Page 75 - Cross Country Travel Guide 2019

South America offers flying for everyone, from golden beaches to 6,000m mountains

Castelo’s Jurassic Park
Castelo in Brazil will blow your mind.
Generous 3m/s thermals will take you to

2,000m cloudbase, from where you will look
down on the Jurassic Park-like landscape
below. Rocky monoliths rise out of the forest,
while rolling fields cover the valleys. The sky
is blue and dotted with perfect cu’s.
Getting here is a colourful adventure, it’s
160km from the nearest airport at Vitoria so
there will be buses and taxis. The take-offs
are at Rampa de Uba (W-NE) and Apeninos
(SE-SW). Both are 30km from Castelo on a
track; arrange a collective shuttle from town.
In the air, expect to fly circuits of 50-

100km using strong thermals. Sea breeze
can affect it, leading to complex convergence
lines. Not a place for beginners, but heaven
for the experienced. If there is a comp here,
sign up and get all the logistics taken care of.
Or get in touch with English-speaking guide
Steve Barton.
xcbrazil.com
Photo: Jérôme Maupoint

Rio’s Open Arms

There is something life-affirming about Rio
de Janeiro. It’s the mix of the extraordinary
physical geography – all those granite
monoliths, the tropical forest, the Atlantic
Ocean, the acres of beaches, the blue sky …
and then it’s packed with amazing people.
The flying site is south of Ipanema in the
suburb of São Conrado. Take the metro, bus
or Uber to get there. Sign up at the flying

club, and then grab a ride up the hill in a
beach buggy to launch. The launch is unique:
hang gliders thump off the ramp; paragliders
take off in front and below it. A marshall
keeps things sweet.
In the air the XC to do is a technical
30km to the statue of Christ and back, but
conditions for this are quite rare. If it’s not

on, then flying the mountainside, with the
favela of Rocinha below, is eye-popping
enough. Land on the beach in front of the
clubhouse. Squeeze extra lime in your beer.
www.cscvl.com.br
Photo: Nader Couri

SOUTH AMERICA CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL GUIDE 2019 75