Description
Full paragliding course for total beginners
Combined IPPI 2+3 | BHPA Elementary+Club Pilot | APPI Discover+Explore+Pilot
This intensive paragliding course combines the Elementary and the Club Pilot courses and it will drive you from a complete beginner to a certified pilot allowed to fly unsupervised. No previous experience is needed.
To become an autonomous paragliding pilot you’ll need to complete these two courses:
IPPI 2 Elementary Pilot Course
This is a course for complete novices and is the first step in getting qualified to paraglide. At the end of this course, you have learned the basics of paragliding.
This course takes one week (6 days).
IPPI 3 Club Pilot course
This is the next step in your career to become an autonomous paraglider pilot. Once you have finished this course and all the tasks of the training program have been completed, you should have the skills you need to fly unsupervised.
This course takes one week (6 days).
HOW TO BOOK YOUR COURSE
1. Check on the calendar the available dates: Notice both consecutive courses, EP and CP, must be available.
2. Click on the dates of the IPPI 2 Elementary course you like to start; the IPPI 3 Club pilot course on the consecutive week will be added automatically.
3. Click on the Booking button and fill the online form.
Learn to fly and become a certified paragliding pilot.
This two consecutive weeks full combined EP+CP course is the quickest way to learn to paraglide and get a qualification that allows you to fly unsupervised.
You will learn the basics of paragliding and by the end of the course, you will be an autonomous paragliding pilot!
In southern Spain, you will take advantage of the good weather conditions for maximum air-time and you will have more chances to complete your course in a shorter time meanwhile in other countries with not-so-good weather it can take months.
International Recognized Paragliding School
Our paragliding school is approved and accredited by FAI, RFAE, APPI and BHPA, which means that we can certify and apply for licenses recognized worldwide.We also offer courses and qualifications for residents who are required to have a BHPA license to fly in the UK.
You can obtain any of these ratings at this level of the course:
- FAI IPPI 3
- BHPA CLUB PILOT
- APPI 3 PILOT
REQUIREMENTS
WHAT YOU NEED TO BE
- You must be older than 16 years to fly solo.
- Your weight is less than 120 Kgr.
- The briefings are in English or Spanish. You must understand at least one of these languages.
Intensive paragliding course.
Fast learning with our revolutionary method combining tandem flights + solo flights.
Because we know that our students have a short time to learn to fly, we have developed our own learning system; our method is faster, safer and more fun than the traditional way.
The traditional teaching method is based on short flights from a low hill (10-50 meters high). The student doesn't have too much time to practice the exercises and has to walk to the top of the hill over and over to try again. These hops are good to make you more confident in the beginning, but in the long run, it extends the time it takes to develop your skills.
How does our system work?
- ONE-to-ONE TANDEM FLIGHTS:
In the beginning, you will fly in a dual paraglider with your instructor from the top of the mountain (100-600 m high). During these approx. 20-minute-long flights, you will take the controls of the glider. You will have plenty of time to practice exercises, with the help of your instructor who will be seated behind you. This is the best way to learn, no doubts!
With this system, we also save time: you can fly with your instructor and practice more often and you won't be waiting for hours to the light wind conditions.
For a couple of days, we combine tandem flights with theory lessons and ground handling practices until you are ready to fly in a glider all on your own.
- SOLO FLIGHTS:
After three or four tandem flights with your instructor, you will have learned the basics of piloting the glider and you should be ready for solo flights! You will fly alone for the rest of the course, but always under supervision, with radio support.
The intensive course takes the whole day, from 9h00 in the morning to sunset, with a break for lunch.
INCLUDES
WE OFFER YOU IN THE PACKAGE...
- The rent of the full flight equipment.
- Third-party & Accident insurances, with repatriation cover.
- Shuttle to the flying sites & retrieves: we can fly in more than 10 different spots. We don't mind moving to another area if it is necessary due to weather conditions.
- Airport transfers (Optional)
INSURANCE
INCLUDED IN THE PRICE
Please read the coverage of our insurance.
Nevertheless, we recommend you have your own Travel Accident Insurance with full rescue/repatriation cover.
If you are a citizen of the EU, bring your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles you to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment.
WE GUARANTEE YOUR FLIGHTS
We will do everything to guarantee you obtain your paragliding rating with us.
The weather is normally so good here in southern Spain that you can complete your paragliding course during your time with us, but in the unusual event that you can't obtain your certification due to bad weather, we will give you credit for your next booking in one of our courses.
What’s different about us?
Most of the paragliding companies here offer just guiding service. That’s good for pilots with experience, but if you need something more than just a shuttle to the takeoff site, then our professional instructors can help you.
- We have a private flying spot where you can fly without too many other pilots. It is ideal for soaring in a quiet environment and for top-landing practice.
- You will benefit from the local knowledge of the instructors. Our staff is Spanish. We were born here and we have learned to fly in these mountains. We know our place.
- Dual flights: You can fly with your instructor in a dual paraglider and practice exercises you want to learn or improve.
ACCOMMODATION
ADD A ROOM TO YOUR PACKAGE
Why not? well, because we don't like to increase the price of our package with something that maybe you don't need; you might be travelling in your camping-car, or you want to look for a room by yourself.
But if you like a room, we co-operate with the best local hosts, at the best prices and the best location, close to our School. We are happy to arrange your accommodation; you can book online your accommodation with us at any moment before your arrival.
We offer a variety of options to fit all needs at different prices:
- House. Shared twin beds room by 20€ night.
- House. Single private room by 35€/night.
- Little private house for couples or families from 40€/night.
ALGODONALES, SPAIN
YOU SIMPLY MUST COME!
Why you should choose Spain? Because we have the best climate conditions for paragliding the whole year round, even in autumn and winter while the rest of Europe is frozen we can fly great thermals at 18-20ºC. And not only will you be flying but you will be enjoying the culture and the real people of Spain.
At southern Spain, we can paraglide all year round!
During winter, the flights are particularly calm, it is not too cold and there are smooth thermals. It could rain, but generally not too many consecutive days. In the Spring and early Autumn, the thermals offer especially high and long flights, the landscape becomes beautiful and the temperature is perfect. In summer it is hot!... but the conditions are not too strong to fly, especially in the morning, and we can enjoy smooth flights during the long evenings until sunset.
The mountains around Algodonales are one of the best paragliding spots in southern Spain and one of the most popular in Europe. During the spring it is a great thermal site and has good cross-country potential, even for your first XC flight. But it is also an easy place for beginners, full of big landing areas. The coast is just one hour away and offers two other easy coastal flying sites above sand dunes.
Despite Algodonales is not a big town, you will find all you need for a comfortable holiday: there are supermarkets, local shops, several banks with cash machines, pharmacies and health centre.
The village is full of restaurants and cafes, and they are open from early morning to midnight: you cannot miss tasting the fantastic local food and tapas at low prices: coffee or beer from 1.2€, tapas from 2€ and a daily menu by only 8-10€.
Algodonales is also ideally situated for visiting the surrounding great cities and sights of interests such as Ronda, Grazalema, Sevilla, Granada, Cordoba, Cadiz, Jerez de la Frontera, Costa de la Luz and Costa del Sol.
Plan your trip to Algodonales, Spain
The dates of your booking are starting and finishing dates. You should arrive on the day before the starting date, at any time, and depart on the day after the finishing date. i.e. If your reservation is Sept 22th - Sept 27th you should arrive on the 21st. We start on the 22nd morning and finish on the 27th evening. You must check-out on the 28th. The shuttle service departs from Malaga airport on the arrival date (the day before the starting date, normally on Saturdays) at 13:00 h, and arrives at Algodonales approx. at 15:00 h On the check-out day (the day after the finishing date, normally on Saturdays) the shuttle departs from Algodonales approx. at 10:00 h and arrives at Malaga airport at approx. 12:00 h Please keep this time in mind when you book your flights. If you need to use our shuttle, please notice that it is absolutely necessary that you book a place online at least 72 hours in advance to guarantee you have a seat in the minibus. RENT A CAR: Hiring a car could be the best option and sometimes is cheaper than taking a bus. There are several Rental Car Companies in the airports which offer very good prices. You can find cheap offers on their websites. Please check the fuel policies (we always recommend full to full) and insurance options/costs for deposit or top-up insurance policies. TAXI: There is a taxi service at Algodonales and they offer the airport shuttle. The price from Malaga or Sevilla to Algodonales is approx. 120€. Sometimes, there are more people taking the same taxi and you can share the price with them. Ask for sharing the taxi when you make your booking. You can also take any other taxi at the airport, but ask for the price first!; it will be often much much expensive than the local taxi. You can book your taxi here: Algodonales Taxi driver's contact phone number: +34 695 39 66 34 (WhatsApp available) BUS: There are Bus Companies that make the route to Algodonales from Malaga or Sevilla. You may take a bus or a taxi from the airport to the main Bus Station in the town, then take a bus to Algodonales. If you can't find a direct line to Algodonales you can try to Ronda or to Olvera, which are close to Algodonales and change to another bus to Algodonales. Malaga Bus Station (Paseo de los Tilos, s/n. 29006 Malaga, Spain). Website: http://estabus.malaga.eu/ Sevilla Bus Station (Plaza Prado San Sebastián, s/n. 41004 Sevilla, Spain). Website:
FLIGHT TICKETS
WHERE AND WHEN TO ARRIVE AND DEPART?
AIRPORT SHUTTLE
LOW COST TRANSFER
HOW TO GET HERE
OUR ADDRESS: Calle Ronda, 10. Algodonales. 11680. Spain
Breakfasts and other meals are not included in the prices. Our paragliding school is recognized by several associations and federations (APPI, BHPA, FAI, RFAE). This means that you will qualify for a paragliding license with them upon completing your course with us. The fee to join any of these organizations are not included in the price of the course. Joining a federation is not mandatory. Paragliding is weather dependent activity so we have to be flexible when making plans. We try to seize the time to optimize the training practices, but on a normal day you can expect the following plan: We start at 9:00h-9:30h with theory lessons at the school, and there is a briefing with the students, pilots, and instructors around 10:30h. After the daily briefing, we go flying. We provide transport to the flying sites; you don't need to drive your own car. The flight sites are around 30 minutes to one hour by car from Algodonales. Some days, if the weather is not good for flying in our area, we move to a different flying site; this could take one or two hours by car. If the conditions to fly are good, we can spend the whole day flying in the mountains (or the coast), up to sunset. But if part of the day is not good for flying we can organize theory lessons, ground-handling practices or just time off for you to relax or for visiting the areas around. We normally have a pack-lunch with us, but if there is a time we prefer to have lunch in a local restaurant to taste real Spanish food. On our return to the town, most of the people like to have dinner together. In the case of bad weather, we spend more time in theory lessons and we can organize an alternative activity for the group, or anyone can do whatever they want, as a touristic tour, hiking,… or just resting for the next day. Pack adequate comfortable clothing: warm clothes if your course is in winter. You will need a jacket in spring; it can be cold at the top of a mountain. Bring walking boots (ideally with ankle support), a sun hat, sun cream, sunglasses and also a swimming costume as there is a lake that you can canoe or swim. For students enrolled in a beginner's course, a long-sleeved t-shirt is a good idea for ground handling practice. Long pants will avoid scratches on your legs. We provide towels in accommodation. Bring your reusable bottle and help reduce single-use plastic. There are good water fountains here and you can also refill your bottle from the tap. Beginners Paragliding courses: Max. 7 students on a group with 2-3 instructors. Guided tours: Max. 8 pilots per instructor. XC Camps: Max. 7 pilots per instructor, and a driver who tracks the pilots with GPS. Only the students signed up in any of our beginner's courses have a basic accident and third-party insurances included in the price. Anyway, buying your own accident and travel insurance is recommended. Read here the terms and conditions of the accident insurance. Qualified pilots signed up for holidays or tours should have their own accident insurance, full rescue/repatriation cover – specific to paragliding. For citizens members of EU, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment that becomes necessary while you’re in a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. EHIC full info here. You can be sure that we never give up! If the weather is bad in our area, we are going to move to a different one, with better weather. There are more than ten different flying spots in a radio of 150 km around Algodonales, at the coast or inland. The bad weather days can be also used for ground-handling practices or for theory lessons, and not only for the students but also we organize masterclasses for more experienced pilots. If some tasks of a course are not completed, because of bad weather, it is possible to complete on a different day. Some people extend their days. Some people prefer to stay in the area for a few more days so they have more chance to complete the course or to fly and, in any case, they can spend this extra time on tourism. Anyway, in the very unlikely event that due to bad weather we have to cancel some days during a weekly course or tour, we will give you credit that will be discounted from the price of your next booking with us. All are welcome. Algodonales is a beautiful area; There are massive amounts to keep everyone busy while you are flying. horse riding to kitesurfing. picnics & canoeing and beautiful white hillside villages of Andalucia, everything is out there to do and explore. We can organized tandem flights to non-flyers. They will need a car because we cannot guarantee a place for them in our vehicle. In the rare event of bad weather and the inability to fly, we have some alternative activities to keep you entertained: Touristic Routes, throughout typical white villages all over the Sierra, with visits to museums, Natural Parks, Gastronomic Stops,… You don’t. We provide transport to flying sites and for the retrieve. But if you want, you can hire a car for visiting the surrounding areas, for your non-flying partners or if you cannot take on time our airport shuttle. Our shop is fully stocked with all the equipment you may wish to purchase for flying and all at good Spanish prices. If you are interested in buying a glider please contact us in advance due to it could take weeks to get the items here. Please, read our answer to this question on this webpage https://www.paraglidingspain.eu/beginners-paragliding-courses/ It’s not so much about how old you are, it is more about your general level of fitness, health and mental state. Although no medical examinations are officially required to learn to paraglide, you should be in generally good health. You should be fit and active and have good coordination. You must be able to run a bit for around 5-15 meters on take-off and landing and you could be walking up hills carrying a 15-20kg rucksack full of paragliding equipment. If you suffer from any medical condition such as epilepsy, giddiness, heart condition, osteoporosis or diabetes you should ask your Doctor’s advice before taking part in a paragliding course. The student's maximum weight must be 120 Kgr.
Restaurants and shops at Algodonales are really cheap; for example, a coffee costs 1,20€, a beer 1,5-2€, a breakfast by 2,5€, a dinner by 10€. The accommodation has a shared kitchen with all facilities, so you can also cook your own food if you wish.
Visits to the nearest cities: Cadiz, Sevilla, Ronda, all of the great touristic interest.
Archeologic tours. In the nearby areas, there are many remains of ancient cultures such as Phoenicians, Romans, Moors…
Trekking: There are a lot of routes through Grazalema’s Natural Park with amazing landscapes, animals and forests.
Mountain bike: You can hire bikes to cross the routes through the Natural Park. One of which is an old disused railway with tunnels, bridges, stations,… and of course, always a restaurant to end your ride!
Canoe: You can also rent canoes enjoying the nearby lakes of Zahara.
ARE THE DATES YOU LIKE FULLY BOOKED ALREADY?
Well, don't give up! ... Contact us and we will put your name on a waiting list; there are often some cancellations and we will let you know when a place turns available.
LIMITED PLACES. BOOK NOW!
You are only 3 steps away to fly!
1. Book and secure your place with a deposit. Pay the remaining on arrival. Free cancellation up to 30 days before.
2. Book online your ACCOMMODATION with us!
3. Look for flight tickets and make your other travel arrangements. You can also book the AIRPORT SHUTTLE with us.
