Paragliding is an adventure sport in which pilots fly an engine-less “aircraft” consisting of a single wing/parachute. 07/10/2018. While I went into it thinking it would be scary, it ended up being relaxing and beautiful. My pilot took me a bit further away from the other groups at the beginning so for awhile, we were the only ones around. Our first try at landing totally failed — we didn’t descend fast enough and we overshot the landing zone. Compared to my nightmarish experience at the Expotur Colombia office when departing for my Lost City Trek, I was very impressed. Then, we all watched in awe and horror as the first person took off for their paragliding in San Gil adventure! For more than seven years, she's been solo-backpacking around the world to places few other tourists dare to explore -- from Ethiopia to Nicaragua to Jordan and beyond. Hostels and travel agencies can help you decide. If you bring a day pack, you can leave it at the launch point during your flight. This small town in the hills of northeast Colombia is a short drive from the incredible Chicamocha Canyon. The staff from Parapente Chicamocha watch it the whole time. The briefing was thorough — it didn’t totally quell my nervousness but it made me feel like I was in good hands. If you want to book directly, check out a few different agencies and read TripAdvisor reviews. The guys in charge of the flight will tell u everything you need to know, you just have to make sure u enjoy the ride!! Then, we got ready for takeoff! You should definitely bring a camera to capture the views from the launch point. Paragliding isn’t as much of an adventure sport as some might think, but there are still a few packing essentials if you want to do this on your Colombia trip. So even if you’re not big on adventure, I’d still highly recommend this trip if you’ll be in San Gil on your Colombia travels! Still, before you embark on a paragliding trip, you should make sure your travel insurance will cover it (just in case!). Moreover, the personal was so kind th. I flew last Wednesday and it was a … Everything was well organized and the people were very professional. It was amazing to be propelled up in the air only by the thermal winds. Located only a few kilometers away from the Chicamocha Canyon, one of the finest Colombian paragliding sites, this is the ideal base to explore these unique landscapes. But once we reached our desired height, paragliding in San Gil changed from an adrenaline experience to a peaceful, relaxing one. The Chicamocha Canyon paragliding price is also considerably higher — you’ll pay 180,000 pesos for the tour. Very safe and professional service , Laura is the best, Excellent experience. Additionally, the cost to paraglide over Curiti is only 80,000 pesos. Open today: 8:00 am - … 04/24/2018 The van was pretty cramped by the time we got to the Parapente Chicamocha office. Most companies have a high level of professionalism. Your day could end up being much longer if the pilots need to land in some of the alternative landing spots, which can be as far as 3 hours away by road. You should choose the best option for you based on budget, time, and what you want to see. The pilots paired up with us based on height and weight. - Wear comfortable clothes (closed shoes, pants and coat) Everybody needed to sign waivers and fill out some paperwork. So I booked my tour to go paragliding in San Gil at Chicamocha Canyon. Generally paragliding is considered very safe as far as adventure travel goes. (I didn’t partner with them for this post — I paid full price for my tour just like you would, and all views are my own. Paragliding is the most popular activity in San Gil, but it’s not the only adventure sport you can do. About 30 minutes later, we arrived high above Chicamocha Canyon and pulled into a dirt parking area. The Chicamocha canyon offers an excellent site for thermal flight, accompanied by the majesty of its landscape. So by around 1 pm we were packing back into the van for the drive back to San Gil. The experience of paragliding over the Chicamocha Canyon is amazing. A very good experience. So naturally, the views are to die for in this option. By far the best company out there!! However, the downside is the launch point for the Chicamocha site is about a 90-minute drive from San Gil. Very fun, very safe, great guide and an amazing view! My tour was with Parapente Chicamocha, one of the biggest operators in the area. The View from the sky is definitely one you cannot miss! It constitutes without a doubt one of the most beautiful natural scenery of the American continent and the world.The Canyon is located approximately 340 kilometers from Bogota, the Colombian capital and only 57 kilometers from Bucaramanga, the capital of the department. Minicoti. The time in the air has passed too fast, but 20 minutes anyway. After filling out the paperwork I paid the remainder of my tour price (they accept credit card) and was ready to go. Beautiful views from the canyon. The first 30 minutes of the drive were through congested San Gil traffic. Chicamocha Canyon We take off close to the CHICAMOCHA NATIONAL PARK (5 km up the national road, see how to get on our menu), we have a private takeoff place (The highest of the Chicamocha Canyon). Occasionally another paraglider would come into view from above. I managed to scoff down a couple bananas and some coffee at the hostel while I waited for my pickup. They know all the tour agencies in town and will book you with the best ones for each activity. (Many people get nauseous while riding the spiraling thermals upward.). Located only a few kilometers away from the Chicamocha Canyon, one of the finest Colombian paragliding sites, this is the ideal base to explore these unique landscapes. I was extremely impressed with their efficiency and safety standards and would highly recommend them. It was the most economic and had other cool advantages that the competition wou, I had a blast during this day! I can definitely understand why some people get nauseous — it’s like being on those swing rides at the carnival. Note: This post contains affiliate links. Excellent service, they pick you up at the hotel and take you back. Restrictions: The staff is a group of young, friendly, funny people very safety oriented and with substanti, The team was amazing, they explained everything well. But who can resist an incredible meal of typical American comfort food in the candle-lit courtyard of a colonial building? The pilot told us how to strap into the harness, how to run off the cliff and then sit down in the harness, and what to do when landing to avoid injuring ourselves or the pilot. That feels like fly like a bird,i love the view and the wond, The guide, pilots and whole staff was very friendly, the flight is a beautiful and memorable experience. Everything is good, and at 15,000-ish COP per dish, it’s shockingly affordable. Only in town for a day? Check your wing. I arrived back at Sam’s VIP around 2 pm, happy and satisfied with my experience. But the views all around us were spectacular. Since I was one of the smaller people in my group, my flight finished early. You have to help with the launch phase by running and picking up enough speed, but after that you can sit back, relax and let the pilot do all the work. When you arrive in town, you’ll quickly learn that San Gil has two different paragliding options. But perhaps the best way to explore the Chicamocha Canyon is to paraglide over it. The pilots who accompany you on the flights are very pleasant and experienced. You’ll have no problem showing up in town in the evening and finding a tour to join the next morning. Too little wind and you won’t get off the ground, while too much can put the pilot at risk of not being able to control the aircraft. The organisation was very nice. The pilot stuck around for a few minutes to answer questions one-on-one as well. PARAGLIDING CHICAMOCHA CANYON . The road to the launch point wasn’t terrible, but in the beat-up, cramped old van, it was pretty uncomfortable. High above Chicamocha Canyon. I went with the English group. -We work hard to ensure that our visitors find the most exciting and amazing adventures.