EC / CO: return flights

At 0745 I have been picked up for the transfer to MDE-airport. I could check-through my luggage all the way to ZRH. Shortly before 1000 the Avianc A320 took off for BOG. Here I had to wait >6 hrs until I could board the aircraft to MAD (Iberia; Airbus350). The flight departed right on time and arrived >30'ahead of schedule; I could even sleep a couple of hours :-). Due to this early arrival I (and my luggage) easily made the connecting flight to ZRH. Even our flight had to make a go-around, as the previously landed aircraft blocked the runway we arrived in ZRH on time: sunny weather, snow and cold!

MDE-BOG

BOG: my lugagge is unloaded ;-)

ready for push-back...

departig BOG

(actual) Itinerary

Sunrise approaching Spain

Madrid Barajas

Geneva (GVA/ LSGG)

ZRH (during GA)

CO'24 -last day - more 'site'-seeing

 Wed (16.1.) After breakfast I have been picked up by Edgar and we drove to Fredonia. There is a finca almost on top of the hill offering great views. They have 2 launches and there is a large LZ down near the Cauva river (6km away with 1200m of altitude difference).

Pano looking West: Jerico is on the opposite ridge (on the right side)

LZ Puente Iglesias

Then we continued to Jerico, a very well known little town. Here are 2 nicely prepared launches.

Jerico: Ecoland

Jerico: Nube Extrema

But the town is also well worth a visit with it's colorful painted houses and its small botanicla garden.

We have been back in Medellin in a little more than 2 hours (Edgar had estimated it would take us at least 3hrs) - but we have been very lucky as we got stuck in traffic only on the last kilometer :-)

final dinner with Edgar...

Bucaramanga: Ruitoque / Chicamocha Canyon

Mon (16.1.) After breakfast we left for 'Ruitoque'.

Here are 2 sites 'las Aguilas' and 'Parque International Parapente'. Normally pilots topland, but there is also a rather large LZ at the bottom of the hill.

As it was still too early for Edgar to fly, we had a look at another flying site: 'Chicamocha - los Santos'. The GPS directed us to the proper location, but this site has been closed already some years ago. There are some inofficial launches nearby, but the other Chicamocha sites (which we'll be visiting the next day) are much better suited for the normal wind conditions.

Canyon de Chicamocha

Returning to Ruitoque 'Parque International Parapente', we made contact with some 'local' pilots: Willy (who offered to lend me flying equipment); Stefano (originally from IT); Nicola (a Swiss on vacation) and Natalia (one of the best Colombian pilots).

I talked her into a tandem flight so she could  explain all one needs to know when flying here ;-) Due to the vicinity of BGA-airport, the area is rather restricted in size as well in altitude (max Alt is 5500ftAMSL).

Tandem toplanding

Tue (17.1.) We left early for Chicamocha, as normally the flying starts there after 1000.

First stop: Chicamocha - dos Ventanas

Pano looking NW

Second stop: Chicamocha - Roso

Pano looking NW: possible LZ's at the bottom of Chicamocha Canyon

Both TO's are nicely prepared and partially covered by 'mats'. Normally flying starts here btw 1000-1100 and ends around 1300. By that time the winds tend to become too strong. Certainly no landings after 1300 at the bottom of the canyon!! With normal traffic the sites could be reached within 90min from Bucamaranga. But traffic is rarely 'normal' here: we needed more than 2hrs! We alsopassed one bad car accident - luckily in a place where the road had been wide enough so that we could pass...

Chicamocha Canyon is an extremely nice and impressive place to visit (not only for PG). There is a gondola connecting the 2 sides of the valley by descending all the way to the bottom.

In the internet I found another TO, but the gondola station has been built in that place, so there are only 2 official TOs: 'Dos Ventanas' and 'Roso'.

Unfortunately our return flight to MDE has been delayed by around 1.5hrs, so we had to wait rather long at BGA.

CO - Medellin

I arrived on time (actually even ahead of scheduled) in MDE; passing through immigration and customs without any major delays. My guide (Edgar) was waiting and took me to my hotel in the city. 

SUN (14.1.) As arranged, Edgar picked me up at 1000 and we headed for the local flying site: San Felix. There are 3 different TO's on this mountain; generally (tandem) pilots topland, but there is also a rather large LZ in the city below (in case someone sinks out) - but do NOT land there when it's staring to get dark - it is not a safe place!. As San Felix is also a well known sightseeing spot, it can become quite busy on weekends. But solo pilots (also foreigners) are welcomed to fly -after having paid a small fee. The longer the day wore on, the clearer the sky became. Contrary to Quito, where I didn't miss flying at all, I'd have loved to make a flight here ;-)

Medellin (seen from San Felix)

Main TO

LZ in town

...sweet mangoes...

After having had a late lunch with Edgar, we drove to the airport for our flight to Bucaramanga, where we stayed for 2 nights.

MDE-BGA

EC / CO 2024: replanning... / Quito

Here in Quito I'm making up my new plan for CO - without flying. Basically I'll be cutting my trip short by 10 days (returning on 19.1. iso 29.1.). But in CO the frist days will remain unchanged - just without paragliding: we'll also fly to BGE for 2 days of sightseeing. Then on 18.1. I'll be flying form MDE-BOG-MAD-ZRH; arriving home on 19.1.

Fri (12.1.) After breakfast I took a taxi back to the Airport in order to (finally!) recover my iPhone. I eventually got it back, but instead of 'wait 5 minutes' I had to wait almost 40 minutes...

At 1100 Thomas (a local pilot who had been recommended to me by Igor) showed up and we had a look at the local flying site 'Lumbisi': a huge LZ (but how long before it will be overbuilt?) and a wide TO faccing normally straight into the wind.

LZ: launch is on the ridge...

Lumbisi launch

LZ

Quito (City Center)

There is another launch on the mountains 'behind' the city at 4000m, but we have been told that the cablecar (TeleferiQo) is out of service and there would have been too much clouds anyway.

Many thanks to Thomas for having taken his time to show me around!!

In the evening I actually had my first dinner on this trip in a restaurant (Sushi); all other evenings I had eaten at our hostal in Crucita.

Sat (13.1.) After breakfast I took a taxi to the city center: Iglesias San Fernando and Compania, as well as a ride on the only recently opened Metro (=subway).

It's absolutely amazing/ stunning how much (stolen!) gold has been used in these churches.

San Francisco

San Francisco

San Francisco

Metro

Compania

Later in the afternoon I was driven to the airport (UIO) for my fligh to Colombia (MDE/ Medellin).