Fonte da Telha

Fonte da Telha is one of the great coastal soaring sites of Europe — a long sand cliff on the Costa da Caparica, just south of Lisbon, where the Atlantic sea breeze does all the work. When the northerly 'Nortada' fills in off the ocean, the west-facing dune switches on a steady band of ridge lift that can hold a wing aloft for hours, wingtip to the sea, with the whole beach stretching away below. Barely half an hour from central Lisbon, forgiving and endlessly soarable, it has been the first-soaring site for generations of Portuguese pilots — and a reliable evening fix for the locals whenever the breeze blows.

Launch & conditions

The launch sits on top of the sand cliff and works on west-through-northwest flow — the direction of the prevailing Atlantic sea breeze. This is dune soaring rather than thermal flying: the wind has to be strong enough to lift along the ridge, and on breezy summer afternoons the Nortada can pick up markedly through the day.

Getting there & local rules

A surfaced road runs down toward Fonte da Telha beach, with parking near the top of the cliff. The soaring band sits over a busy beach and other pilots, so give way, stay well clear of the people below, and always check the day's wind and the local rules before flying.

Check conditions before you fly

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