Tenerife: Tandem Paragliding Flight with Pickup

Southern Tenerife looks different from the air. The resort towns, dry volcanic slopes, Atlantic coast, and dark mountain ridges line up in one wide view as you glide quietly beneath a colorful canopy. This tandem flight gives you that rare feeling of flying without needing previous experience.

I like the small group of four and the calm, friendly pilots, including names such as Simon, Gigi, Lucas, and Martin. I also like the beach landing near Playa la Enramada, where the flight can end beside the sound of the waves. The main consideration is weather: your pickup or flight time may change, and a cancellation is possible if conditions are not safe.

Key points to know before you book

• Beach landing near Playa la Enramada: When conditions allow, you finish on soft sand close to a beach bar and the Atlantic.
• Four flight choices: You can select from four flight experiences, with different prices and levels of excitement.
• Small-group attention: The group is limited to four participants, which helps keep the briefing and transport personal.
• Pilot-led and beginner-friendly: You do not need paragliding experience, and the pilot manages the glider throughout the flight.
• Optional controls and acrobatics: You may briefly steer under close guidance, and some flights include more energetic turns if conditions allow.
• GoPro footage costs extra: Photos and video are available for €30, so budget for them if you want a record of the flight.

Flying above southern Tenerife

This is not a sightseeing ride with glass windows and a fixed route. You run a short distance with your pilot, leave the hillside, and rise into the open air beneath the paraglider. Once airborne, the motion is usually a smooth glide, though your pilot may look for rising air to gain height and extend the flight.

The main reward is the view. From above, you can look down toward the southern coast while the volcanic hills climb behind you. The height gives you a clear sense of Tenerife’s shape, from the resort strip around Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, and Las Americas to the Atlantic beyond.

Your pilot keeps up a running commentary and points out places of interest. That matters because your first few minutes may be spent taking in the strange sensation of sitting in the air. Having someone explain what you are seeing helps you relax and enjoy the setting instead of concentrating only on your harness.

The flight is also quieter than many first-timers expect. There is wind noise, but no engine, and the glider can move gently through the air. You might find the experience more peaceful than frightening, even if heights usually bother you.

Pickup from the resort towns

Pickup is included from destinations in Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, and Las Americas. Give the company your hotel name when you book, then watch for a WhatsApp message with the exact pickup time if it differs from the time shown during booking.

The drive to the launch area is part of the outing. You meet the pilot and other participants, travel together, and get familiar with the team before reaching the hillside. Several pilots have been praised for creating a relaxed mood during this ride, which is useful if you arrive nervous.

You can also meet the team directly at the stated meeting point by the beach bar. If you choose that option, confirm the location carefully and allow enough time to get there. Hotel drop-off is not included, so plan your return from the landing area or meeting point. This is a small detail, but it matters if you have a tight dinner booking or an airport transfer later in the day.

The total activity lasts about two hours. That includes pickup or meeting arrangements, transport, preparation, the flight, and the landing. Do not treat the two-hour duration as a guaranteed two hours in the air. Flight conditions, the selected flight type, transport, and the day’s schedule all affect how the time is divided.

Preparing at the launch site

At the launch area, the team fits you with a harness and helmet. You can use the provided sports shoes if needed, and jackets are available for colder flights. Sunglasses are also supplied, though bringing your own well-fitting pair may be useful.

The safety briefing covers take-off, the flight, and landing. You will be told how to position your legs, when to move, and what to do as the glider lifts. The most important instruction is simple: listen closely and follow the pilot’s timing. A tandem paraglider needs cooperation during the short take-off run, but you are not expected to control the flight.

Wear sports shoes with a secure fit. Sandals, flip-flops, and high heels are not allowed. Comfortable clothing is sensible, since you will be attached to a harness and may be sitting for much of the flight. The company lists sports shoes as the one item you need to bring.

The equipment list includes the tandem glider, harness, helmet, and safety gear. Liability and accident insurance are included. The presence of insurance does not remove the need to listen to the briefing, but it is a useful part of the package for a first flight.

Take-off and the first minute in the air

The take-off is often the moment when nerves peak. You are connected to your pilot, face the slope, and move when instructed. The glider catches the air, and the ground falls away. Several people who arrived worried about heights found the open-air feeling easier than standing at the top of a tall building, but your reaction may differ.

Your pilot sits behind you and controls the paraglider. You are not alone in the air, and the pilot can adjust the route, altitude, and landing plan. Clear instructions from pilots such as Gigi, Simon, Martin, Mike, and Lucas have been a major part of the experience for many first-timers.

Once the glider is stable, you can settle into the harness and look around. The pilot points out the coast and nearby sights while searching for updrafts. These rising currents can help prolong the flight, although no exact flight length or height is promised.

If you are frightened, say so. The team has experience with nervous participants and can keep the flight smooth. If you want a stronger thrill, ask what is possible on the day. Some pilots may offer turns or acrobatics, but this depends on weather, safety, and the flight option you selected.

Gentle gliding or a stronger thrill

The four available flight experiences are the most important part to compare before booking. The supplied details do not give the exact names or specifications of each option, so ask what separates them in flight time, route, or acrobatics. Prices are designed to suit different budgets, but the $129 starting price applies to the activity as described here, not necessarily every option.

A standard flight is the sensible choice if your priority is scenery and a calm introduction. You can float over the southern coast, listen to the pilot, and enjoy the silence without asking for extra movement.

A more active option may suit you if you want sharper turns or roller-coaster-style sensations. One participant described the acrobatics as a rollercoaster, while another account notes that not every flight can include the full routine. Weather and safety come first, so do not book an energetic flight expecting every maneuver to happen.

You may also be allowed to take the controls briefly under close instruction. This is not independent flying. The pilot remains responsible for the paraglider and can take back control immediately. Treat it as a memorable taste of steering, not a training session.

Tell the team what kind of day you want. A birthday couple may want a playful flight with photos and turns, while a nervous first-timer may prefer a smooth glide. The pilots have been praised for adjusting their approach, including keeping the flight gentler for people who are unsure.

The beach landing at Playa la Enramada

The landing is one of the most distinctive features of this outing. If wind and other conditions permit, you glide toward Playa la Enramada and touch down on the sand close to the Atlantic waves. You land with your legs as instructed, then unclip and walk away from the glider.

A landing beside a beach bar gives the day a relaxed finish. Some people have enjoyed having a drink and chatting with the pilot afterward, though food and drinks are not included in the price. Live music has also been noted at the beach landing area, but entertainment is not guaranteed, so consider it a pleasant possibility rather than part of the promise.

The beach landing is weather-dependent. If conditions do not allow it, the team may use another landing area. That is not a flaw in the outing. It is the practical side of flying a paraglider, where a safe landing matters more than delivering a fixed postcard moment.

GoPro photos and video

A GoPro camera is used to film the flight, but the photos and videos are not included. You can buy the files for €30. If you want a visual record, confirm the purchase process and price before take-off.

The footage can be a worthwhile extra for a birthday, anniversary, or first flight. It captures the canopy, your position above Tenerife, and the beach approach in a way that is hard to reproduce from the ground. Several people found the images and video good quality and received them quickly.

There is one practical trade-off. If you spend the flight handling a camera or concentrating on getting footage, you may pay less attention to the view. I would let the pilot or the mounted camera do most of the work, then look around. The best part of paragliding is not only proving that you flew, but noticing the coast, slopes, and Atlantic beneath you.

Is $129 good value?

At $129 per person, this is not a cheap quick activity, but the price covers more than the flight itself. You receive pickup in the main southern resort areas, transport to the launch site, a professional tandem pilot, safety equipment, a briefing, insurance, and the return to the landing or meeting area as arranged.

The small group also adds value. With no more than four participants, the outing should feel less like a large bus excursion and more like a guided adventure. The pilots have been praised for friendly conversation, clear instructions, and steady support before and during the flight.

Budget another €30 if you want the GoPro files. Food, drinks, and hotel drop-off cost extra or are your own responsibility. I would compare the four flight options carefully, because a higher-priced choice may be better value for you if it adds time or the kind of movement you want.

The price makes the most sense for a special occasion or a major holiday activity. If you only want a short scenic ride, check exactly what each option includes before paying. The ability to choose a gentler or more active style is useful, but the details should be clear at booking.

Who should book this flight?

You are a good candidate if you want a first paragliding experience with a professional in control. No prior flying skill is required, and the pilots speak English, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Romanian, and Ukrainian.

This outing works well for couples, birthday celebrations, and friends who want one memorable activity away from the usual resort routine. It also suits nervous beginners because the team explains each stage and can keep the flight calm. The small group helps, especially if you prefer not to prepare for an adventure in a crowd.

It is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, people with mobility impairments, children under four, or anyone over 220 pounds, or 100 kilograms. You must not arrive intoxicated. These rules are firm and sensible for a harness-based activity with a running take-off.

If you have a flight home the same day, leave a generous time buffer. Pickup and actual flight times may vary, and the company does not include hotel drop-off. One participant arranged a landing closer to a hotel for a travel connection, but you should not assume that can always be arranged.

Weather, cancellation, and planning advice

Paragliding depends on wind and other flying conditions. Tenerife often provides suitable weather, and cancellations are described as rare, but rare is not the same as impossible. I would book this activity early in your holiday rather than on your final morning.

That timing gives you room to move the booking if the weather changes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible.

The company may contact you by telephone, hotel reception, or at the meeting point if cancellation is needed. Keep your phone available and make sure the team has the correct hotel details.

A light meal before the flight is sensible. One participant specifically advised keeping food and drinks light to reduce nausea. You do not need to starve yourself, but a large meal immediately before take-off is a poor match for a moving harness and possible turns.

Should you book it?

Book this tandem flight if you want strong coastal views, a professional pilot, and a real sense of flying rather than a standard boat or bus excursion. The beach landing and small group make it more personal, while the pilots’ calm instructions suit first-timers.

I would skip it if your schedule cannot handle a weather change, you need a guaranteed hotel return, or you dislike heights and do not want to accept a short burst of nerves at take-off. For everyone else, $129 is a fair price for a carefully supported adventure, with the €30 GoPro option worth considering for a special occasion.

FAQ

Where does the tandem paragliding flight take place?

The activity takes place in southern Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, Spain. You travel to a hillside launch area and may land near Playa la Enramada beach if conditions allow.

How long does the activity last?

The listed duration is two hours. This includes the pickup or meeting arrangements, transport, preparation, flight, and landing.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is included from hotels or destinations in Costa Adeje, Los Cristianos, and Las Americas. You need to provide your hotel name when booking.

Is hotel drop-off included?

No. Hotel drop-off is not included. Plan your return from the landing area or meeting point.

How many people are in each group?

The group is limited to four participants.

Do I need previous paragliding experience?

No previous experience is required. A professional tandem pilot controls the glider, and you receive a briefing before take-off.

What equipment is provided?

The activity provides a tandem pilot, harness, helmet, safety equipment, liability and accident insurance, jackets for colder flights, sports shoes, and sunglasses.

Can I control the paraglider?

You may be able to take the controls briefly under close guidance from your pilot if the weather allows. The pilot remains responsible for the flight.

Are photos and videos included?

No. GoPro photos and videos are available to purchase for €30.

Can the flight be canceled because of weather?

Yes. Paragliding depends on the weather, so pickup and flight times may change. If cancellation is necessary, the company will contact you by telephone, through your hotel reception, or at the meeting point.