This was a fabulous bucket list experience. Ryan and Eddie were phenomenal. I felt safe and well informed the entire time. It was an unforgettable experience at a good price. I have never experienced a sunrise from a hot air balloon and highly recommend this experience. You won't regret it! read more

We really enjoyed our family balloon trip! We felt well-cared for throughout -- from pre- and post-flight drinks, safety instructions, options for those in our party with special needs, and insights into the local area from above. For some of us, it was our third time with Compass Balloons. Clearly we love them :) read more

What an amazing experience! Compass Balloons is top notch-these guys are very experienced and care about providing a safe and beautiful experience for their customers. The balloon ride was exhilarating! Will definitely book again. read more

See all

Want to see San Diego from a whole new perspective? Contact Compass Balloons for a breathtaking hot air balloon ride above America's Finest City! Easy reservation process online. Confirmation paperwork/ waivers sent via email link as well as directions on where to meet the team. They'll pick you up in a passenger van at a convenient location next to the freeway then take you inland to the launch spot. While waiting for the winds be just right, they offer refreshments including champagne, water or soda to enjoy. Once the winds have settled the team sets up shop to inflate the balloon. In a matter of minutes, you'll begin soaring up up and away! The sunset flight lets you take in a gorgeous San Diego sunset from up in the sky. Our Pilot Ryan was great at pinpointing areas on interest along our path. As we ended the journey, winds started picking up again. The landing was a bit bumpy. The crew did a great job of looking after everyone and securing the balloon and basket. A champagne toast was in order as Ryan described the history and origin of balloon travel as we watched the final glimpse of sun fade away. Keep on Yelp'n! read more

See all

Safe, virtually soundless drifting over gorgeous Rancho Santa Fe with a highly skilled balloonist/travel host pointing out celebrity homes like Kawai Leonard's made this an epic experience. The included champagne made it surreal. Thank you read more

See all

Great customer service and amazing experience with everything from the dart all the way to the end. Thank you!!!

JEREMY the pilot is so knowledgeable,considerate and he just LOVES his craft!! I was so terrified but he and the crew put me at ease. The ride was smooth and serene and gorgeous. Jeremy had easy ways to get in and out of the basket and he knows all the safety protocols. Go on this tour you will not regret it!! read more

This was a wonderful way to celebrate my milestone birthday! Thank you hubby! But, I highly recommend not waiting for any special occasion! Do it now! After attending a balloon fiesta and watching these beautiful large balloons ascend gracefully into the open sky, I've long to ride in one. Compass Balloons made this experience ever so memorable! The team from drivers, set-up team and pilots worked great together. Communication was key here with the team for weather condition, location for meet-up before and after the flight. Our initial meetup was at a park-n-ride in Encinitas. We were then shuttled with other balloon passengers to the ideal take off location. There, they had setup a drink station for the balloon passengers to enjoy while the balloons were being set-up. This is a pretty amazing process. My ride was for timed for sunset. I know from experience that a sunrise set up may be even more beautiful because of the lighting when filling the balloon is lit up against the dark sky. But this was just as beautiful because you are watching this balloon come alive before your eyes! A balloon ride is a lengthy process, don't assume you are going to park your car and jump into the balloon right there and then. The ride was amazing, smooth and you will find it eerily quiet up above. Enjoy the views! The descend/landing was another highlight! This is were the passengers have to partake. Ours was pretty smooth even though the basket is laying down. Yes, we were on our backs in the basket. All fun, no one hurt, smooth landing with the Compass Balloon team, once again, doing what they do best. Awesome job guys! Once landed the team has set up champagne and a few other beverages for you to celebrate your ride. What a perfect sunset for us. This is a wonderful experience you should try. I would do it in again in a heartbeat. My husband didn't ride so he was able to catch video of the take off and landing. The video of landing was a pretty cool capture. Check with the team and they will let you know how your person on the ground could capture his moment for you too. read more

We did the sunset over the ocean ride. Perfect wind conditions allowed for a perfect ride! Our Pilot and the team at Compass worked really hard to make this a once in a lifetime experience. Highly recommmend them! I had done quite a bit of research before booking and felt that they were one of the safest companies. read more

See all

I really enjoyed my Compass Balloons Tour. We did the Temecula Sunrise tour. We met at a shopping center in Temecula around 5:00am where the van picked us up. We drive around till we found a open filed and clear skies. It was so cool to watch them blow up the balloons! Wear sneakers because you'll be walking on the fields when you're getting into the basket. You gotta climb in too so be ready to use your legs! Baskets fit 4,10, or 20 people. Take off and landing are so easy and gentle, it feels like floating!! The sights, whether your on the ground or in the sky, are so beautiful!! There were like 10-12 balloons total. You stay in the sky for like 1-1.5 hours. At the end, once you land, you celebrate with mimosas and snacks!! The staff is super efficient, hard working, and so nice!!! It cost us about $175-180/person. read more

See all

Too pricey for the experience you get. The basket was packed with too many people, that the experience was almost unenjoyable. There was scarcely any wiggle room in the basket. Would not recommend. read more

I did the sunrise ride and it was super worth it. It was such a wonderful experience, I didn't expect for the balloon ride to be so calm, I thought it'd shake more. The pictures I got from up there were so nice, and the crew was really helpful with the pictures as well. My family and I appreciated everything, thank you so much! read more

See all

Fun champagne experience on a beautiful day in San Diego. Our hosts were super friendly and made it a great experience for my family. We had some great views of the Pacific Ocean and Fairbanks / Del Mar country club and surrounding area. Very safe and comfortable ride, highly recommend! read more

I know the review should be about the business and the experience but I have to give my husband a shout out as he surprised me with this experience for our anniversary. Fantastic choice, babe! When we arrived at the location, I was questioning my life choices and questioned who I was married to because I thought I was about to be kidnapped and left in a ditch somewhere. It was a parking lot and an unmarked old van that we were to go on with some shady looking people. We then head to another location which was an empty parking lot. A balloon is released and I start thinking these people are all simply coo-coo. Then we head to a third location and now everything starts making sense. This is when the hot air ballon is taken out and set up which explains why they are dressed the way they are. The road is rough and we were a group of 7 all together that needed to be transported so the old van makes sense too. While the crew puts the balloon together, we are treated to drinks that range in champagne, water, and sodas. Time went by quick because we were suddenly called to get on. Once on, it felt like it was going fast into the air but once in the air, things seemed to slow down. The views were unbelievable. The flight itself was fascinating as far as how the balloon is handled. We learned so much! did you know that wind currents change in different elevations? I took my sweater with me because it was so windy and cold on the ground, up there, it was so nice and warm and from time to time, there was a welcoming breeze. We watched the sunset and came back down to earth. That landing was fun on its own. While the crew was breaking down the balloon, we were once again treated to the various drinks. We then got a ride back to our cars and just like that, it was over. This experience was absolutely awesome and I highly recommend it to everyone. I can't wait to do it again! read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

See all

Most incredible experience you could ever get ! Couple years ago we went for sunset flight at Del Mar and it was so fun and beautiful! Gorgeous views, amazing team (Irvin and Beanz) and super pro pilot Ryan made our day! Guess what? Today we came back for sunrise flight in Temecula and it was amazing! We met same team years later and it was so cool and fun! Beautiful views of Temecula wineries and lakes took my heart ! Thanks again to amazing team ! You guys amazing!!! Team definitely need a raise!! read more

See all

Fantastic bucket list experience for our elderly mother. The team inspired confidence, emphasized safety, and made accommodations for her. Special shout out to Hector and Ryan for making our flight a wonderful experience. *Note* You'll definitely want to use the bathroom before getting on the van since you won't see another one for 3 hours. read more

My mom and dad, 90 and 95, have been all over the world and crossed everything off their bucket-list, except going up in a balloon. They tried twice in Kenya and also in Albuquerque. All of us in the family have heard those stories through the years, and now we wanted to make it truly happen. We all pitched in, and gave them a couple of tickets to Compass Balloons, which is right in their neighborhood. They have a view of their balloons going up from their backyard. I called Compass directly, and they assured me that as long as they were able to stand for about an hour, they would be fine. (My mom was impressed with how comfortable it was to stand in the basket with its soft floor and soft edge to lean on.) It was a total success! Compass must have a lot of practice in being with this older generation. They were wonderfully courteous, gentle, observant, and went mile after mile extra. read more

Compass Balloons - They received very special help getting in and out of the basket. - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

Absolutely amazing the 3 gentleman great personalities made the experience great small private intimate trip

Fantastic flight!! Don't be deterred by the early time of the flight, that's to make sure you're up in the air before the sun actually rises! Ash the pilot was so knowledgeable and even tried to land us near where our family was staying so that they could see us in the air. The icing on top was the champagne and snacks at the end, complete with a history lesson on the traditions of the first hot air balloon flight. Couldn't recommend them more!! read more

Compass Balloons - Higher than all of the other balloons thanks to the early takeoff! - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

See all

Thank you for making our engagement amazing! Staff was friendly and accommodating. Highly recommend!

Great company and great crew! Some problems (given the 3 instead of 5 stars): most of the crew didn't really wear masks.. our pilot didn't wear one the whole ride, because his glasses get foggy if he keeps them on. I'm sure there's a way to figure that out: wear a different mask? Also, the 10 people + pilot + 2 or more gas tanks in a 7ftx4ft basket is a TERRIBLE idea! We were so crammed in that it was difficult to move around. For anybody thinking about it in the future, pray to LORD JESUS that it's not a packed flight! The 5 people on my side of the basket were mostly normal size, and we were still struggling to fit inside!!!! Aside from that, the crew is very approachable, kind, hospitable, and professional. They did their best job to keep us engaged, excited for the flight, and happy for the rest of the day. If it wasn't for COVID and the crammed basket, I'd definitely leave a 5 star review. But please don't take this as a sign that another company is better. All of them are trying to make as much money as they can, so I'm assuming that other baskets are just as crammed. Given the circumstances, the crew is well worth your time, and the flight is definitely exciting and breathtaking enough to be worth the experience! read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

Great staff, knowledgeable, personable, make the experience memorable. Loved enjoying mimosas during and after the flight.

This is the 4th time I've flown, across various countries and terrains, and these folks were the best. Sean was informed of local terrain, an expert pilot, and a friendly companion in a private ride with my life long love. These guys are the best. I'm a pilot and aware of the challenges of flight. Professional, safe... but equally importantly, FUN!!! You should do this. Amazing. Silence at 1500 feet while taking in breathtaking views. Even if scared of heights it is comfortable. read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

We loved our balloon ride! Ryan was our Pilot! He was skilled, fun, funny, and great with guests !

BOOK COMPASS!!! Incredible views and seamless booking, with huge contrast between Compass and competition. Our day was a little cloudy, and our pilot Ash proved the value of experience and a well-run company. He got us in the air for a wonderful ride, sailing above fields of other balloons that never got off the ground, and lots of disappointed customers who got up at 4am only to have their flights cancelled after arrival. Ash was exceptionally engaging and knowledgeable, added to an incredibly memorable trip. I worried about motion sickness and fear of heights... neither were even remotely of concern, it feels incredibly safe and tranquil in the air. Private is worth the investment. Enjoy the ride! read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

Had and amazing time! Thank you Joshe and hector, very fun and safe and we had a blast! read more

I booked a sunset balloon ride online and absolutely loved the whole experience! The entire crew was very nice, experienced, and clearly knew what they were doing. They worked hard setting everything up and making sure we were comfortable before we lifted off. The views were amazing. Flying over Del Mar and Rancho Santa Fe was quite a sight to behold. This was my first time in a hot air balloon, and it was such a thrill. Unlike anything I've experienced. I highly recommend Compass Balloons, and they deserve this five star review. read more

Compass Balloons - About to go up. - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

See all

This hot air balloon ride was a birthday gift to my friend Stefaine in July before the pandemic started! We finally got it done on July 14, 2023, and it was well worth the wait! Living in San Diego it was an early start to the day, needing to arrive in Temecula at 5am. The crew was outstanding, courteous, and thoughtful, taking pictures of us before we left the launch sight and answering any questions we had. Our group was my friend, me, and one other couple, so it made for a really nice group. The flight lasted a bit over an hour, drifting over the wine country with the silance broken only by the burners being activated from time to time. It was a clear morning and the sun was brilliant as it rose above the horizon. The view was fantastic. This is an experience that both Stefaine and I will never never forget. read more

Great balloon ride! Josh was our pilot and he is awesome! Totally would recommend this to my family and friends! read more

Compass Balloons - Above the clouds! - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

This was a great experience, the crew was amazing and made things very fun and easy. I would recommend to everyone who wants to try it out. read more

Compass Balloons - The Sky is the limit - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

If you are in San Diego and want to have a great day adventure, book a hot air balloon with Compass Balloons. Not only was it a great experience but the customer service is amazing. The crew was on time for pick up and make it as easy as possible. We had Ash and Ryan as our flight pilots and they were so much fun. Before the flight, we got to sip champagne while we were waiting for the balloon to get ready. The duration of the flight was about 1:15 minutes and it felt like it was longer lol. Once we landed we got to have more champagne since it is a tradition establish back in the days! It was so much fun to catch the sunset with multiple balloons landing. Definitely a one and a life time experience. If you are in San Diego or near here and want to get a great hot air balloon experience definitely book a ride with Compass Hot Air balloons! I can't wait to come back and check out the sunrise flight!! read more

See all

Going up in the air in a hot air balloon ride and the experience to be had really is just dependent on so many variables. It's difficult to justify getting upset due to not exactly seeing the sunset given landing before might be safer. If you get anxious in tight spaces I would recommend a private flight- however I am not sure if the cost $$$$$$$ was with it for 45 min or less - I am not really sure about that. Although - I do appreciate landing and taking off safely so that really is priceless. We are at the mercy of the winds, weather and pilot skill. It was a bucket list item, it was beautiful, I wish it lasted longer. Overall, it was beautiful- I appreciate our pilot very much. Our pilot was enthusiastic, always focused on safety and also very personable. Also- our driver who picked us up, was kind and thoughtful. Thank you for a lovely time. read more

See all

Our first time riding on a hot air balloon the staff was very polite and helpful trough the process. The whole experience was amazing. We where cebrating my birthday on this day and the staff was great to recognize and celebrate my special day. Great experience. Mike the pilot was great, he definitely took the time to edueducate us on this experience and made it fun. Irvin and the rest of the crew where excelent staff. They took great care of us from beginning to end. Highly recomend taking a trip with compass . read more

Compass Balloons - Celebrating my birthday with Compass Balloons. Great experience . - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

See all

Ballooning is a tricky business and we learned that in May. Too many clouds - too much wind and you cannot fly. Third time we were scheduled to go - we got to go and it was amazing. Bucket list item and we had a blast. read more

See all

Great all-around experience. Great crew with experience and professionalism. This is definitely an example of you get what you pay for. Fun and worthwhile experience. read more

Fantastic service with a fantastic set of views. The wind took us over parts of Fairbanks Ranch and it was just a perfect way to spend an evening. The staff was so fun and kind too. It was fascinating watching them work. read more

Compass Balloons - A view of the area - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

Had an awesome experience with compass balloons would highly recommend. Called and booked same day, booking process was easy. Got there, Ryan was captain he was great made the ride fun had a lot of knowledge about the surrounding areas we flew over. The day was perfect weather couldn't have been better. There were 2 other couples in the balloon + captain and it wasn't crowded at all. No ones really walking around instead had their own corners it worked out fine. Had an overall 5/5 experience would definitely suggest taking a balloon ride over our beautiful city and letting compass help! Thank you read more

Compass Balloons - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California

We had a wonderful private balloon ride with Ash and Eric. They were courteous, friendly, and prioritized safety above all else. We had a BLAST! read more

See all

We had our first hot air balloon flight this morning. I am 76 and my husband is 78. We had a wonderful experience, piloted by Jeremy, who we just loved! He was informative about all of wine country, we felt safe and he made it a fun trip. Hector was our crew guy and he was so kind and a hard worker. I can't wait to book another flight!​ read more

We had a pretty unique experience for my girlfriend's Bday flight. Things started off great until we arrived at the launch field. As the crew setup, a man and his wife approached the crew as a last minute addition (they pulled up to the launch site). He convinced the crew to let them fly in our basket with us. There were already 4 couples and the pilot assigned to our basket, then the new couple was also added to our side of the basket. I don't think they should've over sold, especially during Covid-19... The worst part was the man who haggled his way onto our flight. He was incredibly loud, selfish, and even asked me to wear the sunglasses that were on my face so he could take a photo with them on. He would take short videos and play them back super loud during our would be mellow flight. Who does that?!?! He kept putting his elbow into my girlfriend's back and made her experience miserable. When we got back into the van he made the pilot sit in the back row so that his wife could sit shotgun. The crew agreed because they didn't want to ruin their tip. Meanwhile their tip was going down because of this couple. The man in the row he sat next to was so frustrated with him that they exchanged a few heated words and almost got into an altercation. Other than that the crew was helpful and nice. We just got unlucky with a packed basket and a basket case. read more

Compass Balloons - Balloon - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Cardiff, California