Frequently Asked Questions

What insurance do I need?

This is what I have when I travel internationally to fly. I’m not an insurance expert, but this is my best understanding of how to be fully covered:

1. Normal at-home medical insurance (most already have this)

2. Global Rescue Membership

3. IMG Signature Travel Insurance (offered through Global Rescue as well)

4. Garmin SAR High Risk Plan (search and rescue)

Note: the Search and Rescue is fairly inexpensive in Colombia, so if cost is an issue I would consider #4, the SAR High Risk Plan as optional. It’s a yearly policy so it’s great if you do a lot of travel for paragliding.

Here’s a matrix I created to show what each insurance covers, and some cost examples for either short term, or yearly coverage are on the second tab of the spreadsheet. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1k44PQIfCRHIAJjJrCEVNFJmu9EVZDPW4Mv44WJA_dho/edit?usp=sharing

Here’s the Cloudbase Mayhem link that was the foundation of most of this information, and helped me personally with my decisions. After lots of research this is a great resource and summary. https://www.cloudbasemayhem.com/unscrambling-insurance-are-you-covered/?utm_source=Red+Rocks+Volunteer+Database&utm_campaign=e957a93d8e-Nick+Greece_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_d1ba39881d-e957a93d8e-438020956&mc_cid=e957a93d8e&mc_eid=d9e95d5387

What's with the weather forecast?

Long range weather forecasts will show a significant chance of thunderstorms just about every day in the Cauca Valley - Don’t be fooled! These forecasts are not representative of actual conditions- the very best weather in Piedechinche is found by looking out the window, or out on launch, and there’s no benefit to checking the weather forecast in advance.

Do I need to rent a car?

Nope! We provide airport shuttles, transport to flying sites and activities, and retrieve.

Are there rest days?

Flying every day can be a lot! You are always welcome to take a rest morning, afternoon, or full day whenever it is right for you! If we have a full weather day or decide as a group to do an alternate full day activity there are plentiful options!

What should I pack?

Weather during the day is warm and the sun is intense but can be cool in the evenings and can get cold at cloudbase. Bring walking boots (ideally with ankle support), a light/medium jacket, light long pants, bathing suit, sun shirt, lightweight buff, sun hat, bug spray, sun screen, sunglasses. We provide towels in accommodation. Bring your reusable bottle and help reduce single-use plastic, we will have drinking water always available at the Finca. In case you forget anything, we can buy almost everything in the nearby towns.

For a more detailed complete packing list - you can reference Summer's packing list here:

I'm a newer P2, is this tour right for me?

Reach out to us and let's chat! If you're confident launching and landing independently, and have some experience thermalling and more than roughly 100 flights this should be a perfect fit. If you have any specific thoughts to discuss we'd love to hear from you!

What do I need in my Flying Kit?

Wing, Harness, Reserve, Helmet, Quality 2-meter Radio, Flying instruments, Camelbak or water system, Garmin Inreach strongly recommended.

What happens in case of bad weather?

Piedechinche is known for its consistency but in the case of a non-flyable day we have several alternative activities to choose from: Hiking, horseback riding, our a day exploring Cali, or river tubing!

Is Colombia safe?

The local community is very welcoming to paragliders and landowners are excited to have pilots land nearby. While it's always important to use traveling common sense, the areas where we fly are some of the safest in the region. In years of traveling and flying as a solo female pilot, we've never had a negative experience with landing out or retrieves.

What else do I need to do before traveling?

I have a checklist of things I do before leaving the country:

+ Download maps of area for offline use on google maps & my flying GPS

+ Purchase extra insurance (Global Rescue)

+ Check / Set emergency contact information in Garmin Inreach, and let emergency contact know what to do in case of emergency and provide them with policy numbers. Add all insurance policy information to Garmin Inreach 'about me'

+ Confirm my all-up-weight with the gear I intend to bring

+ Check inspection & repack dates on all gear

+ Download music and movies I might want on the trip

Recommendations to pee on long flights?

The two main solutions for being able to hydrate and pee on long flights are adult diapers and the She-p system. How well each will work for you will depend on your individual anatomy and ability to meter it out (hard I know!) I've used both, but transitioned to the She-p system and love it.

She-P 3.0 Paragliding Kit : https://www.she-p.com/product/she-p-for-paragliding-pilots/

I like the skinister medical adhesive a LOT more than the urobond (which I used to repair shoes on my last trip)

Adult Diapers: My favorite brand are the maximum absorbance Silhouette pants from Depend. They can hold 1-2 pees if let out slowly, and don't look terribly bulky under pants. Some people have had difficulty with leakages at higher volumes. Try a few different brands at home to see what works best for you. https://a.co/d/816094I

Whatever option you choose, it's a great idea to get familiar with it and practice at home. you don't have to have a pee system in flight, but it can be a bummer to have to land only because you need to pee, and we all know we don't think best when dehydrated.

We're here to help - Just ask!