Paragliding above Sete Cidades

Paragliding above Sete Cidades, on São Miguel in the Azores, launches from the crater rim near Vista do Rei and glides over the twin volcanic lakes, one tinted green and the other blue, that fill the floor of the Sete Cidades caldera. Flights are tandem, meaning passengers fly harnessed to a certified pilot who handles the wing, so no prior experience, special fitness, or minimum age beyond a moderate weight range is required; most operators set a minimum age of around 6-8 years and a maximum body weight for tandem passengers. The paraglider wing, harness, and helmet are provided, and passengers only need closed shoes suitable for a running takeoff and landing and a warm layer, since it is noticeably cooler and windier at altitude than at ground level. Azores Paragliding and Voo Livre Açores, the operators running flights from this launch point, employ pilots certified by the Portuguese hang-gliding and paragliding federation with local experience reading the caldera's thermal and wind patterns. The pre-flight briefing covers the running takeoff and landing technique, in-flight body position, and what to do in the rare event the pilot needs to execute an emergency landing. Flights are entirely weather-dependent and are cancelled or rescheduled at short notice if wind speed, direction, or visibility around the crater rim is unsuitable, since paragliding requires stable, moderate wind conditions. The season runs April to October, when Azorean winds are generally lighter and more predictable; winter's stronger and more variable Atlantic weather systems make safe flying conditions far less frequent.