth flying conditions with smaller crowds – dress warmly.
A bucket list or Wanderlist experience that one can check off your list!
Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise
Activity Details
- Overview: Enjoy a one-hour sunrise flight from Albuquerque over the Rio Grande Valley
- Details: Duration of 4 hours
- Important Notes:
- Not wheelchair accessible
- This is a shared basket flight, there will be anywhere from 10-16 total passengers in each basket
- Due to the nature of this tour and the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund.
- Flights can only be operated with safe winds, clear sky and no rain. In case of unsuitable weather conditions, you will be provided the option to take the tour on an alternative date or be refunded in full.
- Not recommended for:
- Travelers with back problems, knee problems, heart problems or other serious medical conditions / pregnant travelers / Not recommended for participants with
Includes:
IMPORTANT NOTES: Passengers 300 lbs+ must purchase an additional space to ensure safety, comfort, and proper weight distribution during flight
Minimum age is 5 years
My Experience on the Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise
Meet-Up
- This activity does not include pickup/drop off and meets at the Rainbow Ryders office location
Check-in was fast and efficient at the Rainbow Ryders office and as advertised, we then rode to the balloon launch site (which varies day-to-day depending on weather).
Beautiful tip: this is your last chance to use a restroom / WC for a couple of hours.
Balloon Inflation
Your pilot will do a Pilot briefing on what to expect during the flight and safety consideration including how to get into and out of basket and what you can and cannot do during the flight.
At this time, they will also begin the process of inflating the balloon.
At this parking lot, there were a number of hot air balloons that were launching from here with some balloons at different stages of inflation
You can even help out the crew during the inflation process for a more hands-on experience.
What The Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise Was Like
The sun was already peaking out over the Sandia mountains as we started climbing up in altitude.
I loved that there were so many other balloons out on this morning as they helped framed my photos.
These sunrise rides are always just really peaceful with the sun slowly rising as you slowly make your way over the landscapes.
The sun slowly illuminate the rugged Sandia Mountains, being able fly over the city of Albuquerque (and dip low enough to wave and have people wave back), gliding over the Bolsa forests and desert landscapes and to my favorite part: dip low enough to skim the Rio Grande!
The ride is so calm that the pilots can touch down into the Rio Grande
Depending on weather conditions, you may also be able to experience this where we were able to dip low enough to skim the Rio Grande River! From left to right the photos are right before touching down, whilst skimming the water and then as we make our ascent seeing other balloons touch down!
And part of the experience is that nature can be unpredictable – we let the wind take us where it may….
We glide over the city of Albuquerque and are low enough that we wave and people wave back at us from their backyards or on the street!
One of the questions that I often get is about my fear of heights and how/why I still do hot air balloon rides. Part of it is that when I am behind a camera, I can push the fear away but the other thing is that it feels different so my fear isn’t realized (I have had others tell me that it’s the same for them…in the same way that looking out of an airplane window doesn’t make me fearful of the height.
Smooth Landing and then a Champagne (or Mimosa) Toast!
Once the wind died down and we were able to safely land, we enjoyed a champagne toast (I opted for a mimosa!) and were also presented with a commemorative flight certificate before returning to the original meeting point.
What to Wear & Bring
- Wear layers as mornings can be chilly but many find the ride to be warm from the hot air
- Also wear closed-toe shoes as you will be climbing in and out of the basket.
- Also wear sunglasses and sunscreen
- Don’t forget to fully charge your phone and/or camera
- At most bring a small bag since there are others in the basket with you
FAQs About Hot Air Balloon Rides in Albuquerque
- Is It Safe? Albuquerque ballooning is highly regulated and considered one of the safest flight experiences in the world. Rides only occur in ideal weather.
- How long is the flight? The ride lasts 45–60 minutes (depending on weather and wind) with the total experience lasts 3+ hours.
- Do balloons always fly at sunrise? Typically as it’s the safest and calmest time but during the Balloon Fiesta, you may have the chance to fly during a different time.
- Is there a weight limit? Usually around 250–300 lbs per passenger, depending on company. Rainbow Ryders will allow passengers who are 300 lbs+, but they must purchase an additional space to ensure safety, comfort, and proper weight distribution during flight
- Can kids fly? Rainbow Ryders’ minimum age is 5 years of age.
- What if the weather is unsafe? Flights will be rescheduled or refunded.
Final Thoughts: A Unique Southwestern Sunrise Ride
I am a person that adores interesting experiences and one of the reasons why I love hot air balloon rides is that you get to see a place from such a unique vantage point and watch the sun slowly rise over the landscapes. And this sunrise ride had so many cool parts: watching the sun slowly illuminate the rugged Sandia Mountains, being able fly over the city of Albuquerque (and dip low enough to wave and have people wave back), gliding over the Bolsa forests and desert landscapes and to my favorite part: dip low enough to skim the Rio Grande!
Why I Chose to Book This Tour Via Viator
What I Really Spent
- Tour: $179 – $40 credit card offer
- TOTAL SPENT: $139
I booked via Viator as I was able to double stack on this spend: #1-getting rewards on my credit card and #2- using a credit card offer to save (Note that I did this activity before Viator rewards program launched (5% on the booking that can be used towards a future booking) and sadly before I knew about getting miles or cashback via a shopping portal =/ so we all live and learn!)
If You Want to Book This Tour Via GetYourGuide Instead?
Interestingly this is almost exact same tour from the same tour company (Rainbow Ryders) but through GetYourGuide, this is a small group activity limited to 6 participants for the same price – book Albuquerque: Rio Grande Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride / Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise through GetYourGuide here!
Why You Should Choose to Book Via GetYourGuide
Never used the GetYourGuide app before and want to save 5% on an activity or excursion? You must use my referral to download the app and then book via app with discount code: BEAUTLIFEWORLD5.
For more on the discount code specifically, read this and on GetYourGuide in general, read this
Nearby Things to Do In Albuquerque After Your Balloon Ride
- Explore Old Town Albuquerque with a ABQ Trolley Co. | Best of ABQ City Tour
- Ride the Sandia Peak Tramway and hike around
- Take The Ghost Tour of Old Town – New Mexico’s oldest Ghost Walk if you dare!
- Stroll the ABQ BioPark
Nearby Things to Do In Santa Fe After Your Balloon Ride
- Explore the town on the Santa Fe Ultimate History Walking Tour
- Visit the original Meow Wolf. Discover the House of Eternal Return and try to unravel the mystery.
- Enjoy delicious food during your New Mexican Flavors Food Tour of the Santa Fe Plaza
