Toledo Hot Air Balloon Ride Over the River Tagus

The River Tagus loops around Toledo on three sides, which leaves the walled city sitting on what is very nearly an island. That shape is impossible to read from the street and obvious from a basket at altitude, and it is the reason this flight over Castilla-La Mancha is worth the early alarm. Passengers meet in the parking area at the La Peraleda fairground while the envelope is still on the ground. Watching it fill is part of the morning, and anyone who wants to help with the setup usually can. The pilot covers the route and the safety briefing before boarding, then the balloon lifts off at around 8am, when conditions are steadiest. During the hour in the air the pilot works between altitudes to catch different currents, so the angle keeps shifting: the roofs of the historic centre, the Cathedral, the square bulk of the Alcazar on the high ground, then the whole city ringed by water. Wind sets the heading, so the route changes from one flight to the next. Landing happens wherever the balloon comes down, with the ground team following in the support vehicle. Cava and a picnic lunch follow, and every passenger gets a participation certificate. The flight is recorded in HD and photographed, and both are sent on afterwards. Baskets come in several sizes, the largest carrying up to 10 passengers plus the pilot. Allow about three hours in total.