Hang glide in Rio
Few cities offer the visual bounty of Rio de Janeiro, best seen from atop the Corcovado or Sugar Loaf Mountain. Or better yet, head over to São Conrado, where you’ll be driven up through Tijuca National Park, the largest urban forest in the world, to a hang gliding launch pad on Pedra Bonita. Safely cocooned with your strapping tandem pilot, you’ll soar alongside the cliffs, hunting pockets of warm thermal air, gazing down at the beaches, jungle and ocean. Despite the adrenalin rush, there’s plenty of time to ogle before landing softly and on the sandy beaches of Leblon below.
Length of Trip : A flight can last anywhere from 10 minutes to a half hour, depending on the conditions. Factoring in your hotel transfer, about 3 hours.
Cost : From US$199, including pictures, video and transportation to and from your hotel.
Best time to go : Available year-round. Thermals are best after a cold front.
Wheelchair friendly : No
Family friendly : Minimum age is 16 years. Under 18 must be accompanied by adults.
Where to eat :
Porcao: For the full Brazilian churrascaria experience.
Carretão is another option, located in the heart of Ipanema.
Official Site :
Hanggliding in Rio de Janeiro
Just Fly Rio
Where to Stay :
High End: The iconic Copacabana Palace, aging but still impressive.
Trendy: Celebrities flock the Fasano in Ipanema.
Budget (hostel) Che Legarto
Getting There :
Transfers to the launch pad on Pedra Bonita are usually arranged as part of the price with your tour operator. You can visit the beach on the far end of Leblon and watch gliders land. It's also possible to drive directly to the launch pad in Tijuca National Park.
Note from Robin :
My pilot told me that paragliding doesn't compare, and he was right. Different, more genteel perhaps, but nowhere near the wind-rushing, super-hero-feeling swoop and speed you'll feel with a hang glider. That being said, it's a remarkably smooth flight and the landing was as bumpy as jumping off a small stool. I've always said Rio is one of the four most beautiful cities in the world (the others being Vancouver, Sydney and Cape Town). Spending a couple hundred bucks to take an aerial tour and tick off an adrenaline-activity on the bucket list is a no-brainer!
