The surprisingly long history of hot air ballooning in Mexico
Although the modern centers of hot air ballooning are in Teotihuacán and León, the pastime has a surprising long history in Mexico, dating back to the late 18th century, writes Bob Pateman. The post The surprisingly long history of hot air ballooning in Mexico appeared first on Mexico News Daily
Hot air ballooning has a surprisingly long history in Mexico, starting in the late 18th century. Teotihuacán is known for its numerous hot air balloons that rise each morning, attracting around 60,000 passengers and generating $25 million in revenue annually. The Festival Internacional del Globo in León is considered the largest balloon festival in Latin America, featuring 200 balloons and attracting 400,000 spectators.
José María Alfaro Guiles is credited as the pioneer of Mexican ballooning. He made his historic flight in 1784, six months after the Montgolfier brothers' achievement in Paris. Guiles constructed small paper balloons and, on May 18, successfully ascended nearly 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) across Xalapa. This remarkable feat was documented in the Gazeta de México.
However, the authenticity of Guiles' flight is debated. Some argue that the report was about the balloon's construction, not the flight itself, and that there are no reliable records of his actual flight. The first illustrations of the flight appeared many years later, based on European sources. Written accounts of the flight only emerged in 1869, which further fuels speculation about the event.
Veracruz became the first center of ballooning in Mexico, with local merchant Antonio María Fernández constructing a sizable balloon in 1785. By the summer of that year, Puebla also became a center for ballooning, hosting the first authentic attempt at a manned flight.
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