Farellones

Farellones is a high-altitude cross-country launch above Santiago, Chile, at 2,580 m, with a small takeoff — room for one glider, two at a stretch — partly covered with carpets, working a mostly cross wind from the left. A house thermal typically forms on launch's left side, behind a brown house, and reaching Santiago from here means climbing to 4,000+ m first, since landing options along the way are scarce. Expect summer thermals to turn very strong around midday and into early afternoon, with overdevelopment that can build surprisingly fast — keep an eye on the sky rather than committing to a plan. The alternate landing zone sits in Parque Yerba Loca, reached by dirt road, and there's an emergency LZ too, though a westerly wind there brings a real risk of rotor. Because of the altitude, approach speeds run noticeably higher than pilots are used to at lower sites — brief accordingly. Access is by road from Santiago through Farellones, continuing toward La Parva.

Launch & conditions

Launch space is tight — room for one glider, two at most, on ground partly covered with carpets. Wind is mostly cross from the left, and a house thermal typically forms on the left side of launch, behind a brown house.

Getting there & local rules

Drive from Santiago to Farellones, then continue toward La Parva. The alternate landing zone is in Parque Yerba Loca, reached by dirt road.

Local rules & hazards

Summer thermals turn very strong around midday into early afternoon, with overdevelopment that can build quickly — watch the sky closely. Because of the altitude, approach speeds are noticeably higher than at lower sites, and a westerly wind at the emergency landing zone brings a real risk of rotor.

Check conditions before you fly

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