Paraglide Roldanillo, Colombia
Valle del Cauca - February and March
World-class XC flying, legendary thermals, and some of the longest cross-country routes on earth.
Reserve Your SpotThis is where pilots go to fly far
Roldanillo is not casual. Sitting at the base of Colombia's Western Andes in the Cauca Valley, this small town produces some of the most powerful and consistent thermals on earth. Pilots routinely fly 100km+ routes here. The Colombian Open is held here for a reason - the conditions are world-class, and the XC potential is almost unlimited.
Damien leads guided trips to Roldanillo during the February and March peak season, when the valley is firing and the skies are stacked with cu. Small groups, radio coaching, retrieve support, and decades of site knowledge from an instructor who has flown here across many seasons.
Whether you are chasing distance records or flying your first big XC, this is the right sky with the right guidance.
Your Trip
Arrival and Orientation
Days 1 - 2
You arrive in Roldanillo and settle in. Day one is about understanding the Cauca Valley weather system - the thermal cycles, the wind patterns, and the terrain that drives it all. Day two is your first flying day from El Aguila. These thermals are stronger than what most pilots are used to, so the first flights are about calibrating. Damien is on radio, coaching you through the stronger climbs and helping you adjust to the pace. By the end of day two, you have a feel for the air and you are ready to start building distance.
Building Distance
Days 3 - 5
Now you know the thermals and you know the valley. Each day is an XC day. Morning briefing covers route planning along the Andes range - reading cloud streets, identifying thermal triggers on the ridgeline, and setting turnpoints. Flights get progressively longer as you learn to use the powerful climbs efficiently. The valley funnels thermals into corridors that stretch for dozens of kilometers. Rest day mixed in to explore Roldanillo, eat local food, and let your arms recover from the strong air. By day five, you are covering distances that would have seemed ambitious on day two.
Full Send
Days 6 - 7
This is what you came for. You know the thermals, you know the corridors, and you know how to read the clouds for the next climb. These are your biggest distance days - competition-style flying where you launch, climb out, and commit to the course line. The driver chases along below. Everything you have learned about reading the Cauca Valley air and planning cloud-to-cloud transitions comes together here. Push your personal records. Then celebrate over dinner in town with the group.
Just bring your wing and your passport
Housing
Shared accommodation in Roldanillo, close to the flying community. A comfortable base where the group lives together, with common spaces for debriefing, route planning, and reviewing the day's track logs.
Food
Breakfast every morning. Group dinners in the evening - Colombian cuisine is rich, fresh, and filling. Lunch is usually grabbed near the LZ or in town. You will eat well here.
Ground Transport
Daily shuttle up to El Aguila launch. Retrieve service for XC flights along the valley. You never need to figure out how to get anywhere - just show up and fly.
Instruction
Damien is your coach for the entire trip. Morning briefings on weather and thermal forecasts, radio-guided flights with real-time coaching, and evening debriefs where you review your track logs and plan for tomorrow.
Retrieve Service
Critical for XC flying in the Cauca Valley. The ground crew tracks everyone and picks you up wherever you land. When you know you have reliable retrieve, you fly differently - you stop playing it safe and start flying for distance.
Airport Coordination
Fly into Cali (CLO). We coordinate ground transport from the airport to Roldanillo, about a 3-hour drive. Same thing on the way home. No rental car, no navigation stress.
Is this trip right for you?
I want to fly my longest XC
You can thermal consistently and you have some XC experience, but you have never had the conditions and retrieve support to really push distance. The Cauca Valley corridor is built for it. Powerful thermals, high cloudbases, and routes that stretch for over 100 kilometers on the best days. This is where pilots come to log their longest flights.
I fly competitions and want to train
Roldanillo hosts the Colombian Open and attracts competition pilots from around the world. The conditions here - strong thermals, high cloudbases, long task lines - are exactly what you encounter in PWC and national-level events. Training here with Damien's coaching sharpens your race-day decision-making.
I want a flying adventure somewhere new
You are an experienced pilot looking for a destination that delivers serious flying and a genuine cultural experience. Roldanillo is a small Colombian town that lives and breathes paragliding during season. The people are warm, the food is incredible, and the flying is unlike anything in the US.
Not sure if you are ready for Roldanillo? Call Damien and talk it through.
Call 801-244-4791Why pilots choose Roldanillo
World-class XC conditions
Roldanillo sits in the Cauca Valley at the base of the Western Andes. The valley acts as a thermal engine, producing powerful and consistent lift that feeds long XC corridors along the mountain range. Pilots routinely fly 100km+ from this site. The Colombian Open and other international competitions are held here because the conditions are that good.
Powerful thermals, high cloudbases
Expect 4-8 m/s average climbs with cloudbase reaching 3500-4000 meters. These are not mellow thermals - they are strong, well-organized, and they get you to altitude fast. The high cloudbase gives you room to glide between climbs and cover serious distance.
Peak season and El Aguila launch
February and March are the prime months. Conditions are at their most consistent and the flying community is at its peak. El Aguila launch sits on the western ridge above the valley, giving you direct access to the thermal triggers that start firing in the late morning and run well into the afternoon.
The culture
Roldanillo is a small, friendly town that welcomes international pilots every season. The local flying community is passionate about the sport. You will share the sky with Colombian pilots, exchange stories over meals, and experience a flying culture that takes the sport seriously while keeping the vibe relaxed and welcoming.
Your Guide in Roldanillo
This is not a school where you get passed between different instructors. Damien flies with you, coaches you, and debriefs with you for the entire trip. He knows your flying on day one and builds on it every day after that.
Damien has been flying Roldanillo across multiple seasons and knows the thermals, the terrain, and the local community. He knows which thermal triggers fire first off the ridge in the morning, where the best XC corridors run along the Andes, and how to read the valley winds as they shift through the day.
In Roldanillo, the thermals are strong and the flying is serious. Having an instructor who knows the site - who can talk you through your first powerful Cauca Valley thermal on the radio - makes the difference between white-knuckling it and actually learning to fly this kind of air with confidence.
USHPA Advanced Instructor. 25+ years of flying. Over 10,000 flights. When you fly with Damien, you are getting the benefit of thousands of hours at sites around the world, combined with deep knowledge of this specific valley and a genuine passion for helping pilots improve.
Join the Next Colombia Trip
Groups are kept small so every pilot gets real attention. The season runs February and March and spots fill early. If you have dates in mind, reach out now to hold your place.
Or call Damien directly: 801-244-4791
★★★★★ 5.0 / 33 reviewsColombia beyond the flying
The Town
Roldanillo is a small Colombian town in the Valle del Cauca region. It is not a tourist destination - it is a real town with local markets, family-run restaurants, and a genuine warmth toward visiting pilots. During season the town fills with an international mix of paragliding pilots, creating a unique energy that blends Colombian hospitality with the global flying community.
The Culture
Colombia's culture is vibrant, musical, and deeply hospitable. The food alone is worth the trip - fresh tropical fruit, empanadas, bandeja paisa, and strong Colombian coffee every morning. The people are friendly and curious about visiting pilots. Rest days here feel like a genuine cultural experience, not filler.
Side Trips
The Valle del Cauca region offers plenty to explore on rest days. Visit Cali for salsa and city energy, explore the coffee country in the nearby Eje Cafetero, or simply walk the surrounding countryside. The landscape is green, dramatic, and photogenic in every direction.
What Pilots Say About Flying with Damien
"I saw my flying mentality and my piloting skills improve drastically over the course of the week."
Feb 2023
"The combination of ground school, launch support, and in-sky coaching provided an incredibly valuable learning experience. The accommodations and hospitality made for a great overall experience."
Jan 2023
"Great instruction, local knowledge, small groups, no attitude or pressure just great flying and even better times."
Jan 2024
"He really knows the place like no other. The local knowledge, the site management, the way he reads the conditions - it all comes from decades of flying here."
Colombia-specific reviews coming soon. These reviews are from pilots who have flown with Damien on other trips.
Common Questions About the Colombia Trip
When does the Colombia trip run?
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Or call Damien directly: 801-244-4791
★★★★★ 5.0 / 33 reviews