Accommodations in Santa Elena

We offer fully furnished apartments in Santa Elena for our clients at special prices:

La Terraza

• Features: 3 bedrooms, 1 glamping tent, 1 shared bathroom, balcony, internet/Wi-Fi, and hot water.
• Location: Two blocks from the main square.
• Price: $60,000 COP per person

El Nido

• Features: 2 bedrooms, 1 shared bathroom, internet/Wi-Fi, and hot water.
• Location: Directly on the main square.
• Price: $60,000 COP per person

Laundry service is available at the apartments for $30,000 COP.

Accommodations are NOT included in the course price

• We experience consistent warm weather all year long, as we don’t have distinct seasons. Please do not rely on general weather forecasts here; they are often inaccurate due to our region’s many microclimates.

• Expect warm weather during the day that cools down at night. We can experience brief rain showers that last around 15 minutes, after which flying can resume.

• Our training area is a flat, grassy soccer field, meaning you won’t need to walk uphill after each forward inflation exercise.

• To protect against grass mosquitos, we recommend wearing light long pants and long-sleeve t-shirts.

• Since it’s a flat area, helmets aren’t used during training, so expect to do a lot of sweating!

We utilize three take-off or launch sites for our flights.

The altitude at launch is 1750 meters MSL, with landings at 1000 meters MSL. These sites are grassy and very pleasant, though you may encounter some mosquitoes.

• Each take-off location features bathrooms and a small cafeteria.
• It’s a 25-minute ride to the top via dirt roads, so we use 4×4 pickup trucks for transportation.
• Expect light winds in the mornings and afternoons, with stronger winds and thermals around midday.

• The wind here is primarily thermic, meaning we don’t experience strong wind launches. You’ll find gentle thermals in the morning, which become stronger thermals around midday.

• After 4 PM, we typically have thermodynamic conditions, often resulting in warm days with “glass-off” or “magic air,” which refers to smooth, restitutional flying conditions.

Logistics & Training Details

Commute to the Landing Zone & Office

The distance between Santa Elena (town) and the landing zone/office is a 10-minute drive on a paved road. We pick up students in town every morning. We then have a midday break from 12 PM to 3 PM, after which we return to practice until 6 PM.

Rest Days: Sundays are typically rest days. However, if we experience a bad weather day during the week, we will conduct training on Sundays instead.

• Instructional Tandem Flight

During an instructional tandem flight, students will accompany one of our instructors. You’ll take the controls, observe the entire flying area, and learn landing methods. We will also practice “big ears” techniques during this flight.

• Harness Simulator

It’s crucial to practice being in the air before your first solo flight, and our amazing harness simulator allows for extensive practice. You’ll learn:

• How to get in and out of the harness
• How to steer with weight shift
• How to properly trim the harness for your body and comfort

Gear

We provide all necessary gear for our students, and it is always in excellent condition. (If you wish to bring your own helmet, please feel free to do so.)

We offer great deals on gear for our students, including full packages of wings, harnesses, and reserve parachutes at amazing prices, featuring top brands. If you bring your own gear, we’ll give you a 10% discount.

• Transportation

Only airport pick-up is included; drop-off is not.

All transportation from town to the office, launch sites, and vice-versa is included. We utilize a 4×4 pickup truck and a Master Van for up to 14 passengers to transport all our clients.

• Recommended Clothing

Please bring:

• Light, long-sleeve t-shirts
• Light long pants
• Shoes with ankle support (preferably)
• Hats (e.g., baseball hats)
• Light jackets
• Light gloves
• Sunglasses

• Theory

We incorporate short periods of theory each day, along with many helpful tips and instructional movies. However, you are also expected to read and study extensively on your own.

• Sundays Off

Students and staff require at least one day off for resting.

• Recommended Books

Please try to acquire these books before your arrival:

• Art of Paragliding (book)
• Beginner’s Paragliding (book)

Important Note: Please refrain from watching paragliding videos of crashes or bloopers before coming to learn in class.

Local Amenities

There are many restaurants around town offering great food.