Paragliding in Sierra de Líjar and Algodonales
At the end of the 20th century, mountaineers who climbed to the highest peaks on the planet wanted to take their adventure one step further and get back down faster, albeit with the same effort, sweat and determination: by jumping from the summit with a parachute. That's how paragliding came into being.
If you are reading this, it's because a part of you longs to follow in the footsteps of those intrepid mountaineers. And if you really want to make this dream come true, we advise you to go to one of the best international flight areas: the Sierra de Líjar.
In Sierra de Grazalema Nature Reserve and belonging to the Intercontinental Biosphere Reserve of the Mediterranean (RBIM), Sierra de Líjar and, specifically, the municipality of Algodonales you'll get the chance to discover an exciting adventure: paragliding. A type of parachuting, it is a sport that involves launching from a very steep slope using a deployed parachute and making a controlled descent.
Thousands of pilots from all over Europe come to this place every year. There are many reasons: easy vehicle access, excellent take-off and landing areas, pleasant temperatures that enable long-distance flying and a wonderful climate, making paragliding suitable practically all year round. The mountain range is also in a strategic location, between the provinces of Cadiz, Seville and Malaga, making it a meeting point for many paragliding and hang gliding pilots, but also the venue for a large number of regional, national and international air events.
If jumping off a mountain is something you'd like to try, you don't need to train hard. All you have to do is go to one of the many active tourism companies specialising in this sport in the Algodonales area. And what do you have to bring? Well, the desire to fly and nothing else. Oh, and the desire to dream. To get started, the best option is the tandem paragliding: an experienced pilot will take you as a passenger with all the necessary safety conditions. All you have to do is open your eyes and not miss anything of what will definitely be one of the best experiences of your life.
Flights last half an hour, and you'll be able to enjoy the experience of soaring through the air and watching spectacular scenery. But you will also see a good number of birds of prey, such as Bonelli's eagles, peregrine falcons and griffon vultures, which you can spot circling around in the air. You'll wish you had wings of your own!
When your feet are safely back on the ground, don't leave without visiting Algodonales, a municipality of Al-Andalus origin, which nestles on the side of the mountain. Next to the Church of Santa Ana, the town's meeting point and social hub, you will be able to taste scrambled eggs with golden thistles. You can't leave without learning more about the town's history and how it was populated by people from neighbouring towns, attracted by the fertile soil. Did you know that Algodonales means "cotton fields" and is historically known for the abundance of this crop?
And if your feet are still on the ground but you fancy another extraordinary experience, be sure to taste the organic extra virgin olive oil. You can't afford to miss the healthy "green gold"!
