Flying via a hang glider or paragliding apparatus is a great way to get a panoramic view of the beauty of Costa Rica’s shoreline and mountainous inland terrain.

Where to Go

Much of the hang gliding and paragliding outfits in Costa Rica can be found in the province of Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Cities, beaches and small towns such as Puerto Caldera, Jaco, Playa Hermosa and the city of Puntarenas are where you can find hang gliding, paragliding and outfits that combine the two along with Ultra-light Flight tours. The wind in the bay of Salinas makes for good kite surfing, but hang gliding and paragliding outfits haven’t made their way there, yet.

What to Bring

You will need little more than some sunblock and a camera. It would be preferable to have a GoPro that you can attach to your head or chest via a head mount or chest harness. The safety equipment, parachute or glider and other required gear will be provided by the tour company, and unless you are trained and certified, you will be going with a trained pilot.

Extra Information

Paragliding near Jaco is done through HangGliding Costa Rica, and, strangely enough, there isn’t a hang gliding tour as of right now. The paragliding tour is $95 and the hours are between 10 am and 4 pm throughout the week. HangGlide Costa Rica does offer hang gliding tours at varying times of the year, and a trip is started by a tow in from an Ultra-light Glider. It runs around $125 per trip, and the flights last from 30 to 45 minutes.

Paragliding is also quite popular at Grandpa Ninja’s B&B near Puntarenas, Costa Rica, where a tandem flight with an instructor runs $110 dollars with a 30-45 minute jump time. Experienced pilots can jump with the apparatus for $75.

Items to Bring: camera, sunscreen
Times: 10 am-4 pm
Locations: Puerto Caldera, Jaco, Playa Hermosa, Puntarenas
Duration: 20-45 min