Gomera – La Mérica

La Merica launches at 638 m above Valle Gran Rey, on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands, Spain, and flies with wind from the southeast through south to southwest. There are two ways up to launch, and they differ a lot in effort. The direct route climbs straight out of Valle Gran Rey itself, gaining height over about 600 m of steep switchbacks, a proper leg-burner best saved for pilots happy to earn their flight on foot. The easier option is to get to the village of Arure first, by car or bus, and walk from there, an easy roughly 70-minute approach with far less climbing. Both routes converge at the same point, where the switchback trail meets a plateau, and takeoff sits right at that junction. Between the two access options and the reliable south-facing wind window, it's a flexible hike-and-fly and thermal site depending on how much walking a pilot wants that day.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff sits right where the switchback trail up from Valle Gran Rey meets the plateau above.

Getting there & local rules

Two ways up: climb directly from Valle Gran Rey via about 600 m of steep switchbacks, or reach the village of Arure by car or bus first and walk in from there, an easier approach of around 70 minutes.

Check conditions before you fly

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