El Palomaret

El Palomaret is a thermal and soaring site near Agost, in Alicante province, Spain, with launch at 827 m and wind working from east through southwest. It's a compact site — pilots describe it simply as a nice little spot — with hike-and-fly appeal alongside its thermal and soaring conditions. The location sits directly under flight paths into Alicante airport, so checking current airspace before flying matters here more than at a typical site. The real hazard, though, is aerological: with a west or southwest wind, a venturi effect forms just east of takeoff and can turn extremely dangerous, and prefrontal weather from the west should be avoided outright rather than flown cautiously. Getting to launch often happens by carsharing among local pilots rather than driving up solo, which is worth knowing if you're visiting from out of town.

Getting there & local rules

The site is near Agost. Getting to takeoff is typically done by carsharing among local pilots.

Local rules & hazards

This site sits directly under flight paths into Alicante airport, so check current airspace before flying. With west or southwest wind, a venturi effect east of takeoff can become extremely dangerous — and prefrontal weather from the west should be avoided altogether.

Check conditions before you fly

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