The advantages of Tenancingo's primary La Malinche launch are 1)A powerful launch just 15 minutes from town, 2)360 degrees of XC options from that launch, 3)Countless LZs all around, 4)An intricate system of inexpensive taxis all around to take you where you wish. La Malinche and the general area seem to follow thier own unique wind directions and weather patterns, apart from overall wind directions as predicted or seen on satellite, unless the overall conditions are especially strong, like over 20kmph. So if a north wind of 15 is shown by weather services, then it is probably still blowing in from the south at La Malinche, and from the east over Tenancingo, as it usually does at mid-day. It is perhaps not such a practical site for late-day 'glass-off' flights, if only because retrieval or self-retrieval from the visible landing zone below launch, which new pilots seem to perfer, is longer and more difficult. In fact when it is rather calm late in the day one may safely fly back behind the ridge at low altitude and land in a soccer field where retrieval is very easy, or land in a field below launch, but not visible from launch, where retrieval is easy. Here is a short and simple video of flying over the back to Tenancingo at minimal altitude. http://www.youtube.com/wat... This is a still a new and developing flying area. The city has basic conveniences, but small enough for a friendly feeling of comradeship among the basically honest people. It is not touristy, but there are lot's of hidden gems of the Mexican culture and history, and it is economical. There are no night clubs and very few restaurants, dozens of churches and very honest good hearted people. Very little english is understood in this type of town this far south in Mexico.

The La Malinche Launch is located on an angular inter-valley ridgeline so that it is unique in the entire region to pick up thermals from three valleys on three sides to where they join up into the major house thermal located over the remains of the pre-columbian hilltop fortress of Acatzingo. It is the best suited launch for 360 degrees of options in xc flight iand there are landing zones in all directions. It has a relatively low AGL so it is very important to find lift in the first few minutes, but the lift generally increases with altitude. It is a south facing PG/HG launch with 4WD or strong 2WD access, or it is a 15 minute hike from the road below. Taxi rate from town to the foot of the hill - 6 pesos. See- http://picasaweb.google.es... The most convienent landing zones are not visible from launch, as one of the best routes is to fly up and over the back towards the city of Tenancingo. See- http://picasaweb.google.es... http://picasaweb.google.es... http://picasaweb.google.es... It seem that a lot of new visiting pilots have not figured out how to fly UP and out of the area, but rather land down in the 'cabanas' LZ below launch. This can mean a long hike down to a sleepy little pueblo where the taxis are slow to pass. The other option is a 30 or 40 minute hike back up to launch, but don't attempt this if you don't know where the trail is at. The brush is full of thorny Cat's Claw bushes and making your own trail can be a miserable way to spend the day, or night. So listen up!! The trail is found by walking uphill first following the ridgeline, and then going to the RIGHT, that is to say the SOUTH side of the property above with the cows. The trail is there found and when it forks into two, you go to the LEFT. The rest is simple. The launch is just a few kilometers south of Tenancingo on the road to Acatzingo. Contact one of the Daniels or Bernie to show you to launch. Daniel Pedraza owns the launch and is working daily to develop and improve it. A one-time $20 site development donation per pilot is currently being requested to help Daniel with the cause. No regulations and it is very rare to have air traffic, except don't fly directly over the rectangular military base some 7 kilometers to the northeast. The launch, and in fact the whole 1/2km of ridgeline is owned by pilot Daniel Pedraza for the sole purpose of promoting paragliding in the region. There is no conflict with the designated archeology area on the adjacent ridgeline, and the paraglider launch is designed and planned for development in accordance with local city planners and architects. No regulations and it is very rare to have air traffic, except don't fly directly over the rectangular military base some 7 kilometers to the northeast. The launch, and in fact the whole 1/2km of ridgeline is owned by pilot Daniel Pedraza for the sole purpose of promoting paragliding in the region. There is no conflict with the designated archeology area on the adjacent ridgeline, and the paraglider launch is designed and planned for development in accordance with local city planners and architects.

The flying season in this region is excellent in the winter and spring months, and we get rain in the summer afternoons. The launch site is situated directly in front of one of the most consistent house thermals in the whole region of several valleys. Some would rate this as an advanced site, with often strong conditions, but others as an intermediate site, in it's milder states, due to the ample landing options available. One should not be afraid to drift back behind launch with altitude, because that is the best XC route and the lift generally improves further back, but have at least 300 meters or 1000 feet over launch before committing to flying over the back, because there is turbulence, ESPECIALLY behind the east-west running ridge that launch is on, at low altitudes.

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