Selected images from Chile 2005: Paragliding, desert, Andes, Pacific...

On February 22nd 2005, our Ojovolador Team landed in Santiago of Chile to spend the last weeks of the Chilean summer flying in different sites, and also to visit some relatives there. Our 4-weeks journey became a Tour across Chile, following the Pan-American Highway that unites the most austral points of this long country with the farthest cities to the north, like a spine over which we covered more than 7,000 kilometers by car, discovering and re-discovering some true jewels for free flight. We are working on a complete article about Chile and the sites we visited; meanwhile we have selected for you some of the best images taken there, which you can also use as wallpapers for your PC screen.

Next to Santiago (the capital city, at the center of the country) we flew at Las Vizcachas, a site located on the Pre-Cordillera of The Andes, where it is usual to find base at 2500m or more and follow the mountains range for some km towards Santiago, with an incredible view of the stunning Andean peaks on the back. The possibilities are good, although the thermals are somewhat narrow and turbulent at times, which requires some adaptation if you are coming from Europe (and winter!). In the south of Chile and near the city of Valdivia, one of the prettiest cities of Chile, we flew at the beach of San Ignacio, “Los Molinos”, a soaring flight next to the sea that is worth visiting especially for the beauty of the landscape. Then, about 450 km to the north of Santiago, we attended the 1st Paragliding Meet of La Serena, which was a big fun and successful event with about 70 pilots coming from all the country –including a remarkably high feminine participation! There we visited 3 interesting sites: a small beach slope where we got tired of playing and floating over the dunes, called Caleta Hornos; a higher site inland called Brillador where the strong wind almost left us grounded (and forced some tricky landings amid the cactuses); and the flight from the Antennas at Cerro Grande, with a spectacular view of the city of La Serena. More to the north, in Antofagasta, we flew at the cliffs facing La Portada, a unique rocky structure carved by the sea that has become the symbol of the city. There, we had an exciting afternoon flying and playing over a potentially very dangerous cliff if you are not attentive to the wind strength (only for experienced pilots). And to top it all, we could not miss Iquique, one of our favorite places in the world, and one where we have lived so many special moments and flights –and where we always find new, better ones- that we always long to return. The sun setting on the Pacific Ocean seen from your glider above the dune of Palobuque, it is doubtlessly one of the most beautiful in the world...

*Click on the pics to see them in high resolution and save them as wallpapers. And enjoy them!


On February 22nd 2005, our Ojovolador Team landed in Santiago of Chile to spend the last weeks of the Chilean summer flying in different sites, and also to visit some relatives there. Our 4-weeks journey became a Tour across Chile, following the Pan-American Highway that unites the most austral points of this long country with the farthest cities to the north, like a spine over which we covered more than 7,000 kilometers by car, discovering and re-discovering some true jewels for free flight. We are working on a complete article about Chile and the sites we visited; meanwhile we have selected for you some of the best images taken there, which you can also use as wallpapers for your PC screen. Next to Santiago (the capital city, at the center of the country) we flew at Las Vizcachas, a site located on the Pre-Cordillera of The Andes, where it is usual to find base at 2500m or more and follow the mountains range for some km towards Santiago, with an incredible view of the stunning Andean peaks on the back. The possibilities are good, although the thermals are somewhat narrow and turbulent at times, which requires some adaptation if you are coming from Europe (and winter!). In the south of Chile and near the city of Valdivia, one of the prettiest cities of Chile, we flew at the beach of San Ignacio, “Los Molinos”, a soaring flight next to the sea that is worth visiting especially for the beauty of the landscape. Then, about 450 km to the north of Santiago, we attended the 1st Paragliding Meet of La Serena, which was a big fun and successful event with about 70 pilots coming from all the country –including a remarkably high feminine participation! There we visited 3 interesting sites: a small beach slope where we got tired of playing and floating over the dunes, called Caleta Hornos; a higher site inland called Brillador where the strong wind almost left us grounded (and forced some tricky landings amid the cactuses); and the flight from the Antennas at Cerro Grande, with a spectacular view of the city of La Serena. More to the north, in Antofagasta, we flew at the cliffs facing La Portada, a unique rocky structure carved by the sea that has become the symbol of the city. There, we had an exciting afternoon flying and playing over a potentially very dangerous cliff if you are not attentive to the wind strength (only for experienced pilots). And to top it all, we could not miss Iquique, one of our favorite places in the world, and one where we have lived so many special moments and flights –and where we always find new, better ones- that we always long to return. The sun setting on the Pacific Ocean seen from your glider above the dune of Palobuque, it is doubtlessly one of the most beautiful in the world... *Click on the pics to see them in high resolution and save them as wallpapers. And enjoy them!
Las Vizcachas, Santiago.	Las Vizcachas, Santiago.
Los Molinos (San Ignacio beach), Valdivia.	PG Meet of La Serena, Caleta Hornos.
PG Meet of La Serena, Caleta Hornos.	PG Meet of La Serena, Brillador.
La Portada, Antofagasta.	La Portada, Antofagasta.
Dunes at the city of Iquique.	Alto Hospicio, Iquique.
Approaching Playa Brava, Iquique.	Palobuque, Iquique.
Palobuque, Iquique.	Palobuque, Iquique.
Palobuque, Iquique.	Palobuque, Iquique.
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