La Palma – Torre del Time

La Palma – Torre del Time is a thermal and cross-country launch at 1,121 m on the Canary Island of La Palma, working on wind from southwest through northwest. This is a site with a clear, safety-critical rule: never launch with a southerly wind, which produces rotor on this ridge. Crossing the ridge to land at Tazacorte can also become difficult in some conditions — when it does, the backup landing is at Tijarafe instead. The main landing is Puerto de Tazacorte. Cloud cover affects this site often enough to be worth planning around, so check current conditions before committing to the crossing. The Caldera de Taburiente, the volcanic crater at the island's heart, is prohibited airspace — flying into it is not allowed under any circumstances.

Launch & conditions

Never launch here with a southerly wind — it produces rotor on this ridge. The site works on southwest through northwest wind instead.

Local rules & hazards

The Caldera de Taburiente is prohibited airspace — do not fly into it. Crossing the ridge to land at Tazacorte can become difficult in some conditions; use the Tijarafe landing zone as a backup when that happens. The site is often affected by cloud, so check conditions before committing.

Check conditions before you fly

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