Brazil
Paragliding in Brazil: Governador Valadares and Quixadá
Best months
- January
- February
- March
- April
- May
- September
- October
- November
Two very different Brazilian classics. Pico do Ibituruna above Governador Valadares, in Minas Gerais, is a big mountain with grassy launches and a strong cross-country history. Quixadá, in Ceará, is a flatland site famous for very long straight-line flights.
Live conditions at the main takeoff · Pico do Ibituruna, Governador Valadares
Conditions right now
Live — the same sources the OutDare app uses
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The last 12 months
| Month | November 2025★ Best months | December 2025 | January 2026★ Best months | February 2026★ Best months | March 2026★ Best months | April 2026★ Best months | May 2026★ Best months | June 2026 | July 2026 | August 2026 | September 2026★ Best months | October 2026★ Best months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain-free middays | 80% | 74.2% | 64.5% | 78.6% | 61.3% | 93.3% | 100% | 96.7% | 100% | 93.5% | 90% | 64.5% |
| Clear middays | 23.3% | 29% | 35.5% | 28.6% | 48.4% | 70% | 38.7% | 50% | 67.7% | 61.3% | 36.7% | 32.3% |
| Mean 10 m wind (km/h) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 7 |
| Days | 30 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 31 |
Rain-free: less than 1 mm of precipitation from 10:00 to 16:00 local time. Clear: mean cloud cover below 50% over the same hours. Wind: mean 10 m wind from 11:00 to 14:00. Hourly endpoints included. Complete days only. Archived forecasts describe model weather, not flying suitability.
Takeoffs
Pico do Ibituruna, Governador Valadares
Altitude: 1,070 m
Launch wind directions: N · NE · SE · S · SW · NW
Big grassy slopes facing north and south, 7 miles from town.
View spotMorro do Urucum, Quixadá
Altitude: 470 m
Launch wind directions: NE · E · SE
Flatland site known for very long straight-line flights.
View spot
Landing: Governador Valadares · 165 m · View coordinates on Google Maps
Season
The Paragliding World Cup organisers say January to May has given the best conditions at Governador Valadares, with over 90% of days flyable in their last two Superfinals. In our data, 64% to 80% of middays from November to February were dry there. Quixadá is a dry-season site: 87% to 100% of middays from June to December were dry, with midday wind of 14 to 16 km/h.
Flying
Ibituruna rises to about 1,120 m with four takeoffs (two wooden ramps and two natural), almost 900 m above the river, and the official landing is by the Ilha dos Araújos bridge. At Quixadá the launch is at about 460 m and landings at about 300 m; pilot notes describe strong thermals and long, hard retrieves.
Practical facts
- Ibituruna access
- The mountain is about 11 km from the centre of Governador Valadares, on a road passable for normal cars.[4]
- Quixadá access
- The nearest airport is Fortaleza, about 160 km away.[5]
- Cross-country
- At Quixadá, carry lots of water, a hat and sun cream; retrieves are long.[1]
Hazards
- At Quixadá, the wind can be too strong at launch from September to January.[1]
- Valadares landings along the BR-116 need care: check your field before committing.[1]
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to paraglide in Governador Valadares?
January to May, according to the Paragliding World Cup organisers, who report over 90% flyable days in their last two Superfinals.
Why is Quixadá famous?
It is a flatland site with steady wind and strong thermals, known for very long straight-line cross-country flights.
Can I check the wind at Ibituruna today?
Yes, this page shows live wind at the launch, and the free OutDare app can alert you when it looks flyable.
Sources
- Paragliding Earth: pilot-contributed site guide (in the OutDare spot database)
- Open-Meteo historical forecasts, analysed by OutDare (Nov 2025 to Oct 2026)
- PWCA: Paragliding World Cup Brazil, Governador Valadares
- Estado de Minas: Governador Valadares and Ibituruna (Aug 2026)
- XC Mag: Guide to Quixadá, Brazil