Ojos del Volcan

Ojos del Volcan is a thermal and soaring launch above Baños, Ecuador, sitting at about 2,433 meters and facing west. The takeoff itself is a big draw: a wide, clear natural-grass field of about 1,200 square meters with a well-shaped incline, giving pilots plenty of room to lay out and launch without the cramped setup common at smaller sites. It suits a range of flying styles — thermal and cross-country days, ridge soaring, hike-and-fly approaches, and flatland-style sessions. Getting there is straightforward: from the San Francisco bridge, it's an 8-kilometer road opposite the bus terminal in Baños city, and the road is suitable for any kind of vehicle, so you don't need a 4x4 to reach launch. Conditions here build through the day, with wind and thermal activity picking up as the sun climbs, so an early start generally means a calmer, easier flight, while afternoon sessions call for more experience handling stronger air. With Baños itself just down the road, this is an easy add-on for anyone already in Ecuador's adventure-sports hub.

Launch & conditions

Launch is a wide, clear natural-grass field of about 1,200 m² with a good incline, at about 2,433 m facing west.

Getting there & local rules

From the San Francisco bridge, it's an 8 km road opposite the bus terminal in Baños city — suitable for any kind of vehicle.

Local rules & hazards

Conditions build through the day, so expect stronger wind and thermal activity later — earlier flights tend to be calmer.

Check conditions before you fly

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