Ballooning in Albuquerque

New Mexico·United States

Photo: Mav · Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Epic~3 daysGuide required

Why go

For nine days every October, Albuquerque hosts the largest hot-air balloon festival in the world, with around five hundred balloons in the mass ascensions. The Albuquerque Box, a local wind pattern that blows one way near the ground and the other way higher up, lets pilots fly a loop and land close to where they started.

When

In season: Oct · Peak: Oct

Who it’s for

Skill

Beginner

Effort

Casual

Suitable from

6+ · Kid+

Crowds

Packed

Cost

$$$$

Ballooning specifics

Launch: Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque
Exertion: None
Basket capacity: Varies by operator
Flight time: 60 min

What to expect

Pre-dawn starts on the launch field among inflating balloons, crowds and cold mornings, with passenger flights available from local operators. Flights depend on calm weather.

Routes

What the difficulty bands mean

easy: Accessible with basic fitness; no technical skills or exposure.
moderate: Sustained effort or some exposure; comfort on the terrain expected.

Balloon Fiesta mass ascension
easy
Five hundred balloons lifting at once, the largest gathering on earth
Rio Grande box flight
moderate
The wind pattern that lets pilots return to their launch

How to start

Book accommodation and a passenger flight months ahead for the Fiesta in early October. Arrive on the field before dawn for the mass ascension, and fly outside Fiesta week for a quieter flight over the Rio Grande.