Concha Chinas

Concha Chinas is a coastal jungle site near Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, offering both ridge lift and thermals — though working the thermals well usually calls for active piloting. This is strictly an afternoon site, needing a sea breeze with some south in it to work. The launch itself has been improved but stays small and tight, with jungle pressing in on all sides and no bail-out option if things go wrong, so solid, confident launching skills are essential — this isn't a site for beginners. The trail up can be overgrown and hard to follow, so it's worth arranging a local guide rather than trying to find your own way through the vegetation. Once airborne, the landing is on the beach; the spot right below launch isn't especially welcoming to pilots, so most fly a little further along the coast to a more open stretch of sand. Expect to crab your final approach a bit and thread between beachgoers — get the spot landing right and you'll touch down dry on firm sand, reachable if you leave the flying area at launch altitude.

Launch & conditions

The launch has been improved but remains small and tight, surrounded by jungle with no bail-out option — you need a breeze to get airborne in just a few steps, and solid launching skills are essential. This is not a launch for beginners.

Getting there & local rules

The trail to launch exists but can be overgrown and hard to follow — arrange a local guide rather than trying to push through the vegetation on your own.

Local rules & hazards

You need the right wind cycle to launch safely, and you must be able to penetrate the breeze on your approach — otherwise you risk landing in the jungle instead of on the beach.

Check conditions before you fly

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