Passenger Requirements
Who can fly:
Passengers must be at least 5 years old, in good health, and physically fit enough to participate in hot air ballooning activities, including standing unassisted for an hour or more, and climbing into and out of the balloon basket (like swinging your leg over a horse or motorcycle).
Passengers cannot have had recent surgeries (especially to legs, knees, hips, back, neck, etc.) in the last year. If you have any concerns about this, we recommend you consult your doctor prior to booking your flight.
Unfortunately, we cannot allow anyone who is pregnant or may be pregnant to fly in our balloons.
Passengers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.
Federal Aviation Regulations do not allow a person who appears to be intoxicated or who demonstrates by manner or physical indications that they are under the influence of drugs to fly in our aircraft. Please do not show up under the influence of drugs or use drugs while we are together (this includes Marijuana), as you will not be able to fly with us and will not be given a refund.
Passengers are accepted at the sole discretion of Rio Grande Balloons. We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone for any reason.
Before you book:
Please read our General Flight Information, Policies and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sections, below. All passengers are required to sign a Release Form prior to flying with Rio Grande Balloons. The link to the electronic Release Form will be sent to you in your email confirmation.
General Flight Information
What to wear:
Clothes suitable for outdoor activities (like going for a walk in the woods). Long pants are recommended. Dress in layers appropriate for the forecasted temperatures. We can see temperature swings of 30 degrees F or more from night to day. It’s often brisk (downright cold in the Winter) first thing in the morning but almost hot (or at least not as cold in the Winter) by the time we’re done with the ballooning experience. If you bring too many layers, you can always just leave the excess in the chase vehicle while we’re flying. Better to have them and not need them…Sturdy shoes that are suitable for rugged terrain. The landscape and vegetation can be rough and prickly. While you don’t need to bring mountaineering boots, flip flops, sandals, open-toed shoes and high heels are not suitable for ballooning. Shoes must be closed toe and reasonably sturdy. A Hat is recommended to help keep your head more comfortable, especially if you’re tall. The burners can put off quite a bit of heat.
If you are flying with us in the Winter, please wear enough layers with insulating properties to stay warm and comfortable throughout the morning. Warm socks, a scarf/neck gaiter/balaclava, warm hat and warm gloves are often overlooked. Hand warmer packets can be delightfully warming as well.
As an example, when piloting in the Winter, I wear two layers of heavyweight long underwear under flannel-lined Carhartt work pants, a base layer of heavyweight Merino Wool thermal shirt, a mid-weight down jacket under a heavy-weight down jacket with a windproof coat over top, a neck gaiter, a expedition weight wool hat and expedition weight wool hiking/skiing socks. If you want to buy any extra winter layers while in town, I would recommend locally owned Taos Mountain Outfitters on the Taos Plaza or Mudd N Flood on Bent Street near the John Dunn Shops. Chocolate and Cashmere (also located on Bent Street) sells their Expedition Hat which is both the most expensive and the warmest wool hat I have ever owned. This hat has truly made the difference of comfort for me flying in sub-freezing temperatures all winter long. I’ve had mine for three winters now and it is wearing extremely well. Plus, they are made locally (in Santa Fe).
What to bring:
We want you to enjoy your ballooning experience and, while these items are not required, they may make the morning that much more enjoyable:
Camera or phone. Always nice to be able to take photos to share with friends and family later.
Binoculars. We often see wildlife while flying, including Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep. A pair of binoculars can help you see them “up close.” Be sure to bring a strap or harness to keep them safe and secure.
Selfie stick. Can give you that extra reach to get really great photos of/from the balloon.
Sunglasses. We start off in the soft light of early morning, but it gets bright quick.
Water. We are in a dry, arid, high altitude basin. It’s easy to get dehydrated. If you have a water bottle, you might as well bring it to help stay hydrated.
Hand Warmers. (in the winter) Let’s face it, winter mornings can be cold. These can help make the experience that much more enjoyable.
About our climate:
The Town of Taos sits at 7,500 feet of elevation and is on a dry high-desert plateau. It can take a few days to acclimate to the altitude, dryness and intense sun.
If you are just arriving from lower elevations or a long day of travel and are feeling the effect of altitude and dehydration, it is usually helpful to drink lots of water, with electrolytes if possible. Cids Food market on the North side of town sells single-serving electrolyte packs that you can drop into a water bottle, and cans of Boost aviation grade oxygen if you’re feeling the effects of altitude.
It’s useful to keep in mind that, until you acclimate, coffee will likely dehydrate you more quickly and one alcoholic beverage may feel like you just drank three of them. We do meet rather early in the morning…just saying.
Policies
Weather Cancellations:
Hot air ballooning is a fair-weather activity that is entirely dependent on favorable weather conditions. The determination to cancel a flight due to weather, or any other reason, is always at the discretion of the Pilot and is made with everyone’s safety and well-being in mind. We love flying and are just as eager to share the experience as you are, so please be understanding if we choose to cancel a flight due to weather. The old pilot’s adage holds true: “I’d rather be on the ground wishing I was in the air than in the air wishing I was on the ground.”
If the forecasted weather conditions are clearly not going to allow us to fly, then we will cancel the flight the night before and communicate with you as early as possible. Taos and the surrounding area is mountainous terrain with dynamic weather. The computer model forecasts do not always accurately reflect the real-time conditions in the micro climate of our flying area and there are times when the actual weather conditions in the field differ from what was forecasted. This works both in our favor and against us. We don’t like to waste your time or ours, but there is always the possibility that we may cancel the flight in the field based on real time conditions at our launch site.
In either case, if there is an opportunity to reschedule your flight, then we can make those arrangements.
If we are not able to reschedule your flight, you will receive a full refund for the cost of the flight if you have booked online and paid ahead of time. If you have called us and made your reservation over the phone, then we likely have not charged your card yet to begin with.
Cancellation Policy:
A $20 per person fee will be assessed on cancellations made up until 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting time on the morning of your flight. No Refund will be given if the flight is cancelled within 72 hours prior to the scheduled meeting time.
Any flight cancelled by us, Rio Grande Balloons, due to weather, or any other reason, will receive a full refund of the cost of the flight.
We’re human too. If you have extenuating circumstances forcing a cancellation, please call us to discuss.
No-Show Policy:
If you do not show up for your scheduled flight and do not contact us ahead of time, you will be charged the full amount of the flight since we will likely have turned other passengers away and will have incurred the costs of going ahead with your flight even though you did not show up.
If you are running late, are lost, or have other extenuating circumstances, please call as soon as you are able.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long is the flight?
Flight time varies based on the subtleties of weather and wind patterns and our flight path on any given day; however, we aim to fly for 45 minutes to one hour, sometimes flying as long as an hour and a half.
Why do we meet so early?
The best and safest time to fly a balloon here in Taos (and many places in the world) is first thing in the morning when the breezes are calm and gentle. We meet early in the morning to allow ample time to drive to our launch site, observe the weather conditions and have a longer window of calm weather in which to fly. Plus the view of the rising sun from our launch site is quite spectacular!
Are there restrooms available?
There are restrooms in the lobby of our office (our meeting location) which are the last opportunity to use a restroom for several hours. Once we leave our office to drive to our launch site, there are no restrooms available for 3-4 hours until we reach the site of our traditional post-flight celebratory toast. Depending on which launch site we use on a given morning, there may be some trees or sagebrush for cover for a last minute fluid drain. Hot Air Balloons do not have an onboard lavatory.
Is there coffee available?
As much as we love coffee in the morning, we do not offer coffee as part of this experience (see “Are there restrooms available?”, above). If you want coffee in the morning, and know your body well enough that you won’t run into issues with needing a restroom after we leave our office, that is up to you to arrange. Do note that there are no coffee shops (or gas stations even) open that early in the morning in Taos. It’s best to think ahead and plan to be able to make coffee in your room or wherever you are staying.
How much time should we allow for the whole experience?
It’s best to plan to be with us for 4.5 to 5 hours, which includes driving out to our scenic flying area, setting up the balloon, flying, packing up, a post-flight celebration, and driving back to town.
What if the weather is bad?
If the flight is cancelled ahead of time due to forecasted weather we will contact you the night before to reschedule or refund you if you cannot reschedule. If the flight is cancelled the morning of our flight, either early in the morning prior to our meet time or at our launch site due to actual local conditions in the field, we will reschedule you if possible or issue a refund. See Cancellation Policies, above.
Do you fly in the Winter (is it cold)?
Yes (and yes)! We fly year round. Winter flights are absolutely beautiful with the snow-capped peaks of the Sangre de Christo range as our backdrop. Flights after a fresh snowfall on the Taos Plateau are also really special. We see cold, mountain region Winter temperatures (think Colorado), but if you dress appropriately and are prepared for the weather, it is an enjoyable experience. Once we are in the basket and flying, the sun’s rays start to warm things up, the hot air balloon burners put off quite a bit of heat, and some of the hot air in the balloon spills down onto the basket. It’s usually 20-30 deg F warmer in the basket (at chest/head height) than ambient air temperature. See What to Wear, above.
Are there physical requirements to fly with you?
Due to the insurance we carry, and out of a genuine concern for the well-being of mother and baby, we are unable to fly anyone who is pregnant or may be pregnant.
We are also unable to fly anyone who has had a recent surgery (particularly hip, knee, back, neck, etc.), or who relies on a cane or walker to stand.
All passengers must be able to climb into and out of the basket and stand unassisted for the duration of the flight (sometimes an hour or longer)
If you have any uncertainty about physical limitations to flying in a hot air balloon, we recommend that you consult with your doctor before booking your flight. Please feel free to call us if you have any questions related to this.
Is there an age restriction for passengers?
The minimum age to fly is 5 years old. Children must be able to follow instruction and hold on by themselves during landing. While there is no age maximum, please keep in mind that there are no seats in the basket and that all passengers must be able to climb into and out of the basket and stand unassisted for the entire duration of the flight (sometimes an hour or longer).
Can I fly if I’m pregnant?
Unfortunately, we cannot allow pregnant women to fly. While most of our landings are slow and gentle, there is always the possibility for a slightly bumpy landing and, out of a genuine concern and respect for mother and baby, we do not allow pregnant women to fly.
Can I bring my dog?
We love animals! However, pets are not allowed to join us on our ballooning experience. Most animals do not like the noise of the burners and would likely be scared if brought into the basket for the flight. Leaving a pet in our chase vehicles with our ground crew is also not appropriate as their primary focus is safety and attentiveness to the equipment and logistics of our balloon flight. Leaving an animal in their care creates a potential distraction and added level of complexity to the morning. Plus, pets would likely miss their owners and possibly feel abandoned if left with strangers (even though our ground crew are wonderful and love animals). It’s just not a good fit for what we do.
Where does the balloon take off and land?
Our typical launch sites are within or near the Rio Grande Del Norte National Monument, but we may occasionally select an alternate launch site based on prevailing weather conditions. In either case, we will be flying over and in the area of the Rio Grande Gorge. We won’t know exactly where we will land until we get there, but we have a good idea of the general area we will land, based on the weather patterns that morning, prior to taking off. That’s part of the adventure of ballooning!
How do we get back to the chase vehicles?
We will have a Chase Crew on the ground communicating with us via radio during our flight and meeting us at our landing site. The vehicles come to us!
How many people does each basket hold?
We have three balloons that accommodate 2-3 passengers, 4-6 passengers and 6-12 passengers, depending on total weight and size of passengers. We will fly the appropriately sized balloon to accommodate the number of passengers flying with us on a given day.
Do you offer Private flights?
At the moment, we are not set up to offer private flights. It is always a possibility to buy out the offered capacity for that morning (10 passengers) if you really want a private flight.
What is the flight like?
It’s difficult to communicate what the experience is like with words. Passengers often describe it as “dreamlike”, “peaceful”, “like you’re floating”, and more calm and stable than they expected: “as if you are standing still and watching the landscape move around you”. Since the balloon is flying in and with the breeze, we do not generally feel any wind and there is not much physical sensations of movement or being “blown around” like people often anticipate. We may fly as high as a couple thousand feet, or low to the ground following the contours of the beautiful landscape. Depending on the time of year and weather conditions, we may fly down into the Rio Grande Gorge to float just above the river. Each flight is entirely unique and is a once in a lifetime experience, even for us.
I’m afraid of heights. Will I enjoy flying in a balloon?
It’s common for passengers to tell us ahead of time that they are afraid of heights. Almost all of the time people end up really enjoying the flight and don’t experience a fear of heights while flying. It’s a much more calm, stable and peaceful experience than people expect. We encourage you to come out and experience it for yourself.
Will there be anything to eat or drink?
It is tradition to have a celebratory Champagne toast (or sparking apple cider if you don’t drink alcohol) after a hot air balloon flight, and we will have light snacks to accompany it.
Should we tip our Pilot and Chase Crew?
Tipping is common in the travel, tour and adventure industry. Tips are not obligatory, but are always appreciated and accepted with gratitude. If you enjoyed your experience and choose to express this with a tip, please feel free to give any cash tips directly to any member of our team. If you would like to tip via credit card, please let us know and we can take care of this at the completion of the morning’s flight activities. What we generally see is an amount in the range of 5-20% of the total cost.