Cerro de la cruz

Cerro de la cruz is a thermal, soaring, cross-country and flatland launch at 1,188 m in La Rioja province, Argentina, flying with wind from east through southeast to south. Take-off is a flat, partly grassy area with room for a handful of gliders. Access here runs through the local pilot community: pilots typically meet at the landing zone and share a 4x4 ride up to launch, a vehicle based at Aguila Blanca, a business near the landing run by a veteran hang gliding and paragliding pilot — reachable by bus from downtown if you're arriving without a car. The official landing is on the valley floor, next to a motorbike racing track, with plenty of room for a safe touchdown, and top-landing back at launch is also an option when conditions allow. With reliable multi-direction thermals and an established local pilot network to plug into, Cerro de la cruz is a welcoming site for visiting XC pilots willing to coordinate their first visit.

Launch & conditions

Take-off is a flat, partly grassy area with room for a handful of gliders. Top-landing back at launch is an option when conditions allow.

Getting there & local rules

Local pilots typically meet at the landing zone and share a 4x4 ride up to launch, based at Aguila Blanca near the landing — reachable by bus from downtown. The official landing is on the valley floor, next to a motorbike racing track, with plenty of room.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Cerro de la cruz, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Cerro de la cruz with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.