RIO GRANDE BALLOONS

Here's a hot-air balloon company that rivals the better-known, touristy Albuquerque companies. This small company run by a group of enthusiasts offers flights that will take your breath away. Meet Sol, the aeronaut who looks a little like a character in a Miyazaki animated film, with his Salvador Dalí-style moustache and long, thin braids floating in the wind. He'll surely be the one to take you to the heavens, with his big smile and charm, never tiring of his work, despite the 5 a.m. wake-up calls... Indeed, you'll be asked to meet them in the parking lot of the Rio Grande Gorge bridge, east of Taos, at around 5:30 am. Here, the winds are calmer, ensuring a safe ascent. What's more, you'll probably be lucky enough to see the sun rise at the same time. The team accompanying Sol will lead you to a flat, open field where you'll watch them prepare the balloon, which turns out to be more gigantic than you could have imagined. Colorful and majestic, it inflates little by little with the help of powerful fans, until Sol gives you a wink to indicate that it's time to jump into the basket. One, two, three... and hop! You begin your ascent slowly, watching the ground recede further and further away. Sol will then guide the balloon over the Rio Grande, and, wind permitting, descend into this impressive canyon. That's what makes this company one of the best: the authenticity of the balloon ride and the spectacular view of the incredibly beautiful landscape. For miles on end, you'll see this fissure in the earth, hundreds of meters deep, at the bottom of which lies the Rio Grande river. If you're lucky, you may see billy goats, rabbits or even coyotes. The balloon ride takes approximately one hour. Please note: don't forget gloves and thick socks, as it can get very cold up there while the sun warms you up! At the end, after a rough landing, you'll be driven back to the Rio Grande Gorge parking lot, where Sol will have prepared a little something for everyone... A truly unique experience.