Colombia Part 17 - Paragliding over the city of Medellin (Photos + Videos)

After our little adventurous weekend in Guatapé, Kathi and I went back to Medellin to accomplish one last thing, before we would head to the caribbean: Paragliding!!

I did bungee jumping and skydiving already, but this was the first time doing paragliding. I have to admit that until now, I always was too afraid to do it, because you have to run towards the abyss as if you would be ready to jump and you have to let go totally!! - Which honestly for us Germans can be an issue haha

So we booked the Paragliding tour the moment we got back to our hostel, before we could change our mind and started drinking to be less nervous :D - (Which was a mistake, because the next morning we where pretty hangovered :D)

At 9:00hrs we got picked up and had to fill out a few forms, putting our dates, an emergency contact and confirming that this jump happens on our own responsability.

We also got a bracelet. - Which I later saw was not for the company to check if we payed, but to have our dates and an emergency number on it, in case we crash down and get found after hahahaha

Booking the flight includes an accident insurance covereing up to 50 million COP and medical expenses up to 12 million COP. It is actually an obligation to fill out the forms to get this insurance.

From Medellin we where brought to a little village called San Felix, which is located in the mountains, in the surroundings of the city and provides an awesome view!!

The company offers all-year round paragliding at Andes mountain launch sites across miles of untouched countryside.

What better way to see South America then from a bird’s eye view, open to the elements, coffee plantations sprawling below, with actual wing-flapping birds circling round your kite?

Medellin, nicknamed the City of Eternal Spring and nestled in the equator-hugging Antioquia Aburra Valley blesses nearby launch sites with weather so favourable that hang glider and paraglider pilots can fly every day of the day.

Getting to the spot we had to climb up a lot of stairs to get to the actually jumping spot.

Within just a few minutes we got our very handsome and friendly pilots, that had like most of them, at least more than 5 years experience and spoke well English. Mine strapped me up pretty fast, we took a "last picture" and where ready to jump.

I didn’t have time to be nervous. Health and Safety isn’t really a concept yet in Colombia so I was strapped into a helmet and harness and running off a cliff.

Medellin city sprawled below, snuggled next to waterfalls and coffee plantations and we followed the flight path of birds to catch the best thermals. The Antioquia region, located at the end of a string of green Andes mountains offers several scenic launch sites.

Pablo, my pilot told me, that his favorit sites around Medellin are Damasco, Cerro Amarillo and Jerico. It is a valley watered by five rivers, which creates an excellent landscape difficult to forget.

He told me, that because of the very good weather conditions the pilots are able to jump all year long, which has forested a community of both, competitive and recreational, experienced pilots.

I always thought, that at paragliding you jump, fly down and land somewhere... but this time was different. We used the wind to slowly go up.

From up there the view was impressive and we where actually flying together with some really big birds around us! I love being in the air feeling this freedom, forgetting all problems and concerns of life for a few minutes, feel the wind in my face and just feel the freedom enjoying a beautiful view over the landscape of Medellin.

Pablo told me that his favorite view is on rainy days. They just watch the big clouds passing by or enjoy the sunset with a spectacle of light coming through.

Medellin’s growing reputation as a paragliding hub, which also gives a different view on city marred by drug-fueld violence.

It is a city full of contrasts, going through a bit change after the mess that the big drug lord Pablo Escobar let them. There are many friendly people with a good smile, eager to show visitors that they are truly a thriving town full of hopes and lots of energy to share with people who want to see that violence is not everything.

After reaching a certain hight Pablo started a maneuver to get closer to the spot, where we jumped. We went fast down doing circles... at that moment I felt my hangover again :D but it was still a lot of fun - a bit like riding a roller coaster.

From here we went down pretty fast where I watched the others for a bit and waited for Kathi to come down... she did jump after me.

The jump lasts in total between 10 and 30 minutes. Depending on the pilot and the climate conditions. We where really lucky with the weather, because it was warm, but we still had enough wind to go up pretty high.

So after a while Kathi also landed, happy to be back and ready for lunch :D

I loved it !! It was a big step to finally do it and jump! - But it was totally worth it and I will definitely do it again someday!

As always I hope you liked my post and I am grateful for every Upvote, Resteem and Commentary as you are supporting my travels with it!!!

Cheers,
Liz

If you want to read more about my previouse adventures check out the last posts here!

Colombia Part 1: Bogota D.C. - A city full of history and culture!

Colombia Part 2: Guatavita Lagoon, The Muisca Civilisation and The Legend of "El Dorado"

Colombia Part 3 - The Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá (Fotos + Video)

Colombia Part 4 - Adventure time at the Natural Pools of Guejar River in the Jungle (Photos + Videos)

Colombia Part 5 - Flying to Macarena National Park being a Copilot

Colombia Part 6 - The Rainbow River at Macarena National Park

Colombia Part 7 - Riding Motor Bike and Chilling in the Pools of the Tatacoa Desert

Colombia Part 8 - Enjoying civilization in Cali!

Colombia Part 9 - Living with the president of the orchids club,helping her out at the green house

Colombia Part 10 - Hiking and Feeding Hummingbirds in the middle of the impressive Flora of Montanitas

Colombia Part 11 - Visiting the typical colonial city of Salento

Colombia Part 12 - Learning how to make coffee at a real coffee farm in Salento

Colombia Part 13 - Horseback riding to a waterfall and hiking at Cocora Valley

Colombia Part 14 - Swimming at the hot springs of Santa Rosa de Cabal

Colombia Part 15 - Doing an adventurous Graffiti Tour through the Favelas of Medellin at Commune 13

Colombia Part 16 - Ziplining, hiking, blow jumping and jet skiing at the lagunas of Guatapé