South-winds >>> Flying at Panajachel

One take off is located above Santa Catarina Palopo, a 25 minute drive from Panajachel.

South winds are necessary for flying at this site. The take off is at the north-east side of the lake. Here you will find yourself flying above the towns of San Antonio Palopo – Santa Catarina Palopo – Panajachel – San Jorge... Experienced pilots can fly nice XC along the chain of mountains surrounding the lake and land at more distant towns like San Marcos La Laguna or even San Pedro!

The south-winds you get when flying at Panajachel are mostly laminar. Before midday it can be good fun flying nice thermals; the blue sky and the sun make an incredibly beautiful sight of the volcanoes and the lake. As the day develops the sky becomes more and more hazy and the south winds more laminar. It gets really nice to practice fun maneuvers, from spirals and b-stalls to freestyle and acro, since it becomes really easy to fly back up!