Ayacucho

Ayacucho is regarded by Lima pilots as one of Peru's best sites from Holy Week (semana santa) through September — very stable flying in blue thermals, with the best window around midday when the wind steadies at about 15 km/h. Because the launch sits at 3,500 m, do not fly here in no-wind conditions: landing gets very fast without wind at that altitude. The house thermal lies across the first valley and then to your left. In winter (the flying season) you get open skies most days with only around 20% cloud cover on average.

Launch & conditions

Launch at 'Campanallocc', a hilltop 40 min from Ayacucho at 3,500 m ASL. Triangular takeoff area sitting just above the access road. Faces north, where the wind comes from most of the year. Not advisable to fly in no-wind conditions — landing at altitude is very fast without wind.

Getting there & local rules

40 min from Ayacucho. Take a cab from the town centre asking for Campanallocc, or arrange the local club's Toyota Land Cruiser (with driver) for a reasonable price. Landing: 'Zona Recreacional de Quicapata', officially declared a paragliding LZ — a huge green area next to the military quarters, at 2,900 m (600 m below launch). Avoid approaches over the military, watch for the power line, and make sure you have enough altitude to reach it. Exit via the north gate to the road; cabs run back to town from there.

Local rules & hazards

Notify the airport of your activity — two flights per day arrive from Lima (early morning and 16:30), coming in from the north and landing to the south. Avoid overflying the military quarters — they get annoyed. Watch for the power line on approach to the Quicapata LZ. In flying season, weather is mostly benign, with the possibility of big rain clouds developing from the south in late afternoon — Ayacucho sits in a bowl and you can watch cloud form on all horizons.

Check conditions before you fly

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