El Picacho – Malinalco

El Picacho launches from grassy, sheep-grazed pastures above the Malinalco Valley in the State of Mexico, at 2,451 m, with a southeast-facing takeoff where the wind usually crosses about 45 degrees from the right, plus a true south-facing alternate a short way down the trail. It's a steep launch, and the valley below offers reliable thermals, ridge soaring and cross-country lines over open, flatland terrain — a mix that draws pilots from the Mexico City area. The standard landing is a piano-shaped field near the base of launch; a barbed-wire fence runs east to west across it, so approach lines need to account for that. Most open, unplanted agricultural fields nearby also work as backup landings, but the country club at the base of launch is strictly off-limits — landing there risks having your wing confiscated. To reach launch, head to the small village of El Picacho at the north end of the Malinalco Valley, park near the access road, and walk about a kilometer down a path through the pastures; locals can point the way.

Launch & conditions

The southeast-facing launch is steep, with wind usually crossing about 45 degrees from the right; a true south-facing alternate exists a little further down the trail.

Getting there & local rules

Park near the access road at El Picacho village and walk about 1 km down a path through the pastures to reach launch — locals know the way.

Check conditions before you fly

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