Alicun

Alicun is a thermal and soaring site in the Andarax valley near Alhama, in Almería province, Spain, launching from around 988-1,062 m depending on measurement, with up to 300 m AGL available on takeoff. The site actually offers four takeoff options depending on wind direction: west, northeast, east and southeast. The west takeoff is unprepared ground, while the east takeoff has been built into a proper ramp, giving a nicer, cleaner start — though it demands committing to a firm decision line once you're on it. Southeast starts are also possible but trickier than the rest, so they're better suited to pilots who already know the site. Getting there is straightforward: the access road is paved except for a 3 km stretch, turning off the A-391 from Alhama, and a small chapel at take-off is visible from almost the entire Andarax valley, making the site easy to spot from below. With multiple takeoff options for different wind directions and a valley setting easy to navigate to, Alicun gives visiting pilots real flexibility to match the day's wind to the right launch.

Launch & conditions

Four takeoff options depending on wind: west (unprepared ground), northeast, east (built into a proper ramp — a nicer, cleaner start, but it needs a firm decision line) and southeast (possible, but trickier than the rest).

Getting there & local rules

Access road is paved except for a 3 km stretch; turn off the A-391 from Alhama. A small chapel at take-off is visible from almost the entire Andarax valley.

Check conditions before you fly

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