Hondon de las Nieves

Hondón de las Nieves launches from around 526 m in Alicante province, and doubles as a gentle introduction to cross-country flying — it's often used for beginners' first XC try-outs. The catch is genuinely important: you'll be flying directly under the approach path for Alicante airport, so there's a hard ceiling of 300 ft above ground level here, and the standard plan is to move west and go cross-country rather than climb. Reaching launch means walking up the south side of the village on a pathless climb to an electrical post, where two separate takeoffs — one facing south, one east — give you options depending on wind direction. Getting to the village itself is via Elche, heading toward Crevillente, then turning off for Hondón de las Nieves — worth double-checking, since the similarly named Hondón de las Frailes is a different village nearby. A local guide or flying school is the recommended way to fly this site properly, especially given the airspace restriction. Landing is flexible almost anywhere in the valley for now, though ongoing development means that may change over time.

Launch & conditions

Walk up the south side of the village on a pathless climb to an electrical post; two separate takeoffs, one south-facing and one east-facing.

Getting there & local rules

Via Elche, heading toward Crevillente, then turning off for Hondón de las Nieves — don't confuse it with the similarly named Hondón de las Frailes nearby. Flying with a local guide or school is recommended.

Local rules & hazards

You fly directly under the Alicante airport approach path here — there's a hard ceiling of 300 ft AGL, so the standard plan is to move west and fly cross-country rather than climb.

Check conditions before you fly

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