Hang Gliding In Lanzarote

By Author: Constance Martinez
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Lanzarote is a ideal island for the spectacular sport of Hang Gliding , especially in the winter when flying in Northern Europe isn't much fun.

The island covers 800 m2 and is the most north eastern of all the Canary Islands, located 1000 kms from mainland Spain and 100 kms from the coast of Africa. The highest point on the island is the dormant volcano Timanfaya, which is 700 mts above sea level, where the scenery is reminiscent of a lunar landscape..

The Climate is very good for Hang Gliding, with an average annual temperature of 20ºC which rises to 24ºC in summer and drops to just 17ºC in winter, with reliable soaring conditions and good all year round temperatures, makings it perfect for hang gliding at any time.

The Island is well connected to the Spanish mainland and the rest of the world through its international airport, which is located 5 kms from Arrecife, in the area called San Bartolomé.

UNESCO declared the island a Natural Biosphere Reserve, with rural areas very rich in agriculture, museums and monuments. A plan called ‘Lanzarote in ...
... the Biosphere' is trying to put a stop to the massive growth of hotels and tourist facilities in some coastal areas which damage the island's natural landscape.

In the early days of Hang Gliding, pilots only glided down small hills on primitive machines. Now with modern technology they have the ability to soar for hours, gain thousands of feet of altitude in thermals and updrafts, perform aerobatics, and fly hundreds of miles cross-country.

The main spot for Hang Gliding is off the cliffs at Famara, located in the north west of the island, famous as the one of the best winter hang gliding destination sites in Europe

The Famara ridge run has two main take off areas, the lower, Teguise, take off and the 'High take off' or 'Chimidas', with the best flying to be had when the winds is between North and West.

The ridge run starts in Teguise and finishes beyond the very last volcano, the views are truly stunning and you can see both sides of the island for most of the flight. There are plenty of landing options, however the sea is at the bottom of a few kilometres of the ridge.

With the right conditions, the Lower Teguise take off area, is the area of choice as you can take off and land right next to your car. This route is a little trickier but the rewards are greater as you are almost guaranteed to go up higher on take off, at the beginning of the famous ridge run.

The high famara take off or Chimidas is a beautiful hang gliding take off site with amazing views out over the plane, the sea and cliffs, with a very enjoyable take off. Due to a bad rotor a top, landing at this point is normally not an option, but there are plenty of bottom landing options at the lower Teguise take off area. With the right wind and cloud formation you will easily get the thermal needed to gain the height for the ridge run.

Mala, this site is quite easy, it has top and bottom landing options, works best with north east winds and seems to be the busiest for Hang Gliding on Lanzarote. It has top and bottom landing areas with access by car, on take off look for the large arrow of stones showing the landing area.

With at least one place to start flying for every wind direction and with miles of beautiful golden beaches, year-round sunshine and a warm climate, Lanzarote is one of the best places to Hang Glide in Europe and nothing compares to seeing it's fantastic landscape and coastline from a 'bird's eye view'.

If the wind is too strong to fly, the island has something for everybody, from quiet and remote villages with traditional Spanish lifestyle, to the cosmopolitan towns and bustling night-club scene, plenty of alternative sports to try, surfing, windsurfing, sailing, climbing, hiking and many more.

At the end of an enjoyable day, the island offers numerous choices for wining, dining and letting your hair down. This truly is a top spot for hang gliders. Mitch Ablitt writes for http://www.yourholidayrentals.com providing worldwide holiday accommodation. The original article, along with other interesting articles can be found at http://www.yourholidayrentals.com/inspiration More on Hang Gliding in Lanzarote