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You'll share a tandem harness with a qualified pilot and launch from hills above west-central Portugal, with the Atlantic coast and inland valleys opening below as the wing inflates. Fly once for a first taste of free flight, or stay for several launches the same day if you want more time in the air, with optional video or a lift to the take-off hill when you need them.
Your pilot picks the meeting point and launch site for the wind that day and walks you through harness fit, take-off, flight and landing before you head to the hill. At launch you take a short run together as the wing rises, then sit back while your pilot steers on a scenic glide above the landscape.
If you fly more than once, there are short breaks on the ground between launches while kit is checked and the team reads the air again. When the weather is not safe to fly, your pilot will look for another time rather than pushing a marginal launch.
Flights run from flying sites around west-central Portugal, with launch fields chosen for the day from the Mendiga area and nearby hills. Coastal breezes and inland thermals both feature depending on where the team flies, so the view mixes farmland, ridges and distant ocean on clear days.
Take-off and landing spots change with conditions. Your pilot tells you where to meet and how long the drive from nearby towns takes so you can plan parking or an optional return transfer to the hill.
No paragliding experience is needed because your pilot controls the wing at all times. You should be comfortable with a short take-off run and sitting securely in the harness for the length of the flight.
Sturdy footwear and sensible clothing matter more than fitness level. If you have medical conditions that affect balance, breathing or sudden movement, let the team know beforehand so they can advise you honestly.
Tandem flights are run by pilots who know the local sites and would rather postpone than push a marginal day, with briefings kept unhurried so harness fit and weather checks come first. Each flight is one passenger with one pilot, so attention stays on you in the harness.
You can scale the day from a single glide to several launches with the same crew, add video if you want a keepsake, and arrange a shuttle to the hill when you do not want to drive to launch yourself.
Meet your pilot at the confirmed point and hear how tandem take-off, flight and landing work. Harness and helmet are adjusted before you walk to launch.
Ask about video or a second flight here if you are still deciding how many launches you want the same day.
Walk to the launch area, inflate the wing with your pilot, and take a short run as the glider lifts. Enjoy the glide while your pilot steers and chooses the landing approach.
Airtime is typically around twenty minutes per flight depending on conditions.
Land in an agreed field with your pilot in control of the wing. De-rig, debrief, and collect any video files if you added the camera extra.
Further flights the same day restart after a ground break when the team is ready.
Your meeting point and launch site depend on the wind on the day. Your pilot confirms where to meet in the Mendiga area or at the chosen take-off in good time before you start.
An optional return shuttle covers up to 50 km from take-off for up to two passengers. Otherwise make your own way to the confirmed meeting point and allow a few minutes to park and walk to the briefing area.
Sturdy trainers or boots with ankle support, fitted clothing without dangling scarves, and a light windproof layer. Sunglasses help on bright days. Secure pockets or leave valuables in your vehicle before take-off.
No. You fly in a tandem harness while a qualified pilot controls the wing from launch to landing, so previous paragliding time is not required.
Your briefing covers how to move during take-off, how to sit in the harness, and simple hand signals if you need anything while you are airborne.
Each tandem flight is typically around twenty minutes in the air in good conditions, which is separate from briefing, kit checks and walking to the launch area on the ground.
Plan about an hour on site for a single flight, and longer if you fly several times the same day so the team can reset between launches.
Your licensed tandem pilot, pre-flight safety briefing, helmet, harness, wing and public liability cover for the activity are included for each tandem flight.
Shuttle transport and 360 video are optional extras on top of the standard flight if you want them.
Yes. You can fly once or choose two, three or four tandem launches in one visit, with a short break on the ground between flights while equipment is checked and conditions are reviewed.
Allow extra time on site if you want three or four flights so the team is not rushed between launches.
The launch site depends on wind direction and strength on the day, so your pilot confirms the meeting point close to your flight rather than naming one fixed field far in advance.
Follow the directions your pilot gives you for the exact pin and arrival time rather than assuming the office address is always the launch car park.
Yes. An optional return shuttle covers up to fifty kilometres from take-off for up to two passengers, which suits pairs or friends travelling together.
Mention your pick-up area when you arrange the shuttle so the driver can plan the route to the hill.
Yes. The 360 video extra produces about one minute of edited footage per flight when the camera is used and conditions allow a clean recording.
Tell your pilot before launch if you want video on the day; files are usually shared after landing once they are processed.
Sturdy trainers or boots with ankle support, fitted clothes without long scarves or dangling jewellery, and a light windproof layer work best for take-off and landing.
Sunglasses help on bright days, and it is sensible to leave phones and loose items in your car before you walk to launch so nothing falls out in the harness.
Paragliding needs safe wind, visibility and launch conditions. Your pilot may move your flight to another time the same day or suggest another date if the air is turbulent or too light.
We aim to give you as much notice as possible when a day is called off, and we would rather reschedule than pressure a flight in marginal weather.
Flying is organised through the day between late morning and mid-afternoon when wind and visibility suit tandem launches, rather than at fixed night-time hours.
Your pilot still makes the final call on the hill based on real conditions, even on a day that looked promising on the forecast.
About the centre
Mendiga
You'll fly in tandem with an experienced pilot over the hills and coastline of central Portugal, with briefings and kit checks handled calmly before every launch. First-time passengers are welcome: the focus is a safe, memorable glide rather than prior paragliding experience.
Sessions are run by a small, hands-on team who know the local flying sites and weather patterns. From meeting your pilot to landing, you'll have clear guidance on what to wear, how take-off works, and how flights are rescheduled when conditions are not suitable.
Operated by Cloudbase Portugal, a partner of adventuro.