Crucita

Crucita sits on a coastal mountain in Ecuador at around 100 m, with sweeping views down to the village below and Manta visible in the distance. The launch is flat, spacious and unobstructed, catching steady westerly wind straight off the ocean, and both tandem and solo flying happen here regularly. Commercial tandem flights run through an on-site kiosk with authorized pilots only; solo pilots fly for free, with no landing or launch fee. Wind typically runs up to about 35 km/h — visible on the ocean surface before it reaches you — and the site is sunny and warm essentially year-round. Getting there is easy: a paved road reaches the launch within minutes of the beach, and taxis serve the area if you're not driving. The usual landing is a straightforward top landing; a beach landing is also an option, though at high tide there's very little sand left to work with, so check the tide before counting on it. There's an on-site restaurant with outdoor seating close enough to takeoff and landing that pilots and diners share the view.

Launch & conditions

Takeoff is flat, spacious and unobstructed at around 100 m, catching steady westerly wind off the ocean. Tandem flights run through an on-site kiosk with authorized pilots only; solo pilots fly free of charge.

Getting there & local rules

A paved road reaches the launch within minutes of the beach; taxis are also available if you're not driving yourself.

Check conditions before you fly

A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to Crucita, read the wind and thermals for the site itself, confirm the day's rules with the local club, and remember the standing rule — when in doubt, don't launch. In the free OutDare app you can open Crucita with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.