Peru 2023 was supposed to be a one off trip, but having just got home I am not the only one itching to get back so we have already picked dates for 2024.
This trip was designed by my good friends Thomas Schwarzer and Alex Schweig and it truly is a paragliding holiday like no other. Not only will this trip offer some incredible flying in some unique locations and the usual opportunity to improve your wing control, technique and style, it will also offer you the opportunity to dive into the culinary and cultural diversity of this incredibly beautiful Latin country. There is so much more to this tour than just the flying.
The trip will start in Lima, where you will have the opportunity to rest from the long haul flight before checking out the first coastal site in Miraflores. Due to the Pacific coastal breeze this location is ideal for ground handling practice and some of the most perfect coastal soaring conditions to be had.
In Lima you will also get the opportunity to experience the noise, chaos and curiosity of a 10 million inhabitant city. There will be the chance to visit the historical centre for a cultural tour, take part in a night walk along the coastline, try out a local famers market to discover Peru's incredible diversity of fruit and veg smoothies and eat at restaurants offering world class cuisine.
Our second stop will take us to Peru’s kitesurf Mecca, Paracas! In the morning Paracas offers perfect flying conditions to soar directly along the coast of a beautiful natural reserve. As the wind does not increase too quickly, this is also an ideal location for those wanting to develop new techniques for top landing. Paracas was such a hit last year we will be based here for 8 nights in 2024
Kite surfing lessons and a trip via speedboat to the Ballestas Islands, a nature reserve area with unique fauna including Humboldt penguins, sea lions, and a crowd of bird species are also optional extras in Paracas.
From Paracas we will venture deep into the desert for a special day tour of Huacachina. Huacachina is full of surprises, it is an oasis nestled in the Peruvian desert and the perfect backdrop for soaring down untouched sand dunes. In Huacachina in addtion to experincing desert paragliding there is the option for dune buggy rides, sandboarding, slacklining (at additional cost) and of course more spectacular Peruvian food.
After Paracas we head back to Lima for more flying, cultural activites and a variety of nightlife / live music options. There is also the opportunity to take a day trip and experience flying at the Pachacamac, Valley of Kings which is 40 minutes south of Lima. Flying here includes a grass landing with barbeque area and pool so you can expect a relaxed afternoon before returning to Lima in the evening.
This really is a special tour, it combines flying, culture and fun and promises to be a magical whirlwind two weeks. If you are interested in joining me, please either book here through the website or email me at lee@freeflightacademy.com
Prices
The cost of this trip is £2,350
What's Included
- Airport transfers on arrival and departure date (pick up is 10am on Saturday, drop off TBC).
- Transport
- Accommodation (based on two sharing) - single room options available (additional cost TBC)
- Paracas Reserve entrance fee
- Daily briefings
- Expert tuition from Lee, Tommy and Alex regarding top landing, coastal soaring and ground handling
- City tour in Lima
- Dune buggy ride in Huacachina
- Breakfasts from day 2 until day 13
- Pictures and video of the trip
- Farewell dinner on last day
What's Not Included
- Flights to Lima
- Additional activites (kite surfing, speedboat nature reserve trip and dune boarding etc)
- Drinks
- Meals
What to bring
- Glider in fully serviceable condition and suitable for your flying level. We recommend the take-off weight should be in the upper third of the weight range, since we almost always fly in stronger wind conditions. A playful B glider is more suitable than a high-performance racing machine
- Harness with a foam protector - light harnesses are not ideal. Pod harnesses are not recommended, as we will do a lot of ground handling as well as top landing practice
- Correctly installed Speed bar
- Suitable reserve parachute system that has been checked and repacked within the last 12 months.
- Light but good abrasion resistant gloves
- Camelbak, as all of the flying will be done in the desert
- 2M Radio able to receive and transmit from 142.100 up to 146.400
- Wear-resistant trousers and good sports shoes
- Enough socks, because we probably get sand in our shoes every day :-)
- Towel
- Sunhat / sunscreen (Peru's UV rays are very strong
Please also take a look at our terms and conditions.
Trip Dates
- November 9th - November 23rd – 1 place remaining