Travel bucket list idea:
Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Region, Brazil
Credit Shutterstock.com/Donatas Dabravolskas
With warm weather and towering coastal mountains creating almost constant thermals, myriad broad sandy beaches for landing strips and spectacular views over boulder-mountain studded bays, Rio is a hotspot for hang gliding.
The sport is long-established here, and a number of operators offer tandem or solo flights, which take off from the paragliding station atop the giant 520m-high monolith of Bonita Rock (Pedra Bonita).
If you’ve ever wanted to try hang gliding, this is as good a place as any.
Tour operators will collect you from your hotel and transport you to the take-off point. All equipment is provided, and a full safety briefing is given before you fly.
Flights last 15-30 minutes depending on weather conditions; the whole adventure, including transport, takes about 2 hours. There’s no minimum age, but children must be accompanied by an adult. There is a weight limit of around 120kg.
Flights can be organised all year round, seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset – weather permitting.
This is obviously something best done on a cloudless day. November to March is Rio’s rainy season, so expect intermittent clouds and weather interruptions during these months.
Try and fly as early as possible for the best light and clearest air and for chances of seeing marmoset monkeys and birds along the short jungle trail that leads to the take-off.
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