“A heavy mist envelops the Rio Grande, just as the sun reveals its first rays of the day. Beavers busily swim by, while birds soar gracefully overhead. As you paddle your canoe or kayak through the water, you look up to spot a colorful balloon floating silently through the sky, looking as though it belongs there just as naturally as the clouds. Then you see another, and another, until they’re dotting the landscape like whimsically colored apples sprouting across an orchard . . .

“Yes, the trips start early—participants arrive at 5:30 am - but they offer a way to experience the Fiesta unlike anything else.”

AAA New Mexico Journey, September, 2014

The best seat imaginable for Albuquerque’s annual International Balloon Fiesta! You’ll float along the river, far from the massive crowds, as hundreds of balloons soar overhead!

With Albuquerque’s prevailing winds coming out of the south, many balloons fly directly up the Rio Grande. While virtually all trips will provide tremendous views of the mass ascensions, when the wind speeds and direction are ideal, the experience can be extraordinary, and can include several "splash and dashes" right in the midst of our paddlers!

" A+ rating from our group of 12! We went down the river during the Balloon Fiesta and it was absolutely the BEST thing we did all week! . . . the wind blew the balloons right over the river and we were able to see them "Splash and Dash". They even flew right over the great brunch table the guys were setting up for us and we could high 5 the pilots! . . . Everyone agreed that the price of the trip was not nearly enough for the experience we had. Thank you to everyone at Quiet Waters Paddling."

A TripAdvisor Traveler Review, October, 2019

As with all guided trips, you can choose either a kayak, stand up paddleboard, paddleboard with kayak seat back, or tandem canoe (Canoes are recommended for experienced river canoeists only). You’ll be accompanied by our professional guide(s), and the views are sure to create memories that will last a lifetime!

"Float the Fiesta!" Adventures Include:

• Your choice of kayak, stand up paddleboard (SUP), SUP with kayak seat back and paddle
• PFD (life vest)
• Passenger Van Shuttle from the take out location (where you'll park) to the launch site.
• Interpretive guide(s)
• Pre-launch orientation addressing the fundamentals of river dynamics and basic paddling instruction
• Bottled water throughout the tour
• A light brunch on the river, typically including yogurt parfait, an assortment of fresh fruits, breakfast bars and baked goods, coffee, tea, hot chocolate and assorted fruit juices

Reservations

Or call (505) 771-1234

Additional Details:

• "Child under 12 floating with an Adult" rate applies to children floating along with one adult in a kayak, paddleboard (SUP), SUP with seatback, or with two adults in a tandem canoe.
• River Classifications refer to the "Expanded Class I River Classification System". Please see the Current River Conditions page for more details.
• Both Balloon Fiesta events and float trips are dependent upon weather and wind conditions. As with all of our trips, active thunderstorms in the area and NOAA wind advisory conditions may force cancellations. Balloons are more susceptible to wind conditions than paddlecraft, however. There's always a possibility that early morning wind conditions may preclude balloon launches. If this should happen, we will continue with the tour as planned, and cannot issue any refunds.