On the western shoulder of the Sierras Chicas in Argentina, a mountain range that divides Córdoba Province from north to south, lies the friendly village of La Cumbre – a favourite destination for Argentinean holidaymakers and lovers of free flights. It's a fabulous destination for a paragliding course, or a tandem paragliding flight.
Paragliding Competition in Córdoba, Argentina
At an altitude of 1141 metres, La Cumbre has pleasant temperatures, a laid-back ambience and offers plenty of hiking and horseback riding options. Eight kilometres further west, at the end of an unpaved road, lies Cuchi Corral – one of the more technical launch sites for paragliding flights in Argentina.
The varying weather conditions at Cuchi Corral made it hard to organise the World Paragliding Cup in 1994, an event that since then has been organised in Tucuman – where weather conditions are more predictable. Nevertheless, Cuchi Corral is a much-used location for the National Paragliding Competition of Argentina, which is organised every year in five different locations between October and March. It is quite a sight to watch a paragliding competition, when a large group of professionals colour the sky with their bright sails.
Tandem Paragliding Flights at Cuchi Corral
Cuchi Corral is situated 380 metres above the picturesque Río Pinto, a river that meanders through a gorge and offers plenty of recreational activities. Further ahead are the flat lands that stretch further into west Argentina. Cuchi Corral is a fabulous location to take up a tandem paragliding flight and to enjoy the views.
The easiest way to find instructors for tandem paragliding flights is to drive to Cuchi Corral and ask around. The paragliding instructors work independently and there are always several present at Cuchi Corral, waiting for customers interested in a tandem paragliding flight. During the flight you sit in front of the instructor and don't worry – he pulls the strings.
Since the parapente instructors work independently, and there is no coordinating organisation, take the time to chat with them and get a feel of their experience and willingness to make it a special tandem paragliding flight, instead of getting down as quickly as possible.
Costs of Tandem Paragliding Flights and Third-party Insurance in Argentina
Check with the Tourist Information in La Cumbre or at hotels to see if there is additional information to be found on which are the most reliable paragliding instructors in La Cumbre before deciding to make a tandem paragliding flight. A tandem paragliding flight costs about 250 pesos [US $80].
N.B. In Argentina, third-party insurance does not exist for these kinds of adventures, so those who are interested, check beforehand that your insurance company covers an adventure like paragliding!
Costs of Paragliding Course at Cuchi Corral
Some of the instructors at Cuchi Corral also give paragliding courses. Expect to pay about 2500 - 3000 pesos [US $800 - 1000], for a paragliding course that includes ten flights.
Sky Diving at the Aeroclub in La Cumbre
Check out the nearby Aeroclub [situated at Camino a los Troncos], run by former parapente world champion Andy Hediger. This enthusiastic Swiss goes out of his way to make people participate in and enjoy whatever form of free flight: tandem paragliding, ultra lights, and parachuting.
Travel to La Cumbre, Argentina – Flights, Buses, Rental Cars and Bicycles
Taravella International Airport in Córdoba has daily flights to Buenos Aires as well as to Argentina's other major cities such as Salta. The airport has international flights to and from, among others, Santiago [Chile] and Rio de Janeiro [Brazil].
The two-hour bus trip from Córdoba to La Cumbre is an easy and pleasant option; it takes you through beautiful scenery. There is also a comfortable, long distance bus connection between La Cumbre and Buenos Aires [Retiro Bus Station] that takes all night. The alternative is to rent a car; car rental agencies can be found at the airport as well as in downtown Córdoba.
La Cumbre has various accommodations, from comfortable hotels to basic hostels, and there is a campsite near the train station. In La Cumbre everything is within walking distance. However, to get to the paragliding site you will have to hitchhike, rent a bicycle in La Cumbre or rent a car in Córdoba.
A rental car will enable you to visit other tourist attractions around Córdoba as well, such as the Jesuit Trail or Candonga's ecological restaurant. The Sierras Chicas Mountains are simply fabulous to explore. If you're interested in a guided tour in the region, check out Heart of Argentina travel agency.
Karin-Marijke Vis - Karin-Marijke Vis is a bilingual writer (Dutch-English) who has been traveling in Asia and South America since 2003.
Join the Conversation