GOLD paragliding flight including videos/photos, t-shirt and a bottle of Cava

Tenerife’s Gold paragliding flight gives you more than a quick thrill. From a hillside above Costa Adeje, you run a few steps, lift into the Atlantic air, and glide over the island with a pilot managing the wing. On a good day, thermals can carry you higher and help you reach La Caleta beach.

I like two things right away: the included HD photos and GoPro video, which save you from choosing between enjoying the flight and filming it, and the friendly, reassuring instruction from pilots such as Lucas, Lukasz, and Simon. The bottle of Cava and T-shirt are fun extras. The main catch is weather. You may not land on the beach, and the flight can be delayed or changed if wind and cloud do not cooperate.

Key points to know before you book

• Gold means a higher starting point: The flight begins from one of the area’s upper launch sites, giving you broad views and a better chance of a longer flight when conditions allow.
• A few running steps get you airborne: Your pilot gives clear instructions for takeoff, flight, and landing, with a harness, helmet, and camera provided.
• Thermals shape the flight: Lucas, Lukasz, Simon, or another pilot may circle in rising air to gain height and extend your time above Tenerife.
• La Caleta is the ideal finish: The planned landing may be on the soft sands of La Caleta beach, though wind conditions can place you elsewhere.
• The extras have real value: Pickup, equipment, insurance, HD media, a T-shirt, and a bottle of Cava are included in the $216.26 price.
• It is a private activity: Only your own group takes part, and pickup is offered across the main South Tenerife resort area.

From Costa Adeje to the launch hill

Your experience begins at the meeting point in Costa Adeje, or with pickup from a hotel or other location between Los Cristianos and Callao Salvaje. The air-conditioned Mercedes Vito takes you uphill to the launch site. The drive is part of the experience, shifting quickly from resort roads to the open slopes above the coast.

The ride usually takes about 20 minutes from the beach area, based on the operating route described for the activity. You are not left to find a remote launch point on your own, which matters on a day when nerves are already building. Pickup communication has been praised repeatedly, and the company also returns you to the meeting point at the end.

The activity lasts about two hours, though the exact timing depends on pickup, wind, waiting time, flight conditions, and the landing point. Allow room in your day rather than scheduling a tight dinner or airport transfer afterward.

Pickup is not offered from every part of Tenerife. The stated service area runs from Los Cristianos to Callao Salvaje, so El Médano is outside the normal pickup zone. If you stay beyond that area, you may need to arrange your own transport to Costa Adeje.

Getting ready at the upper launch site

At the takeoff point, you receive a harness and helmet. A GoPro camera is also provided to record the flight. Your pilot then explains how to stand, when to run, how the glider will lift, and what to do during landing.

The preparation is short and practical. You do not need to operate the paraglider yourself. This is a tandem flight, so the pilot manages the wing and chooses the flight path while you follow basic instructions.

Bring sports shoes and sunglasses. Sports shoes are especially useful because takeoff involves a short run on a sloping surface. The operator says loaner shoes and sunglasses are available if needed, but bringing your own well-fitting footwear is the simpler choice.

The maximum passenger weight is 100 kilograms. Children over four can take part, although the activity is still dependent on suitable conditions and the pilot’s assessment. Most people can participate, but anyone with a specific health concern should check before booking.

The first few steps into the air

Takeoff is the moment many people worry about most. The instructions are simple: when told, you run forward as the wing fills with air. The sensation changes quickly from running to floating.

You may be surprised by how little force is needed once the glider catches the wind. The harness supports you after takeoff, and your pilot helps you settle into a comfortable position. Several pilots, including Lucas and Lukasz, are praised for calm briefings and steady conversation, which can make a major difference if you are nervous about heights.

There is no long classroom session or complex training routine. That is convenient, but it also means you need to listen closely during the short briefing. Do not rush the takeoff or try to improvise. Let the pilot set the pace.

The launch point is described as a steep, artificial-turf area. That may sound dramatic, but the short running start is a normal part of getting the canopy into the air. Your pilot and the supporting team direct you through it.

Cruising above Tenerife with a running commentary

Once airborne, the mood changes. The initial burst of adrenaline gives way to a quieter ride as you sit in the harness and look out over Tenerife. The pilot keeps a running commentary, explains how the glider is flown, and points out features below.

The views can include countryside, the TF-1 road, commercial areas, the Costa Adeje golf course, and the Atlantic coast. From the air, the resort area becomes part of a much wider picture. You see how the developed coast meets the volcanic slopes and open ground above it.

I like that the pilot is not silent during the flight. Lucas is described as chatty and funny, while other pilots are praised for being patient, calm, and professional. That conversation helps you understand what is happening instead of simply being carried along under the canopy.

The flight is peaceful, but it is not always identical. Pilots look for thermal updrafts, columns of rising air that can take the glider higher than the launch site. If the thermals are working, you may gain height and prolong the flight. If they are weak, the pilot may guide you toward a nearer landing point.

That variability is important. The Gold package gives you a higher starting point and the chance of a fuller flight, but it cannot order the wind around. One flight reached the beach while another landed near the Costa Adeje golf course because the needed thermals were not present. The second flight was still described as safe and memorable, but the beach finish was not guaranteed.

Why La Caleta is the hoped-for finish

When conditions cooperate, the pilot glides toward La Caleta. The planned landing on soft beach sand, with the Atlantic waves nearby, is a fitting end to the flight. It also gives the experience a clear sense of place rather than ending on an indistinct patch of ground.

Landing is usually handled with a few final instructions and a soft touchdown on your feet. You do not need to master a complicated landing technique, but you do need to pay attention and move when the pilot tells you.

Wind direction and thermal activity decide where you land. If the beach is not possible, the team arranges the return from another landing area. One documented flight ended near the Costa Adeje golf course, followed by a pickup and drive back to the beach.

That is the fair tradeoff with paragliding. You buy the flight, the pilot, the equipment, and the opportunity to reach the beach, not a guaranteed route under fixed conditions. If landing on La Caleta is essential to your plans, this activity may leave you frustrated. If you value the flight itself, the alternate landing is less important.

Photos, video, T-shirt, and Cava

The media package is one of the strongest reasons to consider the Gold option. A GoPro records the flight, and HD photos and video are included. You can focus on the view and your pilot’s instructions instead of trying to hold a phone in the air.

The quality of the media can vary. One detailed account praised the GoPro material, while another noted a clear difference between the photos and videos produced by two different instructors. That is a useful warning: the package guarantees media is included, but it does not promise identical framing or editing every time.

You also receive an Airsports T-shirt and a bottle of Cava. These do not change the flight, but they add a pleasant finish and help explain some of the price difference between a basic flight and this package. The Cava is a small celebration after an activity that can feel like a major personal achievement.

At $216.26 per person, the package is not a budget attraction. The price becomes easier to justify if you would otherwise pay separately for transport, photos, video, and souvenirs. It also suits someone who wants the higher launch point and the best chance of a longer flight. If you only want to try tandem paragliding once and do not care about media or extras, compare the available options carefully before paying for Gold.

Safety, weather, and the pace of the day

The activity includes all necessary paragliding equipment and liability insurance. A pilot remains with you throughout the flight, and you receive a briefing before takeoff. The team has also delayed flights while waiting for the wind to settle, which is exactly the kind of patience you want in an air activity.

Weather controls the schedule. Poor conditions can cancel the flight, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Do not judge a delay as poor organization. Waiting for safer wind can be the right call. One account describes a short wait during light rain, followed by a flight when the cloud cleared. That kind of decision may shorten your time at the launch site, but it protects the part of the experience that matters most.

The overall rating is 4.9 from 46 ratings, with 98 percent recommending the activity. That points to a very strong record, especially for first-time flyers. Still, no rating can remove the natural limits of weather, pilot availability, or changing photo results.

Who will enjoy this flight most

This is a good choice if you want a major holiday memory without needing previous paragliding experience. You get the gear, transport within the stated area, instruction, pilot, and recorded media in one booking.

It also works well for couples or small groups. The activity is private, so only your own group participates. Different members can fly with different pilots, as happened with Lucas and Armando, while the group shares the same overall outing.

I would especially consider it if you are nervous about heights but still want to try. The short takeoff, calm harness position, and pilot commentary can make the experience manageable. You still need to accept the open-air setting and the brief running start.

Families can consider it for children over four, subject to the stated weight limit and the operator’s conditions. Sports shoes and sunglasses are the only listed items you need to bring, and loaners are available if necessary.

Practical details before you pay

The meeting point is Urbanizacion Poligono 9, 15, 38679 Costa Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Pickup is offered from the main resort zone between Los Cristianos and Callao Salvaje, and the activity ends back at the meeting point.

Confirmation is provided at booking. The area is near public transportation, though pickup may still be more convenient if you are staying inside the service zone.

Book with a little flexibility in your day. The scheduled duration is about two hours, but weather waits and a different landing area can affect the timing. Wear secure sports shoes, bring sunglasses, and avoid clothing or plans that make a short run awkward.

Should you book the Gold flight?

I would book this if you want a full-service first paragliding experience in Tenerife, especially if photos, video, pickup, and a keepsake matter to you. The strongest points are the calm pilot instruction, the private setup, the upper launch point, and the chance to finish at La Caleta.

I would think twice if you need a guaranteed beach landing, a fixed start time, or professionally consistent photos from every pilot. The wind decides much of the day, and the media quality may differ.

For most first-timers, the Gold package offers a sensible bundle at $216.26. You are paying for a memorable flight, not simply a ride: you are also paying for the team’s judgment when conditions change. If that sounds like the right kind of adventure, Airsports Tenerife gives you a well-supported way to see the island from above.

FAQ

How long does the paragliding experience last?

The experience lasts approximately two hours, including pickup, transport to the launch point, preparation, flight, landing, and return to the meeting point.

Where does the activity begin?

It begins at Urbanizacion Poligono 9, 15, 38679 Costa Adeje, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Pickup is offered within the main South Tenerife resort area between Los Cristianos and Callao Salvaje.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup within the stated Costa Adeje and South Tenerife resort area is included. El Médano is not listed within the normal pickup zone.

What does the Gold package include?

It includes paragliding equipment, liability insurance, an air-conditioned vehicle, pickup within the service area, HD photos, GoPro video, an Airsports T-shirt, and a bottle of Cava.

Do I need previous paragliding experience?

No previous experience is stated as necessary. Your pilot briefs you on takeoff, flight, and landing procedures and manages the glider during the tandem flight.

What should I bring?

Bring sports shoes and sunglasses. Loaner shoes and sunglasses are available if necessary.

Is there a weight limit?

Yes. The maximum passenger weight is 100 kilograms.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you are offered a different date or a full refund.