Site Guide: Jardín (CO)

Jardín is a lovely little mountain town south of the metropolis Medellín in Colombia. It’s a relaxed place to stay and offers interesting flying opportunities. From a scenic glide to the landing close to town to extended cross-country flights, there are lots of options. Conditions are usually calm (we were told) with lots of flyable days. Since it is located in mountainous terrain, landing options are somewhat limited but still available. The local tandem operator is very helpful and offers rides up to the takeoff with no fuss.

As with all our guides, talk to the locals before getting into the air. We were only there for a limited time and can’t capture everything about a site. Also, it’s just generally good advice 🙂

Map

Takeoff

Windsock on a grass field looking down at a town in the valley — The town of Jardín in the valley (landing behind the lower ridge)

Two tandem paragliders with mountains in the background — The tandems preparing for takeoff

The takeoff is very easy. It’s a well-maintained green with a nice slope and consistent wind from the valley. Since you go up with the tandem pilots, the prime spots in the center are usually taken but you either take off a bit to the side or wait for their launch.

Wait for a thermal cycle going through and, after takeoff, turn right first. You can either soar along the ridge to find a thermal and/or watch out for birds circling in front of the ridge. They are very reliable indicators of lift.

The takeoff is also prime for top landings. You have an easy approach from the back and a smooth touchdown zone. The tandems usually do them to switch passengers.

How to get there?

Paragliding shop with motorcycles in front of it and some paragliding backpacks — The paragliding “shop”

Two people loading paragliding equipment onto a roof of a jeep — The paragliding “shop”

Just show up at the local paragliding “shop”/tandem office in Jardín at around 10am, sign the waiver, and pay for the lift. The jeep usually departs around 10:30am with everyone on board. Don’t worry about your equipment, it’s safe on top of the Jeep 🙂

You are then in for a pretty bumpy ~40-minute drive up the mountains. You’ll pass by maracuja fields and drive through a small stream before reaching the takeoff and taking in the view.

You can often also get up later in the day but that depends on the tandem operation. From town, you can see them land, so you can decide to head to the landing site to get a ride. Since it depends on the number of passengers and the conditions (i.e. if top landings are possible) we wouldn’t bet on it though.

Fees

17.000 pesos (~ 3,5 €) for the lift.

Flying & Weather

Weeds in the foregorund, mountains in the background — The first ridge is a nice little hop, behind it, you can fly over the ridge to the valley where Andes is located

Windsock on a grass field with a town in the valley below — View from takeoff at the city of Jardín

Flying is quite smooth here, at least usually. For some reason, the overall weather conditions in Central/South America were a bit off while we were there and we had quite a few days with rain, thunder, and cloud cover. It was also more turbulent than what the locals were used to. In particular, at the ridge that is illuminated by the sun in the first picture above, it was sometimes a bit rough (probably by the wind pushing in from the north and/or east). When the weather was unstable, thunderstorms/rain often formed in the valleys to the east/south while it was still quite nice in Andes and further down the valley.

The ridge where the takeoff is located is thermally quite active so staying up was quite easy, even in weak conditions. In good conditions, and with the help of some birds, getting to the cloud base can be effortless. As long as you don’t drop too far below the takeoff, the landing in Jardín is always in glide. Expanding from there you can fly to the ridges all around the valley. Just be careful when flying into the southern valleys in weak conditions.

A really nice cross-country flight is to cross the far ridge on the first picture above, join the valley behind it and follow it as long as you like before heading back to Jardín with a tailwind. You could also try to cross over to the more well-known paragliding spot in Jericó and make it an FAI triangle.

In general, it’s always good to watch out for flocks of birds in case you get low. When you are close to Jardín, the ridge close to landing often offers some thermals as well as the town itself. It’s definitely worth a try to head above it and fly back to the landing with a tailwind in case it doesn’t work out.

Landing

Green field with a ridge in the background — Landing field (the wind can sometimes be a bit challenging)

Three horses eating on a green field — In the afternoon there are usually horses in the back of the field

The landing is spacious and flat and wind socks are available for reference. It can still be tricky, though. The reason is that wind directions often change unpredictably when thermals are going through. The recommendation is, if possible, to soar at the ridge you see in the first picture above until a down-cycle sets in and only then head for the landing.

There are not that many more prime landing sites in the valley. In case it is needed you will surely find something but it might be a bit tight and you need to watch out for powerlines. When you fly to Andes landing becomes easier because the valley widens. It’s easier on the east of the river but the road runs on the western side, so you want to land there if ever possible.

Further Information

Our Flights

Videos

Simon top landing

A tandem top landing

Katy landing in Jardín

Simon landing