Paragliding In Costa Rica With No Landings

Since I learnt how to fly in this valley, I always dreamt about flying up to the highest peaks. These peaks form the highest mountain range here in Central America, The Talamanca Mountains and they’re pretty magical.

I’ve done several hike and fly missions off Cerro Uran, a peak in the Talamanca Range standing at 3330m. This hike is a treacherous 10 hour hike. The first 8 are the hardest, with an altitude gain of 1500m and walking through thick jungle with very little markings and almost no trail to follow.

In 2019 Will and I did this hike and fly together, as we appeared out of the canopy on the top of the ridge, the sun started to rise into a clear sky. We flew off Uran together that day and since then my dream has been shared with Will, to thermal and fly up to Uran. Up until now I wasn’t sure if it was even possible.

On 20th April this year we started the day at home, wondering the trails that lead to the river in the valley below us. When we finally reached the river and looked at the sky above, looked at Uran peak and then looked each other, we both knew today was the day we might be able to make that flight to the highest mountains.

In 20 minutes we had gone from the valley floor and we were at the take-off. From there everything lined up for us. We followed the wind, passing through three different inversions of air, eventually we were able to take a final thermal on the edge of a cloud and thermal up to the peak we had dreamed of flying to, Uran.