Thermal & XC (Mexico)
Bozeman Paragliding’s XC and Thermal courses are held in Valle de Bravo, Mexico. Here’s why:
As mentioned on the Maneuvers page, this is one of the two things that nearly all great pilots have done.
Valle de Bravo, located a few hours to the SW of Mexico City, is an inland thermal and XC site that is one of the most consistent sites in the world. Pilots from across the globe come to Valle every winter (December through March) to get a healthy dose of good flying during the middle of their off-seasons. Known as a site where many U.S. pilots go to practice and compete every year, there will surely be English-speaking pilots to fly and hang out with.
It is soarable (not just flyable) for at least 5 hours every day, almost without exception. This often means that pilots get more airtime here in two or three weeks than they get all summer long in their home countries. This consistent airtime coupled with excellent food, great friends, friendly locals, and inexpensive living arrangements make Valle one of the best flying locations on the planet.
Most tours to Valle range in price from $1,000 to $2,000 for one week. Bozeman Paragliding has been flying in Valle since 1999 and offers week-long tours for $750 per person. We manage this low-cost tour with the help of our low overhead. Andy (your guide) uses the Mexican paragliding shops’ trucks and local taxis to get to and from launch as opposed to renting vans and hiring a driver. He uses public transportation to bring clients to and from the airport for a fraction of the cost of a private van. He stays in a local family’s posada and pays about $30 per night for a clean room with a private bathroom. Bozeman Paragliding charges the client only for the flying instruction. This flying instruction is some of the best ground to air, air to air and side by side XC and thermaling instruction available. Andy knows the area perfectly and will be there to lead you into your first thermal or your adventure across the friendly Mexican countryside.
The Math: Expect to pay approximately $70 usd per day in living expenses (food, transportation, housing) while in Valle. This works out to about $500 per week. Add to that your airplane ticket and the $750 guiding fee, and the best flying vacation you've ever taken should come in under $2,000!
The low-budget tour described above is certainly not for everyone, and so the more expensive tours may be more your style. The instructors that run these tours are some of the best instructors in the world. Contact Fly Mexico or David Prentice for more information on their tours.
This tour will greatly enhance your flying, whether you’re a brand new P2 student or an advanced pilot looking for a new favorite flying site. Thermal flying, XC flying, convergence flying, cloud flying and 5,000 ft acro runs over water are a daily occurrence. Be warned: most pilots that go to Valle return to Valle again and again.
Tours take place in December and January. Andy is fluent in Spanish. Tour groups should fly into and out of the Mexico City airport on Sundays, especially if they would like assistance getting to Valle de Bravo. Please Email Andy before buying airplane tickets.
Bozeman Paragliding requires a 50% non-refundable deposit by November 15th. The remainder is due before the start of the first tour.
December of 2023:
- Week 1: Dec 17th - Dec 23rd - Sold Out!
- Week 2: Dec 24th - Dec 30th - 4 Spots Left!
Email Bozeman Paragliding with questions regarding your Mexican adventure!
