El Salto

El Salto is a popular thermal, soaring and cross-country site in central Mexico, near San José Iturbide, launching at about 2,043 m in northeast to east wind with roughly 240 m of vertical drop, facing 060°. It draws pilots from as far as 60 miles away, especially during the dry season, and the launch area has the convenience of a restaurant and basic accommodation right next door. Access to the landing zone is on paved road, which is a rare comfort for a Mexican XC site. Top-landing is possible back near launch, but watch out for cactus in the terrain around it. The site sits right on the dividing line between two quite different geographic areas, which means it can occasionally blow out when the two systems clash — worth checking conditions carefully rather than assuming a calm forecast will hold. With good facilities, a defined dry-season window and a straightforward vertical, El Salto is a convenient regional hub for pilots in the area.

Launch & conditions

Launch has about 240 m of vertical, facing 060°, in northeast to east wind; top-landing is possible but watch for cactus in the surrounding terrain.

Getting there & local rules

Reached via San José Iturbide, then El Salto and Tierra Blanca; the landing zone is reached on paved road.

Local rules & hazards

The site sits on the dividing line between two quite different geographic areas, so it can occasionally blow out — check conditions carefully rather than assuming they'll hold.

Check conditions before you fly

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