Collado Garcia

Collado García is a thermal and cross-country site above Tabernas in Almería, southern Spain, launching from around 1,200 m in south, southeast or south-west wind. Takeoff is a large, open area right on the ridge, giving plenty of room to lay out and multiple launch options depending on exactly where the wind is sitting. It's rated a solid thermal site with wide, abundant lift and good potential for cross-country flying once you're up. Top-landing is also an option back near launch, which is handy on days when conditions don't favour a full descent to the valley. There's no altitude restriction reported at takeoff, so height gain isn't capped by local airspace. Access is by car on the A-349 road from Tabernas, making this one of the more straightforward south-Almería sites to reach.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is a large, open ridge-top area with room for multiple launch points across south, southeast and southwest wind; top-landing is also possible back near launch.

Getting there & local rules

Reached by car on the A-349 road from Tabernas.

Check conditions before you fly

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