Almonacid de Zorita

Almonacid de Zorita's launch sits at 929 m in Guadalajara province, in Castilla-La Mancha, central Spain, and works with west wind for ridge soaring. Access to the hill itself is straightforward: the launch area is reachable by any kind of vehicle, so getting to the top is never the hard part here. The takeoff is what demands respect: it's tight and short, with room for only one wing at a time, so launching technique has to be genuinely solid before attempting it. There's no room to recover from a bad kite-up or a hesitant run, which makes this a poor choice for anyone still building consistency on the ground. Pilots who launch it well are rewarded with straightforward west-facing ridge soaring once airborne, but the margin for error is entirely on the ground, at launch, rather than in the air. Treat it as an experienced pilot's site, and if it's your first visit, watch someone else launch first.

Launch & conditions

Launch is tight and short, wide enough for only one wing at a time. Solid ground-handling and a confident, well-timed launch are essential; this is not a spot to learn or practise launching.

Getting there & local rules

The hill and launch area are easy to reach with any type of vehicle.

Check conditions before you fly

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