How can I tell if there will be good conditions for flying on the booked day?

We will contact you via WhatsApp 24 hours before your reservation date with the latest weather report from the INM (National Meteorological Institute). This is usually published before 6:00 pm. This allows us to reconfirm the activity and time based on the forecast. If the activity is not reconfirmed the day before, the reservation will be considered canceled.

How and when will I receive the video and photos?

The video and photos of the activity are uploaded to a cloud server (Google Drive) for 10 days, and sent via a link to your email or WhatsApp so you can download it as many times as you want.

Is there an extra charge for the video?

If we have a promotional offer for video and photo services, there is no extra charge for the video or photos of the activity, as they are offered as a complimentary gift. The regular rate is 20$. For the free flight activity in Jacó, the video/photo service must be arranged directly with the pilot and is separate from the booking made with Parapente Pura Vida.

Where do I pay to book and take the flight?

Payment is made in cash or via SINPE after the activity. Credit cards are also accepted with prepayment through our booking page.

Are there any extra costs that need to be paid for the activity?

There are no extra charges. All services include video, photos, and safety equipment: helmets, harnesses, vests, etc.

Do I need to make a reservation, or can I just attend without one?

Yes, it is necessary to book at least 24 hours in advance; walk-ins are not advisable due to health and weather conditions. We reconfirm attendance the afternoon before, based on the latest weather report from the INM (National Meteorological Institute), and again approximately 40 minutes before the activity. Notifications are sent via WhatsApp to +506 8616 7709. This protocol avoids unnecessary travel and wasted time and money if conditions are unfavorable.

What do I need to bring?

You don't need to bring anything; we provide all the necessary paratrike equipment. For the unpowered paragliding activity, closed-toe shoes (like tennis shoes) are mandatory (no sandals or flip-flops). Long sleeves, long pants, sunglasses, and sunscreen are recommended.

What is the maximum weight?

We can fly with passengers up to 120 kilos, but it is advisable to warn us beforehand if they are too tall or heavy to modify the equipment.

What is the difference between paragliding and paratriking?

The paratrike can fly year-round and is less dependent on weather conditions. It has a tubular frame that protects the passenger, requires no physical exertion, and protects the knees, ankles, and hips. There are no significant weight or age restrictions, and it offers a 360° view without windows to obstruct the scenery.

What is a gift certificate? How do you use it?

If you'd like to give a gift without a specific date, you can reserve a redeemable gift voucher and download it via email after payment. On the day of the activity, simply present the voucher. Gift vouchers are valid for 9 months from the date of purchase, extendable in exceptional and justified cases.

Can I fly if I have vertigo?

Yes. Vertigo is often confused with a fear of heights, but in paragliding we fly seated from the start, so it doesn't depend on balance and that feeling of insecurity doesn't appear. Most of our passengers are pleasantly surprised to find this.

Where and when will we meet?

The flight location and time are determined based on the daily weather forecast and communicated 24 hours in advance. Wind is the most difficult variable to predict and the most important factor when flying.

On what dates can you fly?

We fly every day of the year in different areas of the Costa Rican Pacific coast. In summer, mountain paragliding is highly recommended; in winter, a paratrike flight is easier to arrange, as paratrikes allow you to fly almost year-round, weather permitting.

Can't find answers to your questions?

It's normal to have questions about this sport. Here we've compiled the most frequently asked questions; if yours isn't answered, you can call us at +506 8616 7709 and we'll be happy to help.

Can people with disabilities fly?

Yes, people with motor, visual, or hearing disabilities can fly in a paratrike. We have conducted flights with blind, paraplegic, and quadriplegic individuals. Simply inform us before booking so we can adapt the equipment. We volunteer our time and resources to the Costa Rican Association of Adapted Surfing for the Inclusive Development of Surfing for People with Disabilities.

How to book via WhatsApp?

Check availability, location and schedule by filling out the booking form or writing to +506 8616 7709. No booking is finalized until confirmation is received via WhatsApp.

Do I need to pay in advance for booking an activity?

For certain activities (skydiving, gyrocopter flights, or light aircraft flights), a deposit is required upon booking. Once the deposit has been paid, there are no refunds, but you can always reschedule the activity.

What is the Cancellations and Refunds policy?

For activities such as skydiving, a non-refundable and non-transferable deposit is required. Failure to show up without prior notice or due to force majeure will result in the total loss of the deposit. In the event of weather conditions or other force majeure circumstances, the activity will be rescheduled at no additional cost. No cash refunds are issued; a gift certificate valid for one year will be provided. In very exceptional cases and with prior agreement, refunds may be processed via bank transfer within 30 days.

Why do we have to get up early?

The paratrike is very sensitive to weather conditions, so flying safely requires the best wind conditions, which are usually found in the early morning before the heat generates thermals and turbulence. A sunny day doesn't always guarantee good conditions, nor does a cloudy morning rule them out.

Do you have liability insurance?

Yes. We have a current Civil Liability insurance policy with INS that covers occupants/passengers, in addition to the necessary permits and exemptions from INS and DGAC to operate. Each authorized tour operator also applies its own terms and policies.

Do I need to sign any documents before flying?

Yes. Before the activity, a liability waiver and risk acceptance document is signed, as paragliding and related activities are inherently risky sports. By signing it, the participant confirms that they understand and voluntarily accept the risks of the activity and releases Parapente Pura Vida and its operators from liability for injuries or damages, provided that the safety instructions of the instructors and pilots are followed. Minors under 18 years of age must be accompanied by or have written authorization signed by their parents or guardians.

What are the general conditions of the activity?

The activity is booked through the Parapente Pura Vida reservation center; no advance payment is required, payment is due on the day of the tour. The tour is reconfirmed 24 hours prior via WhatsApp, depending on the weather. The weight limit is between 35 and 120 kg. Paragliding flight duration varies between 10 and 25 minutes depending on conditions; paratrike flight times are guaranteed except for safety reasons. Skydiving requires a prior reservation.

How does Parapente Pura Vida operate?

Parapente Pura Vida is a booking center that works with the largest and most reliable companies in Costa Rica's aerial tourism sector. Each assigned tour operator applies its own terms, conditions, and policies, and is ultimately responsible for the activity.

Do they cancel if the conditions are not safe?

Yes, safety is our top priority. We maintain open communication via WhatsApp and reconfirm the activity in advance based on weather conditions. If 100% is deemed unsafe, we will alert you beforehand, cancel, reschedule, or offer an alternative activity.

What are the general conditions for skydiving?

The price includes equipment, a certified instructor, 20-30 seconds of freefall and 5-8 minutes of parachute flight, a jump certificate, and pre-jump training. Jumps are made from a Cessna 182. Minimum age is 18 years, maximum weight is 115 kg (surcharge applies for those over 90 kg). A non-refundable deposit of $100 per person is required to book.

Are they still operating in Caldera?

The former Caldera viewpoint and restaurant (Nemaclys) is permanently closed and is now a private residence with no public access. Parapente Pura Vida currently offers paragliding flights in Aranjuez, Puntarenas, and Esterillos Este.

Is paragliding and paratriking safe in Costa Rica?

Yes. We use certified and annually renewed equipment, we are official distributors of Niviuk equipment for Costa Rica and Panama, and we have more than 25 years of experience flying between Spain and Costa Rica, in addition to a current insurance policy with specific coverage for the activity and flight area.

What happens if there is bad weather on the day of the flight?

We'll contact you 24 hours in advance to confirm the weather conditions. If they aren't optimal, we'll cancel at no cost, reschedule for another day, or offer you an alternative activity with enough time to avoid unnecessary travel.

How long does a paragliding flight last in Jacó?

Approximately 15 minutes. This time is approximate and may vary depending on the day's weather conditions; the pilot decides the duration and route based on the wind and thermals.

Where is the meeting point and what time is it?

Upon confirming the booking via WhatsApp the day before, the pilot sends the exact location of the meeting point and arrival instructions with the expected time.

Do I need prior experience?

No. Tandem flying requires no prior experience or preparation; the certified pilot takes care of everything, from takeoff to landing.

Is it possible to see Ballena Marine Park from the air?

Yes. From paragliding in Dominical you can see the waters of Marino Ballena National Park, a humpback whale watching area from July to November.

Where is the meeting point in Dominical?

We'll meet at Dominicalito Beach and travel together in a 4x4 vehicle to the launch site at Cerro Escaleras. The exact location and time will be confirmed 24 hours in advance via WhatsApp.

Are the video and photos included?

Video and photos are an extra service, separate from the Pura Vida Paragliding booking, except in packages where they are clearly indicated as included. They are usually arranged directly with the pilot, who handles the recording, editing, and distribution.

Can the active volcano be seen from the air?

Yes. Turrialba Volcano is clearly visible from the paraglider in La Pastora, and on clear days you can also see Irazú Volcano. It's the only paragliding flight in Costa Rica with direct views of an active volcano from the air.

Is the flight from Turrialba different from the one from the coast?

Yes, it's completely different. In Turrialba, you fly over a landscape of mountains, volcanoes, and agricultural valleys instead of coastline and ocean, with more panoramic views and the unique sight of the active volcano in the foreground. It's recommended to dress warmly.

What are the age and weight requirements for skydiving?

Minimum age 18 years. Maximum weight 115 kg, with extra pay for overweight starting at 90 kg.

Where does the autogyro take off from in Cóbano?

Flights take off from the Cóbano Aerodrome, on the Nicoya Peninsula, about 20 minutes from Santa Teresa and Montezuma.

What is a gyrocopter and how is it different from a helicopter?

A gyrocopter (or autogyro) is a lightweight aircraft whose rotor spins freely in the air while a rear-mounted engine propels it forward, unlike a helicopter where the engine directly drives the rotor. This makes it very stable and safe.

What beaches and places can be seen during the flight?

Depending on the route chosen, you will fly over the cliffs and waterfall of Tangomar, Cocalito Beach, Playa Grande (Romelia Refuge), Piedra Colorada, Montezuma, Cabuya and its cemetery island, and on the long tour also Tambor, Cabo Blanco, Mal País and Santa Teresa.

What is the difference between the 30-minute tour and the 60-minute tour?

The 30-minute tour flies over the cliffs of Tangomar, the beaches of Montezuma, and reaches Cabuya. The 60-minute tour extends the route, passing over Tambor, Cabo Blanco National Park, and the beaches of Mal País, Playa Hermosa, and Santa Teresa.

Do I need to book in advance?

Yes, we recommend booking in advance. You will receive a confirmation on your mobile phone, and the appointment will be reconfirmed 24 hours prior, depending on the weather forecast.

Interview with Dominic Rohner (I)

Dominic Rohner – Swiss XC rider in Costa Rica (I)

Dominic Rohner is an instructor, guide, and member of the Swiss Paragliding Cross-Country League team. Last October, he broke his personal record of 538km in Brazil. Dominic recently visited Costa Rica and completed over 330km of cross-country flying in just four flights in the Rivas, Dominical, and Santa Elena areas of Guanacaste.

We have a very long interview (to be published in 3 chapters) in which he shares some tips for covering more than 500km in a paraglider, his experience and motivation in flight, his impressions of the conditions in Costa Rica for cross-country paragliding. And of course, a detailed explanation of his 90km cross-country flight in Guanacaste.

Hi Dominic! Briefly describe your history as a pilot, how long you have been flying, competitions you have participated in, and trips you have taken with a paraglider.

I've been flying for over 23 years. I started when I was eighteen. I ran a paragliding school in Zurich, Switzerland, for 11 years, working incredibly hard, and I sold it two years ago. I've spent the last few years traveling, competing, and kitesurfing. Basically, enjoying life after working so hard. Now, I want to make a living solely from organizing paragliding trips around the world.

I am currently working for two friends: on the one hand, for the school I sold, Paraworld.ch where I continue to work as a paragliding tour guide, and for another friend, FlywithAndy.com, who is the one who organizes all the distance flights in Caicó (Brazil) with the lathe.

I've done many paragliding trips around Europe; I know Spain, France, Italy, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria, Portugal very well…
In Africa, I visited Morocco several times, and one of my best flights was in Tanzania. Kenya is also fantastic. I've been there twice. I love South Africa too, not only for the flying but also for the kitesurfing, because of the extraordinary conditions there.

I've flown a bit in Australia, but not that much. And well, obviously the Americas—lots of places in the Americas. In Canada, I spent three months there many years ago. In 2000, when I'd only been paragliding for two years, at 20 years old, I traveled backpacking with my paraglider across the Americas, starting in Mexico. I spent four months there, flying a lot: Valle, Oaxaca… I hardly remember. I was also in Guatemala, in Atitlán, Huehuetenango. I passed through Honduras. I flew a bit there, but I don't remember where. I visited Costa Rica and only flew over Caldera. I crossed Panama and arrived in Colombia: 20 years ago it was already a great place to fly. I did a small competition at the Colombian Nationals in Roldanillo. And finally, I returned to Switzerland from Ecuador. Lately, I've been visiting Brazil a lot, not just the northeast for very long-distance flights, but also the south. This country has so much to offer. The landscape doesn't vary much in the south; it's much wetter, and the area around Bancás, Castelo... the presence of the monoliths there is beautiful. We traveled with the lathe through southern Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay, and northern Argentina, and on another occasion, I went through Argentina and Chile.

Do you practice any other sports or hobbies besides paragliding?

I've been kitesurfing a lot lately, I love it. I was in Salinas Bay, it was great, the wind was really strong. And well, I run a bit, not because I enjoy it, just to stay in shape. In Switzerland, I did a bit of mountaineering, a bit of cycling, a bit of canyoning with friends, but definitely flying and kitesurfing are the most important sports for me. Of course, flying is my greatest passion.

Congratulations on your flight and new personal record in Brazil! Assu, Caico, and Tacima seem to be magical places for covering distances and reaching figures of over 500 km. In October, you broke your own personal record of 538 km over the skies of Caico. It seems this destination is more popular with Europeans than Tacima and Assu, where perhaps more local pilots fly. Tell me, why did you go to Caico?

Yes, well, Brazil, the northeast of Brazil is super magical. I think it's the best place to fly, and breaking records there is almost guaranteed, not only because you fly very far, but also because it's consistent. I think that there in the northeast, from mid-September to December, you can fly 300 kilometers every day, I'd say for sure, with a good pilot and depending, obviously, on the thermals and the wind.

Yes, there are a lot of Europeans in Caicó, mainly because the provider is flywithandy.com, and I work for him too. Andy started with flights around the Northeast, and since it's a Swiss-German company, he obviously has a lot of European clients. Europeans look for a fairly high level of service, and what we offer is very high quality. You never have to wait. If you fly far, the pickup car is usually waiting when you land. It might be a couple of dollars more expensive, but the service is top-notch.

In Assu, there are more Brazilian suppliers, they work very well too, and I suppose that, since they are Brazilian, they have more local pilots, although they also have many clients from Europe.

Tacima is different; this summit is where, until now, the flights have been a bit longer. I've never flown there. But they say it depends a lot on the conditions; you have one or two days a week, or sometimes one day every ten, when you can actually fly because it's much closer to the Atlantic coast and it can rain. And there's also more wind at takeoff. That's why they've started using the winch there now.

They say that the first 50 kilometers back from takeoff are an area with monoliths and hills, and very early in the day, it's very windy with a very low ceiling. They say it's psychologically a bit demanding. That's what they say. I've never been, but I'm going to go someday because it must be really good too.

How long have you been visiting Caicó? Tell us a little about what makes this place special to you.

Well, this was my third time in Caicó this year. I wanted to go with the Swiss team, the Swiss League, which has been trying to break the record for the last three or four years. But everything was canceled because of COVID. Since my job is organizing paragliding trips and I was out of work, I asked myself, "Winter in Switzerland or the Brazilian sun?" I decided to go to Brazil.

Anyway, since I know the people who work with FlywithAndy.com and they're already friends, I went with them and we got the winch, and I went flying to Caicó with it. Only on really good days, when the forecast said it would be windy, because I didn't want to spend two months in 40-degree heat in the interior of the northeast.

Regarding Caicó's conditions, I can tell you that on a perfect day you can take off at 6:30 a.m. The earliest takeoff I ever did was at 6:20 a.m., and you usually land a little before 6:00 p.m. because of the daylight; it's an eleven-and-a-half-hour flight. If you do this at an average speed of 55 km/h, you've already broken the record. And that's definitely possible, absolutely.

Mornings start with a very low ceiling, sometimes around 700 meters, so you're hovering 600-700 meters above the ground, and the winds can be weak, or not. Sometimes by 7 a.m., you can already find some winds above 2 meters. Normally, the cloud base can rise to 3,500 meters by the end of the day on a good day. And the thermals? Well, they can be strong, but not excessively so. I don't see the conditions as particularly extreme.

There are some tricky days when the wind at ground level is stronger than in the upper atmosphere; those are bad days. Because it's not pleasant to have a lot of wind near the ground. But that happens sometimes. Those are bad days.

TOMORROW, PART TWO OF THE INTERVIEW!!!

Dominic Rohner – Swiss XC rider in Costa Rica (I)

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