Running straight off a mountain face into mid-air is not an easy thing to do. Well, physically it's not that taxing but mentally it's pretty strange. But in order to paraglide - you have to do just that. Standing on the edge of Cerro Arco just outside of the city, with a 650m drop off the edge of the cliff, a kite behind you and your instructor attached to your back, you don't have much choice but to do as he says and 'run, run, run' until your legs are moving mid-air, like in a cartoon.
My instructor Hernan then told me to lift my knees up and suddenly I found a seat was beneath me and I was in a very comfortable chair with nothing beneath or in front of me apart from a breath-taking view of the Andes. Strange. Imagine just sitting on your normal office chair and then taking it up 1000 meters into the sky – it is pretty much the same feeling.... until we started the acrobatics.
I had told Hernan from Arco Fly Parapente that I was going for 'extreme' - I wanted the hairs on the back of my neck to stand on end, and he told me that acrobatics were the way to go. After a peaceful and stunning tour of the mountains and a distant view of the city we moved towards the landing pitch as acrobatics would speed us up considerably from our peaceful 38kmph, bringing us closer to our imminent landing. Hernan explained to me that I should just sit tight and let him know if I feel queasy or want to stop, and off we went. Swooping and dipping into the right and then the left and then back again, we picked up great speed and my stomach jumped into my throat, but not enough to stop me screaming from the delightful and heady rush. We did Wing Overs, Asimetrics and Spiral Centrifuge – whatever that means – all of which were stomach lurching fun. After playing for a bit in the air, we came into land, and like our running take off, it was the cartoon moment the other way around – start moving your legs quickly in mid-air and then when you touch the ground go with your momentum and keep running until the kite has landed.
Paragliding is immensely enjoyable and involves hardly any effort (apart from the couple of minutes of running). If you have a taste for the extreme, be sure to ask Hernan for acrobatics but if you are more inclined to a peaceful ride, then you can gently fly around and take in the sights.
Note: The 4WD ride up to Cerro Arco is almost as extreme as the actual jump – be prepared for the tension to build as you jerk your way up the rocky mountain paths to the hill top.
Paragliding costs $300AR per person including a transfer from the city. Contact Hernan Vicente or Nito Lazarto on 15 368 4636 or visit www.arcoflyparapente.com.ar Paragliding for more information, solo travellers and groups welcome.
