Tenerife is a small continent for paragliding: a friendly year-round climate, generous elevation drops, fan-shaped valleys, and beachside landings. If you’re looking for paragliding in Tenerife to try your first tandem or to pick the ideal launch site, here’s a clear, useful guide—yes, designed to turn curiosity into a memorable flight.
Article goal
To help you understand where flying is best depending on the season, wind, and your profile (first-timer vs. returning flyer), and to guide you toward the category that concentrates all bookings: Paragliding Tenerife (categoría).
Once you’ve decided, pick your experience from our recommended tandems.:
- Tandem Paragliding – Performance Flight
- Tandem Paragliding – Standard Flight
- Tandem Paragliding – Base of Teide Flight
- Tandem Paragliding – Recommended Flight
Why is Tenerife a paradise for paragliding?
On very few islands in the world can you take off between 700–2,200 m of altitude and land right on the beach so consistently. The trade winds and the island’s varied terrain create reliable flying windows in the south (Adeje), the east (Güímar), and the north (La Orotava Valley, Los Realejos). Launch sites like Taucho, Ifonche, Izaña, and La Corona are fixtures on any serious flying map.
Main flying zones (and who we recommend them for)
Note: as a tandem passenger you don’t need prior experience. Your pilot chooses the safest launch based on wind, cloud cover, time of day, and recreational air traffic. You just enjoy the ride.
1) South Tenerife — Taucho & Ifonche (Costa Adeje)
Recommended profile: first-time flyers, anyone who wants sea views + stable weather, and guests staying in Costa Adeje/Las Américas.
What it feels like: the iconic southern postcard—Roque del Conde, Barranco del Infierno, and the La Caleta/La Enramada coastline as your landing strip. The southern microclimate offers plenty of flyable days year-round, with solid thermals at midday (for tandems we usually aim for more comfortable time slots).
Taucho (~760 m). One of the island’s most reliable launches. It often “works” when others don’t and delivers smooth flights toward the coast. Ideal for a first tandem with spectacular views.
Ifonche (~1,000 m). Higher and with a more “mountain” character. On good days, it serves up epic panoramas over Adeje’s green amphitheater. Pilots love it; for tandems, we select gentler hours.
How to book it hassle-free: go to the Paragliding Tenerife category and choose:
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If you want a more dynamic feel: Performance Flight.
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If it’s your first time and you want a classic option: Standard Flight.
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If you want the “recommended” balance of time and excitement: Recommended Flight.
2) High mountain — Izaña (Teide National Park) with a descent to the north (Puerto de la Cruz) or east (Güímar)
Recommended profile: those who’ve already flown on the coast and want the “epic” experience: take off at ~2,200 m and glide over an entire valley down to the sea.
What it feels like: it’s “another planet.” You launch at high altitude among pine forest and lava flows, then slip into a vast valley. On the right days, total vertical drop exceeds 2,000 m—one of the most jaw-dropping tandems in Europe.
Izaña → La Orotava Valley (Puerto de la Cruz). Classic north flight with common landings around El Peñón or nearby coastal zones. Huge panorama of valley + Atlantic.
Izaña → Güímar Valley. Eastern variant with warm sunsets and a different read of thermals and breezes. In summer, beach landings are often restricted due to swimmers (alternatives are used).
How to book it hassle-free:
If the mountains call and you want that “Teide on both sides” feeling: Base of Teide Flight.
3) North Tenerife — La Corona (Los Realejos) and El Tanque
Recommended profile: lovers of lush scenery, viewpoints, and the north coast; repeat flyers who already tried the south.
What it feels like: NE–N slopes with vertical views over cliffs and dark-sand beaches. Classic trade-wind days can deliver long flights and an aesthetic very different from the south.
La Corona (~765 m). Legendary among northern XC routes; for tandems it offers sweeping “Atlantic-texture” panoramas. In summer, Playa del Socorro restricts beach landings due to swimmers (local teams handle alternatives).
El Tanque (~600 m). A launch recently upgraded with safety and access improvements; much appreciated by locals.
And which area should I start with?
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Staying in the south and it’s your first flight? Choose Taucho/Ifonche via our south tandems:
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Standard Flight, or
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Recommended Flight.
Already flown by the coast or want “the big descent”? Go up to Izaña with the Base of Teide Flight.
Drawn to greenery and cliffs? Head north (La Corona/El Tanque), checking availability on the day of your booking in the Paragliding category.
Tip: gentle time slots (early morning / late afternoon) are ideal for passengers seeking comfort and views. If you want more energy/altitude, ask for Performance: Performance Flight.
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When to fly in Tenerife: best time of year
The honest answer: year-round, as the weather allows it. Tenerife has flyable windows in every season, with a slight preference for autumn–winter–spring in the south and clean trade-wind days in the north. In summer there are more beach restrictions for coastal landings due to swimmers, so teams adjust zones or time slots. For a first tandem, any month works if you let the team choose the day and time window.
- Safety and comfort: what you should know (and what you don’t need to learn)
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Certified pilot + checked equipment: in tandem you fly with a licensed professional, harness with airbag/foam, emergency reserve, and helmet.
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Site selection: the team decides launch and timing. If the wind changes, the plan changes—that’s part of the game (and the charm).
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Motion sickness: if you’re prone to it, tell the pilot you prefer a gentle flight (and avoid heavy breakfasts right before).
- Clothing: closed-toe footwear, a windproof layer (it’s cooler up high), and sunglasses.
- Photos/Video: almost all tandems offer a media package. Ask for it when booking in the category.
Express mini-guide to logistics for enjoying paragliding in Tenerife
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Transfers: experiences include local transport between the meeting point and the take-off/landing areas (see each listing).
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Duration: briefing + drive up + flight + return usually takes 1.5–2.5 hours. In the air, about 10–25 minutes depending on the option, wind, and thermals.
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Weight/age: typical limits are 20–120 kg and 6–8+ years (indicative). Check each experience page to confirm.
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Weather: the wind rules. If it isn’t safe, the flight is rescheduled or cancelled with a refund according to the activity’s conditions.
How much does paragliding in Tenerife cost??
Tandem flights usually range from €90 to €150 per person, depending on the option, launch altitude, flight time, and whether you add photos/video. Check prices and availability in the paragliding products category.
Can you paraglide in Tenerife?
Yes. It’s one of the best destinations in Europe thanks to its climate and elevation changes. Usual sites: Taucho, Ifonche, Izaña, La Corona. You don’t need experience: in tandem you fly with a licensed pilot.
What’s the best time of year to paraglide in Tenerife?
All year round. The south is very reliable in autumn, winter, and spring; in the north, clean trade-wind days stand out. For a first flight, aim for morning or late afternoon.
Where is the best place to paraglide in Tenerife?
It depends on what you’re after:
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First flight + coast → Taucho/Ifonche (Costa Adeje).
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High-mountain, epic views → Izaña (Teide National Park).
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Green scenery and cliffs → La Corona / El Tanque.
What is the 45-degree rule in paragliding?
It’s a visual reference to estimate whether you’ll glide to an alternate landing: keep the point about 45° below the horizon from your position. In tandem, the pilot makes this assessment.
What should I be careful about in Tenerife?
Sun and wind (use sunscreen and a windbreaker), summer beach restrictions for landings, and possible same-day site changes depending on the weather. This is normal—safety and the best experience come first.
What is the accident rate for paragliding on the island of Tenerife?
Commercial tandem is very safe when flown with licensed pilots, checked equipment, and suitable weather. Risk is never zero, but it’s managed; if conditions aren’t right, flights are rescheduled.
Is it worth going up Teide?
Yes—its landscapes are unique. And if there’s a weather window, the Base of Teide Flight is an unforgettable experience with a huge vertical drop.
Has it ever snowed in Tenerife?
Yes, some winters it snows at high elevations (Izaña and the summits). The coast remains mild; sometimes you can fly while seeing snow-capped peaks and the sea on the same day.
