The first hot air balloons enthusiasts came to Chile in the 90′s. There were at least 9 of them who got a pilot’s license. This much I know because I have the 10th Chilean license.
Harsh regulations bureaucracy, an incipient tourism industry and other issues made the first attempts fail and Chilean landscapes balloonless…
… Up until recently.
Rise Expeditions was born on February 2011 in Temecula, California, training, crewing and flying for D&D Ballooning and Dominic Chemello, one of the eldest and most respected balloon pilots in California and the United States.
With a FAA Commercial Pilot License and a Firefly Balloon I came back to Chile and started flying between Santiago and Valparaiso in a little valley called Maria Pinto, and Peralillo in Chile’s most famous Wine Country and traditional Colchagua Valley (just 2 1/2 hour drive from Santiago and close to Pichilemu, Chile’s famous surfing spot).
It has been a long year and today there are at least 4 balloon enthusiasts in Chile. We like to give our skies the gift of color and to our passengers, the chance to see this country from a different point of view, one that’s a little slower, higher and much more romantic.
If you like what we are doing and want to know a little more about Ballooning in Chile just contact us, and be ready to Rise with the Sun.
Cheers,
The Heu’Tour team
Adrenalin Factory
Blastvalve Ballooning
http://www.cayena.cl
http://www.chileballoontour.cl/
http://www.chilesurf.cl/
http://www.conservation.org/
http://www.hotairadventures.com/
http://www.mundoexperiencias.cl/
http://www.veoverde.com/cl/
