Soaring Beyond Barriers: A Journey in a Hot Air Balloon in a Wheelchair Over Teotihuacan, Mexico City

The search for the sky begins

Mexico City is a vibrant metropolis that seamlessly blends ancient history with modernity and that is home to numerous treasures that await exploration. But does it welcome explorers in a wheelchair? I had to find out so I headed there with a friend for a five-day trip.

I had never seen a wheelchair user manage to take the ride, but after speaking to the company and getting a green signal from Volare Globus I decided to go ahead and take the chance. The entire experience would cost me almost USD 150, which included pick and drop from my hotel, breakfast, and the ride itself.

While searching on the internet I emailed a couple of companies about their accessibility support for wheelchair users. The beauty of being a wheelchair user is also the diversity of our experiences every wheelchair user will experience disability and need support in a different way. 

Though Volare Globus did not mention on their website about being accessible but did reaffirm their support when I asked them about their experience. But I have to confess, I was anxious until the point I had actually gotten into the balloon!

Arriving at the balloon port

I woke up at 3 am to be picked up at 4 am because the journey to the balloon port from my hotel was almost an hour long. Also, it was important that we start the journey a little after sunrise so we could see the landscape from above. It also depended a lot on the weather that day so we had to ensure our punctuality. 

But like a bad dream, I snoozed the alarm and went back to sleep only to have the driver call me once they had reached the hotel. This time I woke up, got ready in 10 minutes and reached the car with my friend, Dema. The van had other guests too who were excited to take this journey. I quickly did my makeup in the dark because I definitely didn’t want to look like a zombie in the sky!