Los Estoraques

Los Estoraques launches from 967 m near San Cristóbal in Venezuela's Táchira state, working east, southeast and south wind for thermic and soaring flights. The takeoff, known locally as La Loma de Joe, sits alongside a small inn, so there's a place to base out of right at launch. Reaching it takes a bit of local knowledge: from San Cristóbal, a bus covers the highway intersection heading up the mountain, from where pilots continue to El Balcón del Llano, and a further short stretch of road from there leads up to the launch itself. Once airborne, pilots have a choice of three landing options depending on the day's wind — Los Catires, the official landing zone called El Portaviones, or a third field closer to the highway that keeps the walk out to a minimum after landing. The one rule that matters most here concerns airspace: pilots must never cross the highway toward the airport, since that airspace belongs to the airport and is off-limits to paragliders.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff, known locally as La Loma de Joe, sits alongside a small inn right at launch.

Getting there & local rules

From San Cristóbal, take a bus to the highway intersection heading up the mountain, continue to El Balcón del Llano, then a short stretch of road leads up to the launch.

Local rules & hazards

Never cross the highway toward the airport — that airspace belongs to the airport and is off-limits to paragliders.

Check conditions before you fly

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