Loma de Los Angeles

Loma de Los Angeles launches at 1,911 m near Merida, in the Venezuelan Andes, and flies with wind from the southeast through southwest to west. Takeoff is reached by car, and most pilots arrive in the area via Merida itself, which has both an airport and road connections from the rest of the country. The site holds its wind direction steady for most of the year, with the strongest thermal activity typically building through the summer months, making it a reliable spot for cross-country-style flying as well as ridge soaring and hike-and-fly. Because an airport sits close to the flying area, pilots are expected to coordinate with the airport tower before launching, to avoid conflicting with local air traffic. Landing options are generous, with several usable fields around the site, and the area is well known locally: it hosts a paragliding competition every January, so expect more pilots and a livelier atmosphere on launch during that month.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is reached by car; there's no long hike required to get to the launch itself.

Getting there & local rules

Most pilots reach the area via Merida, which has its own airport as well as road access from the rest of Venezuela.

Local rules & hazards

An airport lies close to the site, so pilots should coordinate with the airport tower before flying to avoid interfering with other air traffic. Wind direction is steady for most of the year, with the strongest thermal conditions typically in summer.

Check conditions before you fly

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