Seen a giant drawing carved into the grass near New Serenne Stable and wondered what it was? That’s a geoglyph, and it kicks off one of the most important story threads in Tears of the Kingdom. Impa and the Geoglyphs is an optional main quest, it isn’t marked on your map, and it’s easy to ride right past.
Here’s how to start it, fix Impa’s balloon, find the first Dragon’s Tear, and set up the hunt for the other ten.
How to Start Impa and the Geoglyphs
- Starting Point: New Serenne Stable, in the northwest of Central Hyrule. Talk to Cado, the Sheikah man standing next to a donkey on the road in front of the stable.
- Requirement: the quest opens once “Regional Phenomena” has started, which happens right after you get the Paraglider from Purah at Lookout Landing.
- Getting There: the road west from Lookout Landing toward Rito Village runs past the stable, so this sits almost on the route Nintendo recommends for beginners.
- Quest Type: optional Main Quest. You can finish the game without it, but it unlocks the Dragon’s Tears and the trail to the Master Sword.
Quick definition: a geoglyph is a huge line drawing on the ground that only makes sense from high above. That’s why Impa needs altitude, and why you’ll need it too.
Step by Step Walkthrough
The whole quest takes about ten minutes. Here’s how to clear it.
- Talk to Cado. Tell him about your search for Princess Zelda and he points you to Impa, waiting at some ruins in the meadow northeast of the stable. She’s marked on your map after this.
- Talk to Impa. She explains the geoglyphs and the legend of the Dragon’s Tears, then asks for help with her broken balloon.
- Repair the balloon. Use Ultrahand on the balloon lying beside her and attach it to the carrier next to Impa, centered above the wood pile.
- Talk to Impa again. Answer “Sure!” and she climbs aboard.
- Light the fire. Grab the Torch on the platform, light it (from the nearby fire or with Flint struck on the ground), and set the wood under the balloon burning.
- Hop in. Stand in the carrier with Impa. Hot air fills the balloon, you rise, and a cutscene plays once you’re high enough.
- Find the Dragon’s Tear. Impa asks you to investigate. Glide down to the figure’s right eye and examine the pool there.
That last step finishes the quest. You get Memory 03, “Where Am I?”, and the follow up Main Quest, “The Dragon’s Tears”, starts automatically.
Pro Tips for the Balloon
- Pro Tip: if the balloon won’t snap on, rotate it upright with Ultrahand. It has to sit straight over the carrier.
- The Climb: the balloon rises slowly. Enjoy the view: seeing the whole drawing at once is half the fun.
- Spot the Tear: geoglyphs are line art. Look for the one solid, filled in shape in the drawing. Up close the Dragon’s Tear is a small glowing pool.
What Comes Next: The Dragon’s Tears
Impa thinks the geoglyphs connect to something inside the Forgotten Temple, at the bottom of a canyon in northeast Hebra. Here’s the full breakdown of the chain:
| Stage | Where | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Impa and the Geoglyphs | New Serenne Stable, Central Hyrule | Memory 03, “Where Am I?” |
| Meet Cado and Impa again | Forgotten Temple, Hebra | Mayausiy Shrine travel point, then the floor map of all 11 geoglyphs |
| Find the remaining geoglyphs | All over the surface | 10 more memories (11 total from geoglyphs) |
| Final Dragon’s Tear | Rist Peninsula area on the east coast, marked automatically | The memory that reveals where the Master Sword is |
The Forgotten Temple
Glide into the temple, find Cado on the upper floor, then cross the gaps behind him. If you come up short, three wooden boards stuck together make a quick bridge. At the far end, climb to the opening, glide down to the Mayausiy Shrine and talk to Impa.
Go through the two doors behind her and drop into the room with a map of Hyrule carved into the floor. It shows all 11 geoglyphs. Impa suggests taking a picture of it, so if you have the Camera, snap one: it lands in your Album for later.
Pack: Hebra is cold, so bring warm gear or a few Spicy dishes. Our best recipes guide has easy cold resistance meals.
Hunting the Other Geoglyphs
The tears can be viewed in any order. The quest completes the moment you find the last one, with no need to return to Impa. Once all 11 are done, a 12th Dragon’s Tear is marked on your map near the Rist Peninsula (Ulri Mountain Skyview Tower is the closest tower). That final memory reveals where the Master Sword is hidden.
Your best bet is to unlock Skyview Towers first and glide between geoglyphs from high ground. Keep the TotK interactive map open while you plan the route, and grab any Koroks along the way with our Korok seed guide.
Impa and the Geoglyphs FAQ
Where is Impa in Tears of the Kingdom?
At the start of the quest, she’s in the meadow northeast of New Serenne Stable in Central Hyrule. Talk to Cado at the stable first.
How do you fix Impa’s balloon?
Use Ultrahand to attach the balloon to the carrier next to her, then light the wood underneath with a Torch and stand in the carrier.
Where is the Dragon’s Tear in the first geoglyph?
In the figure’s right eye. Glide down from the balloon and examine the pool to get Memory 03, “Where Am I?”.
How many geoglyphs are there?
Eleven geoglyphs, each with a Dragon’s Tear. A 12th tear appears after you view the other 11.
Do you have to do Impa and the Geoglyphs?
No, it’s optional. But skipping it means missing the Dragon’s Tears memories and the main lead to the Master Sword.
Nailed it? One balloon ride in, ten geoglyphs to go, and the story behind them is some of the best in the game. Take the memories in any order, but don’t skip them.
