El Bolson

El Bolsón's paragliding launch sits at the end of the Piltriquitrón trail south of Bariloche in Argentine Patagonia, at roughly 1,173 m. The route up is a long, rough road, so most pilots share a taxi to the car park known as 'la plataforma', with the launch itself about 100 m to the right and a clear sign posting local instructions on site. Flying here comes with real procedure: every pilot needs a reserve parachute and a radio, since radio contact on frequency 143.890 is mandatory — used both to confirm the airport's landing zone is operational before takeoff and to get clearance before committing to land there. Flying over the town itself, or west of the local airport's runway axis, isn't allowed, and northerly wind is treated with caution because it can sweep into the valley suddenly. The official landing is at Cabañas Arroyito, near the in-town campground, with an alternative field at the north end of town also in use.

Launch & conditions

Most pilots share a taxi up the long, rough access road to the car park known as 'la plataforma'; launch is about 100 m to the right, with a sign posting local instructions on site.

Getting there & local rules

Take the road south from Bariloche to reach El Bolsón and the Piltriquitrón trail access.

Local rules & hazards

Every pilot needs a reserve parachute and a radio, since radio contact on frequency 143.890 is mandatory — used to confirm the airport landing zone is operational before takeoff and to get clearance before landing there. Flying over the town or west of the airport's runway axis isn't allowed, and northerly wind is treated with caution since it can sweep into the valley suddenly.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to El Bolson, 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 El Bolson with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.