Tandem paragliding in Alicante – where to paraglide safely on the Costa Blanca and have fun doing so!
A tandem paraglide flight is one of the best adventure activities on the Costa Blanca. Paragliding in Alicante Province is amazing, just imagine the thrill of flying over Spain’s Mediterranean coastline or soaring inland over the mountains on a warm, sunny day.
What’s more, tandem paragliding is an eco-friendy adventure sport suitable for people of all ages and physical condition – the only requisites are height, and the minimum/maximum weight restrictions, necessary for a safe paraglide experience.
Total beginners can enjoy the most awesome paragliding experience in Santa Pola, safely strapped into a tandem paraglider with a professional licenced instructor. Gently circling above the Alicante coast, the panoramic views over Santa Pola lighthouse and Tabarca Island in the distance are astounding.
Alternatively, an airborne free-flying adventure around Agost mountains is an exhilarating option for your first paraglide flight as a passenger.
Like the idea of flying your own? A seven day paragliding course is a good to go introduction to the sport (you can even learn to fly a paraglider on a holiday to the Costa Blanca). Although anyone taking this up as a hobby will eventually need to buy quality equipment, it’s all available at competitive Spanish prices.
Meanwhile, there are several flight zones for expert paragliders in Alicante Province, favourites being Morro de Toix cliffs near Calpe, and Alt de Sella inland from Villajoyosa.
So let’s get started with our own personal experience, of tandem paragliding above the cliffs in Santa Pola, the best place to paraglide in Alicante for first-timers! This super simple guide shows you how to get there and what to expect, along with info on paragliding courses, and other places of interest to fly your own canopy on the Costa Blanca.
Tandem Paragliding in Alicante (Santa Pola Coast)
A sunny afternoon is the perfect time to enjoy paragliding over the Alicante coastline. The launching site is just east of Santa Pola lighthouse to be exact. The three of us (Charlie, Lara and Kali) have booked to fly together, which adds to the general fun of this bucket-list experience.
None of us have been paragliding before, but that’s ok because we’ve sourced Parapente Santa Pola, a licenced company with an office in the Gran Alacant estate where we’re to meet up.
Getting ready to paraglide in Alicante
As usual, I don’t look like your typical adventurer in Spain (the freckly English holidaymaker image hasn’t gone away after decades of living here). I’m introduced as ‘mother-in-law’ which doesn’t do much for my intrepid traveller image.
The pilots are totally professional, and nicely physiqued – note, I only mention this because strong arms are vital to manoeuvre the canopy during the 30 minute flight. The instructors choose us according to our weight in order to balance the flight for safety. I’m allotted to Helios, Charlie is taken away by Raquel who is actually half his height and Ariel, the friendly guy in charge of the team, accompanies petite Lara.
Joking apart, these guys and gals are 100% focused and expert paraglider pilots. They inspire confidence. Needless to say, husband Juan has chickened out. Absolutely no pressure to fly, there are always ‘deserters’ who come in handy to film your escapades from land (and look after the bags) – he hasn’t booked a slot anyway, so no inconvenience caused.
Things to take into account before paragliding
Best clothes to wear for paragliding in Alicante are comfortable long pants and a t-shirt (windbreaker in winter), and footwear is obligatory sturdy non-slip trainers, or mountain boots if it’s not too hot. Don’t forget your sunscreen and sunglasses (no they won’t fall off).
Weather conditions for paragliding in Alicante should be optimal. The prevailing wind factor is the main consideration, and you can’t fly in rain or when visibility is low. For this reason, your plans must always be flexible. Payment is not required beforehand, in fact we paid after coming back to land.
Tentatively book a slot, and you’ll be messaged first thing on the same day to confirm the afternoon’s flight, for example. Even so, if the atmospheric conditions aren’t perfect for paragliding at any given time, the session will be suspended and rescheduled.
How to get to the launch site near Alicante / Santa Pola.
You’ll be given GPS coordinations of the paragliding store and office, where you’ll meet up with the pilots (a car is essential to get here). It’s easy to find, on the main road from Alicante to Santa Pola, turn off in Gran Alacant before the lighthouse road. From here, follow the team’s van uphill for 800 metres, park by the roadside. Then walk down the rough track to the launch site a few minutes away.
Tip
If you have a physical disability and can’t walk, let the team know beforehand and they will assure road access (the road goes through a housing estate, so this is not the regular route to avoid disturbing the neighbours). People with severe disabilities are most welcome to fly, and should discuss this previously with the organiser. For precaution, pregnant women are not allowed to paraglide.
Smooth paragliding takeoff over the Mediterranean Sea
Now comes the exciting bit. Relax, don’t stress, launching off in a paraglider is so simple. And I was the first to go!
First things first. If you are particularly fit and tall like Charlie, you may be given a kit to lug to the launch site, this helps the pilots who are carrying various paragliders between them packed into oversize backpacks – a series of different size canopies are essential, not only according to your weight, but also depending on the exact wind flows as this varies continuously.
On a wide flat section of rough ground near the cliff edge at Cape Santa Pola, a team of ground handlers prepare the paraglider wings, laying them out on the ground and unravelling the suspension lines. The pilot will put your helmet on and securely strap you into a paraglide seat, a tough hammock-style cushioned fabric that is clipped around your back and butt. Then he/she will buckle themselves behind you, with the paraglider and reserve parachute.
Basically, there are few instructions needed for a tandem paraglide flight. I’m told to stride out until my feet leave the ground, and after a few short paces we’re airborne! As soon as you lift off, just sit back and enjoy the feeling of flying like a bird in the sky.
Tip
A free to use Go Pro is an added bonus, the camera is attached to you with a cord (so you can’t drop it) and a longish selfie stick to hold. Bring a mini SD memory card to record the video, otherwise the monitor has spare ones for an extra 10€ each.
20 minute paraglide experience on the Costa Blanca
A breeze fills the canopy as we float through the sky on the tandem paraglider. A string of secret little coves shimmer in the sunlight way below. The turquoise waters of the Mediterranean undulate lazily towards the horizon. A sliver of land is Tabarca Island. Our sail wing catches an updraught and we soar, swinging high over Santa Pola lighthouse and gently over the sea.
The paragliding flight lasts roughly 20 to 30 minutes, and it’s indescribably beautiful and awesome. Our photos placed through this blog show you how scenic the Costa Blanca is from a birdseye point of view.
If you’re on holiday in the Costa Blanca, pilots will point out the places below. I love Alicante’s and Santa Pola beaches, but have never explored this secluded part of the coastline. Centuries ago pirates from Tabarca no doubt stashed their booty here!
Talking about paragliding experiences
So what do Helios and I chat about as we sail through the sky on a tandem paraglider this summery afternoon? Parapenting and travel are the trending topics. Paragliding in Spain and worldwide to be more exact.
It only takes a week to learn how to paraglide, which sounds cool. That’s for an introduction course which enables you to fly alone. But it’s a lifetime’s learning curve to master every airstream and thermal lift, to comprehend the aerodynamic forces, to acquire the skills that these professional guys and gals have.
He tells me personal goals achieved include cross-country paragliding from Alicante to Cuenca (a distance of some 250 km as the crow flies); his record longest non-stop flight is 9 hours, highest altitude gained of 5600 metres.
We talk of adventure in Nepal, Chile and Peru. Paragliding at Pokhara in the Himalayan foothills is a massive contrast to a paraglide flight over the dunes of Atacama desert in Chile. A friend, Spanish aerial legend Horacio Llorens has recently paraglided over K2 in Pakistan – that’s 8611 metres and an extreme world record!
Coming down for a soft landing after a tandem paraglide
A tandem paraglide flight is heavenly and definitely not scary. The feeling of flying is exciting but relaxing at the same time, so I don’t even worry about coming down. The pilot spends the whole flight minutely adjusting the lines, watching the variometer for climb or sink rate, gauging the wind flow, and steering the canopy.
As the paraglider gradually descends for landing, just put your feet down as you touch the ground and stand up out of the seat. OK so I ended up softly on my butt in an inelegant posture, which is why I recommend wearing trouser not shorts!
Watching the other tandem paragliders for a while is fun too. People of all ages and nationalities as you’d expect on the Costa Blanca. Two kiddies with their family are getting ready to fly, how exciting for children is that!
There are a dozen or more canopies in the sky. Charlie, then Lara come into land, and shed their gear. Finally it’s time to pay (only 70€ each).
Santa Pola town is roughly 10 minutes drive away, so dinner on a waterfront terrace is the perfect way to end this adventurous day.
Tandem Paragliding in Alicante Mountains (El Palomaret)
Tandem paragliding over Alicante mountains is an entirely different experience from flying over the coast at Cape Santa Pola. And it’s not only the scenery that changes, you can ascend to a much greater height!
Getting to El Palomaret
El Palomaret paragliding launch site is to the north of Agost, a small town approximately 18 km inland from Alicante city. Once again, this is the perfect spot for tandem paragliding on the Costa Blanca. And you don’t need prior experience!
A rural lane leads up to a wide clearing on El Palomaret ridge (932m), which is lies between el Cid (1127m) and Maigmó (1296m) peaks. It takes about 20 minutes to get here from Alicante by road. The procedure is exactly the same as the Santa Pola paragliding session – meet up, follow the Parapente Santa Pola team on the drive up. Once there, there’s time to take photos and ask questions while the canopies are being unrolled. Then you’re buckled into the tandem paraglider with a pro pilot directly behind.
Ready to take the leap at 800m above sea level?
Paragliding over the mountains
Launching yourself off a mountain isn’t as drastic as is seems. The scrubby slope isn’t that steep. A few strides and the magic begins as you leave the ground, canopy inflated by the air current. Sit back and enjoy the panorama down below, views of the villages and valleys, the pinewoods and farmlands, of rural Alicante.
But the joy of a mountain paragliding flight is the elevation you can attain, as uplifts take you higher and higher into the sky. In fact, pilots generally reach 1000m maximum, anything above that is reserved for airplanes on flight routes! This is the easiest and most natural way to fly, an eco-friendly adventure sport fuelled by adrenaline and laughter.
Tandem paragliding flights are always dependant on weather factors and particularly the wind. Summer flying times are usually from 4pm onwards (remember it gets dark late), while in winter flights are often midday. The schedule will always be confirmed a few hours beforehand by the paragliding company you have booked with.
Paragliding on the Costa Blanca
Costa Blanca has several paragliding spots, flight zones in coastal resorts include Santa Pola, Calpe, Altea Hills, Sierra Cortina (the mountain ridge behind Benidorm) and Monte Casino in Villajoyosa – these all afford great views over the sea.
Paragliding on the Coast
Santa Pola is the favourite with holidaymakers and beginners as it’s a simple 100m descent fanned by the sea breeze. If you’ve never paraglided before, don’t worry, a tandem flight is the answer. Strapped to a pilot who does all the work, you can just enjoy the thrilling sensation of flying and the bird’s-eye vista of the Mediterranean.
Otherwise, take some lessons at the paragliding school to learn the basics of this sport yourself. Or anyone who regularly paraglides can just turn up with their own paraglider and do their own thing.
Cape Santa Pola is considered to be the safest place for paragliding on the Costa Blanca, as there is a flat coastal plain to touch down, in the unlikely case of an emergency landing.
Morro de Toix is the most popular zone for paragliding enthusiasts. The peaceful rocky headland just south of Calpe is the ideal place to practice this adventure sport; maximum height of 300m above the sea and a south-southeast orientation. Get here on the N332 road between Calpe and Mascaret (turn off at Mar y Villa urbanization and go up towards the antennas.
The launch site at Morro de Toix is directly by the footpath which borders the cliff face. Only suitable for unaccompanied experienced pilots as the sea is directly below and there is nowhere to touch down in an emergency.
Tip
Morro de Toix also makes a great panoramic walk, and it’s fascinating to watch the paragliders fly.
Paragliding in the mountains
As mentioned above, El Palomaret near Agost is a popular site for paragliding over the Alicante mountains, which is great for beginners and experienced pilots alike. This is also the ideal place for parahawking, for anyone who wants to feel what it’s really like to fly with a bird.
Alt de Sella is lesser known, a real insider paragliding paradise. The flight zone is fairly challenging to find and located out in the wilds of Costa Blanca, on high terrain behind Sella village (inland from Villajoyosa). A maximum altitude of 1058m and south-southeast orientation makes it an exhilarating option. To get there head for ‘Remonta Alemana’ Urbanisation.
Map of Paragliding Sites on Costa Blanca
This is a useful interactive map of paragliding sites on the Costa Blanca with launches, landings and weather stations. It shows the current weather conditions and recommendations on flyability for paragliding in Alicante Province. Also gives GPS coordinations and directions.
In fact, you can easily find the best places for ‘paragliding near me’ on this worldwide map.
*Imaging provided by ‘Paragliding Map’ App, includes their pop-up adverts which you can simply click off the X. I am not affiliated to them in any way.
Things to Do in Alicante and the Costa Blanca (apart from paragliding)
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