Get a Bird’s Eye View of Lanzarote
If you’re an experienced hand glider or paraglider and you fancy a bit of a challenge, a cheap Lanzarote holiday could be your perfect escape. Not only is this Canary Island blessed with year-round sunshine, it is also buffeted by strong winds and has some amazing scenery to enjoy while you’re airborne.
Hang Gliding
Top on the list for experienced hang gliders is Famara ridge in the northwest of the island. There are a number of take off spots along the ridge and gliders are rewarded with amazing views whilst they fly, including volcanic caldera and sparse desert landscape. Famara is really for the experts, but if you’ve never tried hang gliding before then why not take a tandem ride? Alternatively try a solo flight from the man-made ridge at Soo in the north of the island.
For information about tuition and equipment rental, contact Lanzarote’s local hang gliding club, Vuelo Libre Zonzamas. Their website is in Spanish, but clicking the union jack flag will translate pages into English for you.
Paragliding
Year-round paragliding on Lanzarote isn’t possible, as the winds are too strong in the summer, but between November and March the conditions are perfect for experienced paragliders to take to the air. Again Farama ridge is a great spot for take offs and landings, but other launch spots include Mirador in the north, Mala in the east, El Cuchillo and the Soo sand hill towards the west and in the south of the island Macher, Playa Quemada and Femes.
Currently there are no schools or equipment rentals outlets, so you’ll need to bring your own equipment. Ulrich Prinz has a great blog which has a wealth of information about the best spots on Lanzarote, including GPS references to help you find them.
Parascending
Slightly less extreme, but still providing you with a bird’s eye view of the island, is parascending. Harnessed onto a parachute, you ascend over the Atlantic Ocean whilst being pulled by a high-speed motorboat. Paracraft Lanzarote in Puerto del Carmen offer parascending sessions, with both solo and tandem flights available.
If you’re looking for extreme air action then Lanzarote could be the perfect solution. It’s close to the UK, has amazing views and strong trade winds from the Atlantic to guarantee a thrilling ride.
