Ponzos

Ponzos launches from a low cliff top above the dunes on Spain's Galician coast, at 279 m, and works best with a light northwest wind — under those conditions a cloud street often forms out toward Cabo Prior, giving pilots a genuine little cross-country run along the cape; small XC flights have reached Playa Penencia to the west and Pico de la Vela toward Punta Frouxeira in the east. With a moderate NNW wind there's also a lower launch option, right off the cliff above the beach. Getting up to the top takeoff means a paved road that turns to gravel and dirt — any regular car manages it with a bit of care. The main landing sits near the ruins of an old gold mine, reached on a dirt track; drive no further than the ruins, since the dunes beyond are a protected area — you can land and set up camp there on foot, but vehicles must stay out. Landing on the dunes themselves is easy, if a little uneven, with no trees or power lines to worry about.

Launch & conditions

The upper takeoff sits on the cliff top; with a moderate NNW wind there's also a lower launch option right off the cliff above the beach.

Getting there & local rules

The road up to the top takeoff is paved then turns to gravel and dirt — any regular car manages it with care. The landing area is reached via a dirt track leading to the ruins of an old gold mine; don't drive vehicles past that point, since the dunes beyond are protected — walking in to land and camp is fine, parking there is not.

Local rules & hazards

The site flies best with a light northwest wind, which often builds a cloud street out toward Cabo Prior for a short cross-country run along the cape; small XC flights have reached Playa Penencia to the west and Pico de la Vela toward Punta Frouxeira to the east. Landing on the dunes is easy but somewhat uneven, with some vegetation — no trees or power lines to worry about.

Check conditions before you fly

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