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| View from the air- Crucita |
Launch (N 0°30’15”, W 80°26’39”) 82 m
Landing Zone (N 0°22’21”, W 78°5’25”) 0 m
Crucita is a beachside community that bustles with crowds from inland cities on the weekends. The beach itself is not as wide or luxuriant as nearby Canoa or Puerto Lopez, but flying conditions are remarkably better. At the South end of town are about 7 km of sloped bluffs rising up out of the ocean, producing the smoothest and most laminar air I have yet to experience in ridge-soaring sites. The smoothness of flights here make for a good place to practice simpler maneuvers (i.e. wing-overs, big ears). Top-landings are also easily practiced here. The views on a clear day are sublime: turquoise waters, empty shorelines, great flocks of pelicans and frigates swirling around you. Though it may not be a place for ripping 9 m/s thermals or big XC flights, Crucita is a must-visit for any paragliding tour of Ecuador.
Notes on Launch: Launch is wide cleared area atop the ridge at the South end of town. The material is dirt/gravel, so ground handling should be kept to a minimum. If winds are greater than 25 kph, you may need assistance from someone to give you a shove off the edge. Whitecaps out on the water are a good wind indicator, watch them throughout the day to see if they are becoming more or less frequent.
Notes on Landing Zone: Top-landings are easily achieved here. In the case that an alternative is needed, the beach directly below launch is a landing zone. At low tide, it is possible to land on the beach along the bluffs.
Flyable days per year: Unknown
Best times of the day: Winds generally pick up enough for good lift after 10:30 a.m. and can be good until sunset. Conditions may be quite strong mid-day, consider taking a lunch break at the launch-side resturaunt La Loma (open weekends only).
Cost: I was not charged any launch fees. I’m told that commercial tandem pilots sometimes are.
How to get there:
To Crucita: Frequent buses directly to Crucita are available from bus terminals in the nearby cities of Manta and Portoviejo. If you are coming from Canoa, take a bus from Canoa to Bahia de Carquez. From here, catch any bus going to Guayaquil (these too are frequent) and ask to be dropped off at the Rocafuerte terminal. Frequent buses to Crucita leave from here.
To El Nido (Launch): Buses will drop you off at the South end of town where there is a large sign for “Hostal Voladores” (“Fliers Hostel). Near this sign, the road forks uphill to the left. Follow this road for about 1 km, past the ex-pat community of fancy houses up on the bluff to the “La Loma” restaurant on the right side. Launch is adjacent to the restaurant, which has cold beer when the owner is around and serves food on the weekend.
Hostal Voladores is a family-run business where local pilot Luis Tovar will be happy to help you with any questions. They serve great breakfast/lunch, have a nice pool, and offer rooms for all types of budgets. You can often catch a ride up to launch with Luis in the mornings. If not, a taxi should be around two dollars. On foot, it’s about an easy fifteen minute walk uphill.
1 comment:
pilsener!
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