The Risco de Famara is a wall of cliff about 15 km long in the north-west of Lanzarote, rising to 671 m at Peñas del Chache, the highest point on the island (Wikipedia). Below it are the village of Caleta de Famara, its beach and, out to sea, the island of La Graciosa. It is the flight most paragliders come to Lanzarote for.
What you will see
On a flying day the wings take off from the hills above Teguise, at Los Pechos, or from the top of the cliff by the Ermita de las Nieves, and fly along the face of the cliff. The wind hits the cliff and is pushed upwards, and the gliders ride that rising air for as long as it blows, sometimes all the way along the cliff to the Mirador del Río. Most of them land on Famara beach.
When it flies
Famara needs the wind to blow onto the cliff, from the north-west, west or north. The usual north-easterly trade wind blows along it instead, so Famara is not an everyday site: its days come mostly with the weather systems of October to March. When the wind is right, it is the best flight on the island.
Where to watch from
- Famara beach, at Caleta de Famara. The landing field for most flights, with the whole cliff behind it.
- The Ermita de las Nieves, on the road along the top of the cliff. One of the takeoffs is just behind it.
- Los Pechos, the hills above Teguise, where many flights start.
Flying here yourself
You do not need to be a pilot to fly here. Tandem flights take off at Famara when the wind suits it, with a professional pilot flying the wing and you sitting in front. Look for the button below.
If you are a pilot bringing your own wing, read Paragliding at Famara first: it covers the three takeoffs, the wind each one needs and the hazards.
