Tierra Negra

Tierra Negra is a ridge-top launch in Mérida state, Venezuela, at around 2,034 m, flying with wind from the north, northeast, east, west or northwest for thermal, soaring, cross-country and hike-and-fly conditions. Take-off is a cleared, grassy area right along the ridge, and top-landing back onto it is straightforward as long as you keep enough altitude in reserve. The main landing zone sits on the site of a former town — an open, flat gravel area that's crossed by dead power lines, though they're easy enough to avoid given how large the LZ is. Approach into landing is almost always from the northwest. One rule matters for everyone flying here: never fly over the town of Las Gonzáles, on the south side of the freeway. With reliable multi-direction winds and a spacious ridge-top launch, Tierra Negra rewards pilots who respect the landing hazards and the no-fly area over town.

Launch & conditions

Take-off is a cleared, grassy area along the ridge top; top-landing back onto it is straightforward with enough altitude in hand. The main LZ — a former town site — is a flat gravel area crossed by dead power lines, easy to avoid given the LZ's size. Approach is almost always from the northwest. Never fly over the town of Las Gonzáles, on the south side of the freeway.

Check conditions before you fly

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