Brazilian pilot Filipe Tostes flies toucan balloon in Cappadocia

Brazilian hot‑air balloon pilot Filipe Tostes, 45, flew a toucan‑shaped balloon from Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park in Brazil to Nevşehir, Turkey, covering more than 10,500 kilometres. The flight was part of his annual participation in the Cappadocia Balloon Festival, now in its seventh edition.

Tostes, who has over 2,500 flight hours and 16 years of experience, said the festival’s scenery and the chance to fly over the iconic fairy‑chimney valleys are a lifelong dream for balloonists. The event attracted dozens of balloons from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Austria and Poland. Tostes confirmed he will return to the festival in future years.