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IMPORTANT: There are no operators authorized to operate this activitie in Salta province. Hopefully this situation will be reversed soon.
Any mountain range is good flying. And when it comes to mountains, Salta has them all. A paragliding tandem flight, ideal to peek at this beautiful city from the air and see its beauty like birds do.
The Dream of Flying
“A bird” is the commonest answer given by anybody who is asked what they would like to be in another life.
Paragliding started as a necessity in France in the 1970s. Skiers climbed and descended the Pyrenees to practice their favourite sport and sometimes they were so many that there were not enough chairlifts for those who stayed at the mountain summits till the end of the day.
The idea sprang up out of nowhere and came to stay: why not descending in an open parachute?
In that way, what once were parachutes descending very fast due to their accelerated descending rate, gradually turned into paragliders which, with new aerodynamic designs, became real wings. They would not only keep still in the air but also ascend.
The famous phrase “the whole airplane can be packed in the rucksack” began to be used more and more by different pilots who gradually crossed the French and European skies. This made many experienced hang gliders turn to these new practical “motorless airplanes”.
They just needed to spread out the paraglider, set it in right position and run until the feet no longer touched the ground.
That was the simple and natural beginning of these flights, which at first lasted only a few minutes and later on, after the innovations in the paragliding industry and the first pilots' experience, began to last much longer, especially when there were thermals that allowed them to ascend.
In Argentina and in Salta
Until a few years ago, air sports were considered highly risky due to the fact that they could only be practiced in mountain sites. This situation got worse because there were not enough flight instructors in the whole country to teach this discipline. Therefore, the only way to learn it was practicing it on one's own. This led to careless flights that could end up in fractures and accidents.
Before 2000, Argentina welcomed pilots and instructors from all over the world who came to participate in the 1st Paragliding World Contest, which took place in Cuchi Corral, La Cumbre, Province of Córdoba. Many of the best pilots in the world stayed in our mountains for good. One of them is Andy Heddiger -undoubtedly the “Maradona of World Paragliding”-, a Swiss who set up his “Aeroatellier” in La Cumbre some years ago.
Today tandem flights are real and it is possible to access them at any of the schools that offer this service all over the country.
Salta is an ideal place to take the first steps in paragliding, whether from some of the hills or in a baptism flight with Alejandro Haro, one of the best instructors available in this local discipline.
Even though mountains have their own secrets, Lerma Valley generates ideal weather conditions for beginners in paragliding to experience easy flights.
From above, just like from Mount San Bernardo, it is possible to observe the different areas of the city. Everything from the International Airport’s landing strip up to the green town of San Lorenzo, which can be reached by paraglider. From its churches and football stadiums to the colourful Calchaquí Valleys and the thick Salta rainforest.
It all depends on gaining height and having your eyes wide open. Alejandro will take care of correcting the descendants and thermals copied by the paraglider. We just have to enjoy the view from almost 1000 meters, as indicated by the altimeter.
People who take part in flights also receive theoretical training which not only includes information about the flight itself but also about other relevant aspects for good training, such as meteorology, orography and climatology.
Salta is a mystic and unique place for those who love free flight. A delight for the eyes which also offers the possibility to start thinking like a bird in these colourful mountains.
If you do not dare to become a devout enthusiast, let yourself be baptized. At least in paragliding, you will never regret it.
To Take into Account:
Baptism flights can be carried out from the hills near the city or at local racetrack venue, which has been a meeting point for hang glider and paraglider pilots for over 15 years.
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