Paragliding on El Hierro
Paragliding on El Hierro
One of the fun activities you can do on El Hierro is paragliding. We have been on El Hierro for 8 weeks and we soon saw that there is a lot of paragliding happening. And that is a great inspiration to give it a try yourself. Geert took the plunge and booked a tandem flight with an experienced pilot / instructor. Read in this blog about paragliding on El Hierro and the tandem flight that Geert made.
First something about paragliding; paragliding is a flying activity that consists of taking off from an altitude in order to fly horizontally and also to be able to go up again. This is in contrast to parachuting, where the descent is completely vertical. To be able to ascend again you need the right thermals and that is why paragliders look for locations where these thermals are good and often present. When it comes to paragliding, on El Hierro there is also a lot of acrobatics performed, the experienced pilots then make acrobatic actions in the air such as somersaults. Because there is a lot of flying and a lot of acro activities, you can see that almost every day, really cool!
Fly El Hierro
El Hierro is the perfect paragliding location due to the great circumstances and the fantastic views
El Hierro is an excellent location for paragliding. It is considered one of the best places in the Canary Islands and in all of Spain to practice the sport. This is due to the climate and mountain conditions on the island. A steep ridge curves from east to west across the island. The climate in which warm air from the sea rises against the mountain and causes clouds ensures good thermals and flight conditions. On the island you can fly approx. 300 days per year. In addition, the views on El Hierro are fantastic with views of the vulcanic mountains, the valley and the Atlantic Ocean.
It was therefore not surprising that I (Geert) quickly became inspired to also want to make a flight. And while being there, this was an excellent opportunity. I soon ended up at Fly El Hierro and got in touch with Ondrej Prochazka, a professional pilot with a good track record. Ondrej has been providing tandem flights on El Hierro for some time now and flies himself whenever possible. The contact with Ondrej went very smoothly and relaxed in the run-up and we soon made an appointment. For those interested, I was allowed to fly on Monday April 12th 2021 at 5.30 pm.
Prepare for take off
The preparation for the flight went very smooth and quick, no time to waste, hop hop and go!
Just before 5.30 pm Ondrej arrived and he does not let any grass grow on it. Get out, briefly introduce, no fuss, unpack, prepare things, brief instruction and go. He hasn't confirmed it right away but I suspect he's doing this on purpose so you can't change your mind. First he secured me in my seat and then himself in his seat. Then he prepares the glider so that a good and fast departure can be made. Then he buckles us together so that we sit together as a tandem, me in front and he behind. Finally, he gives a brief instruction. Think about, a few steps forward, a few steps back, and then comes the command go! That means running forward for about 10 steps and then you are loose before you know it. If you want to see how the take off went, please have a look at this video.
Take off
You are up in the air before you know it and then you just fly…
And then after take off the great excitement really begins. I had booked a so-called XXL package, a 45-minute flight including photos, videos and insurance (not unimportant). From the first minute I was really relaxed and comfortable and I enjoyed myself to the maximum. Ondrej is a super nice guy who tells a lot along the way, both about flying and about the island. And he seriously knows what he is talking about, and I love information, so nice match!
The first part of the flight was above the clouds. At the time we flew, there was a cloud cover against the ridge between 1000m and 1200m. However, the cloud cover was not very thick and there were holes and that is nice. Then you already have a view through the holes in the cloud cover and you can enjoy the wonderfully beautiful view. But if you fly above the clouds, you also see, for example, the shadow of the glider and yourself on the cloud below you. And if it is a rain cloud then it even becomes a colored shadow, the same effect as with a rainbow. The first part is also a glide flight where you slowly descend through the cloud cover. Because the cloud cover was not very dense, you fall right through it.
Above the Clouds
The first part of the flight was flying above the clouds
As soon as we were under the clouds we could use the thermals so that you can go up again. On the way, Ondrej explained how that works and how he knows where the thermals are. As an experienced pilot you can see from the clouds and airflow where the thermals are. But surprisingly, he also watches the birds. Birds also recognize thermals in the air and recognize it like no other. It's really fascinating to hang in the air, get this explained and then see it happening with your own eyes.
From the moment we were under the cloud cover, we flew up and down in an easterly direction along the ridge. Then you come very close to that ridge that is largely untouched. Of course there are a few roads and hiking trails, but no one comes to most of the area. It is fabulously beautiful to see the steep, overgrown mountain sides of the original vulcano up close. As soon as we were on the eastern side of the mountain wall we took off a bit more so that we could make a nice glide towards the coast and the Atlantic Ocean. The view then only gets better because there were no clouds above the coast and sea. They lie against the mountain wall and as soon as you fly towards the coast you leave it behind you.
Flying above the coastline and over the Atlantic Ocean is magical. Because it was early evening the sun was already setting slightly over the ocean and that is beautiful to see. In addition, you can see from above how beautiful and raw the coastline of El Hierro is and how blue the water. We flew over the coast and the ocean for the last 10-15 minutes and Ondrej took many great photos and pictures here. We had unobstructed views of the entire valley and the coast from east to west and across the ocean. If you want to see how flying above the Atlantic Ocean looks like, have a look at this video.
Above the Ocean
Flying above the Atlantic Ocean is just magical with the stunning views
Finally, after 45 minutes we landed on the coast at Charco de los Sargos where Ella and Ondrej's wife were waiting for us. The landing is very smooth, as soon as you are on the ground you take a few steps and then you are on the ground. After landing I sat down there for two minutes because at the end of the flight I was slightly nauseous in the stomach. But just sit down and it was gone.
After the flight we had a chat with Ondrej and his wife and he immediately gave the 300 photos and few videos he had made. I thanked him extensively for this wonderful experience and the way he guided and performed the flight. The hours after the flight you are really enjoying it over and over again.
A few weeks later while we were still on the island, I came hiking down the mountain and saw Ondrej standing in the garden with a friend. They were preparing for a flight and we talked for a while. What a nice guy!
I think it will certainly not stop at this one time, there are so many fantastic places in the world where you can do this too. And then I hope I get Ella to join me. I therefore advise everyone to go paragliding. It may seem scary but it is not at all, get in your seat, buckle up, take off, fly and enjoy! On El Hierro or anywhere in the world!
For more photo material and information about paragliding at El Hierro, check out our Instagram posts and our Polarsteps page!
Ella & Geert.