Pichincha

Pichincha launches from around 3,800 m on the volcano that towers over Quito, Ecuador, with wind from the northeast or east and room for six to ten gliders on the ramp at once — widely regarded as one of the country's standout sites for the views alone, with the whole city laid out below. Reaching the launch requires permission before you go up, so this is not a walk-up site, and pilots need to watch for the transmission antennas positioned near the ramp when setting up and launching, particularly when the wind trends east or north. The site is officially regulated by Ecuador's flying federation, and it carries a genuine technical level. Weather turns quickly around midday, with powerful cloud build-up and strong wind common near noon, which is why flying with a local pilot on your first visit is the standard advice rather than a formality. Landing is about five kilometers east of takeoff at Parque Bicentenario, a proper city park that's easy to spot from altitude on the way down.

Launch & conditions

Room for six to ten gliders at once, with transmission antennas near the ramp to watch for on launch, especially when wind trends east or north.

Getting there & local rules

Launching requires permission in advance — this is not a walk-up site.

Local rules & hazards

The site is regulated by Ecuador's flying federation and carries a genuine technical level, so flying with a local pilot on a first visit is standard advice — cloud and wind can build quickly around midday.

Check conditions before you fly

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