Zarautz

Zarautz's paragliding launch sits right on the coast at 181 m in the Basque Country, northern Spain, and works with wind from the north through northeast to northwest, making it a straightforward coastal soaring spot above the town's beach. Access is easy: launch is about a 10-minute walk from a campsite near the edge of town, with no long approach or technical hike involved. Landing is at the top, at launch itself, rather than down on the beach, so pilots plan their pattern to set up for a top landing. The site closes for a large part of the year for conservation reasons: flying is forbidden from 1 February through 31 May, while falcons are nesting on the cliffs nearby, so this is not a year-round site. Outside that closure window it's an approachable, low-key coastal soaring spot well suited to an easy session close to town.

Launch & conditions

Launch is about a 10-minute walk from a campsite near the edge of town: a short, easy approach with no real hike involved.

Getting there & local rules

Reached on foot from a campsite at the edge of Zarautz, roughly 10 minutes' walk to launch.

Local rules & hazards

Flying is forbidden here from 1 February to 31 May each year, while falcons nest on the nearby cliffs; plan visits outside that window.

Check conditions before you fly

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