The best flying is in high summer, from June to August. We do still have great flying outside of this period, in April-May (spring) and September-October (autumn) but the weather is more unpredictable.
Bring your spouse, kids or up to seven of your best flying buddies. You will be looked after in style by Arnold and Marié. It’s uncrowded here, and Portugal offers fantastic flying with unlimited potential. We have numerous flying sites in the Serra da Estrela mountains for changing wind directions. This gives us big XC potential into Spain. Our conditions are often smooth and predictable with good high cloud bases.
Linhares
Linhares is positioned on top of a gentle mountain ridge that faces north-west and thus works best in the afternoons. The lodge is a short glide out from the launch site. Linhares is well known for hosting a Paragliding World Cup competition in 2005 and 2000.It is an incredibly dependable dynamic soaring site.It is possible to fly for hours on end - the site record over 6 hours. Even the evening thermals in summer can take you to over 1000m above takeoff. There are multiple launch sites and safe landing options available. The road up is tarred to the top of the mountain and passes through a historic little mountain village complete with narrow cobbled streets.
Seia
Seia is 18 km west of Linhares and on the right day it’s a pleasure to fly XC from there back to Linhares or home to Vila Cortês, as the sea-breeze that comes in during the afternoons can help you on your way and provide big areas of lift along the ridge.
Azinha
On the south-eastern side of our mountains, and thus orientated perfectly for morning flights. It's an alpine site with a narrow valley and big walls of rock on the sides with technical but very rewarding flying. You'll have big climb-outs in stronger thermals as the day progresses allowing for exciting XCs. The easy XC is straight over the back, returning home. If we have some west in the wind, then it's off to Spain and the sky is the limit. If you'd prefer an easy flight, it pays to go early to Azinha to avoid the stronger thermals, or to fly from the lower Vale de Amoreira.
Vale de Amoreira
Recently enlarged and upgraded to host competitions this site caters for various wind
directions.North through East to South. Being sheltered down in the valley , it is the perfect site for stronger wind conditions and big XC's. Working your way back along the main ridge,
through some very dependable House Thermals, gets you high above the mountains,
with inviting Flatlands out in front.
Foios
A relatively new flying site but has already got everyone talking; also facing south it too is ideal for big Spain XCs
In the Serra da Estrela mountain wilderness reserve, close to the village of Vila Cortês da Serra.
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Our GPS coordinates:
40°32'56.20"N 07°31'19.04"W
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Where do we fly?
Quick links to the flying sites
