El Tablon

El Tablón launches from about 2,460 m in Ecuador, with wind from the north or northeast and predominantly thermic conditions, along with dynamic lift working to the south of the takeoff — a combination that supports thermic, dynamic, cross-country and flatland-style flying depending on the day. The launch itself is large and clear: natural grass, an ideal slope, roughly 2,000 square meters of usable ground, and two separate wind orientations to work with, which gives some flexibility when conditions aren't lining up perfectly. Getting there takes some route-following rather than a straight shot — from the Ambato–Guaranda road, a turn near the town of Santa Rosa leads toward San Pablo, then a right turn toward the village of Angahuana Alto, and from that point the final three kilometers run on an unpaved third-order road that needs a four-wheel-drive vehicle. That last stretch is the one part of the trip worth planning ahead for; the rest of the drive is straightforward.

Launch & conditions

A large, clear natural-grass launch — roughly 2,000 square meters, with an ideal slope and two separate wind orientations.

Getting there & local rules

From the Ambato–Guaranda road, turn near Santa Rosa toward San Pablo, then right toward Angahuana Alto; the final three kilometers run on an unpaved road that needs a four-wheel-drive vehicle.

Check conditions before you fly

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