Page 72 - Cross Country Travel Guide 2019

IQUIQUE, CHILE

quique is Chile’s best known flying site. Locals boast of 360
flyable days a year, although peak season is southern summer
Ifrom October to late February. It’s suitable for all pilots, from
beginner to expert, and indeed you will find many expert acro
pilots finessing their skills here, often for weeks at a time.
The draw is the predictable conditions and easy logistics. The

port city of Iquique has a coastal desert climate, and is one of
the driest cities in the world. The main launch, Alto Hospicio
(pictured), sits 500m above Iquique and is easily reached by bus.
Beginners should launch early to make the most of the morning,
before landing on the beach at Playa Brava before the wind and
thermals grow stronger at about 1pm. Groundhandle for hours
then head back up for an evening session. Pilots who can deal with
the stronger conditions can often fly all day.

It’s not only acro or coastal soaring, you can fly XC along the
coast. Battling the wind and leesides as you hop from spur to spur
makes it a unique challenge. To explore further, join a trip to the
4,000m high altiplano and volcanic landscape of northern Chile.
iquiqueparagliding.com
Photo: Alfred Jürgen Westermeyer/Red Bull Content Pool

72 CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL GUIDE 2019 CHILE