El Salto
Paragliding site · Mexico
- Launch altitude
- 2,043 m
- Level
- Ask the local school
- Best season
- Dry season
- Landing
- —
Works on NE · E
Where it is
El Salto is a popular thermal, soaring and cross-country site in central Mexico, near San José Iturbide, launching at about 2,043 m in northeast to east wind with roughly 240 m of vertical drop, facing 060°. It draws pilots from as far as 60 miles away, especially during the dry season, and the launch area has the convenience of a restaurant and basic accommodation right next door. Access to the landing zone is on paved road, which is a rare comfort for a Mexican XC site. Top-landing is possible back near launch, but watch out for cactus in the terrain around it. The site sits right on the dividing line between two quite different geographic areas, which means it can occasionally blow out when the two systems clash — worth checking conditions carefully rather than assuming a calm forecast will hold. With good facilities, a defined dry-season window and a straightforward vertical, El Salto is a convenient regional hub for pilots in the area.
Launch & conditions
Launch has about 240 m of vertical, facing 060°, in northeast to east wind; top-landing is possible but watch for cactus in the surrounding terrain.
Getting there & local rules
Reached via San José Iturbide, then El Salto and Tierra Blanca; the landing zone is reached on paved road.
Local rules & hazards
The site sits on the dividing line between two quite different geographic areas, so it can occasionally blow out — check conditions carefully rather than assuming they'll hold.
Check conditions before you fly
A forecast for the valley is not a forecast for the launch. Before heading to El Salto, 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 El Salto with a 7-day forecast built from high-resolution weather models, see who else has been flying, and get there with offline maps.
Conditions right now
Live — the same sources the OutDare app uses
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Is it usually flyable? The 12-month record
In a typical 12–35 km/h wind range, El Salto offered a flyable window on 191 of 365 days (52%) over the last 12 months. Best month: August (81%).
| January42%13/31 | February71%20/28 | March65%20/31 | April50%15/30 | May32%10/31 | June23%7/30 |
| July48%15/31 | August81%25/31 | September43%13/30 | October71%22/31 | November63%19/30 | December39%12/31 |
A day counts as flyable when the surface wind held in your range, from a direction the site flies, with no rain, for at least 2 hours in a row (08:00–20:00) — from hourly 10 m wind over the last 12 months. A seasonal wind guide only: it can't judge gusts, thermals or turbulence, and never replaces the live forecast, airspace checks and your own judgement.
Is it usually flyable?
Set your wing's wind range once — the live 7-day outlook and the last 12 months both answer for El Salto.
Surface wind (10 m) in km/h — the same number you read on any forecast.
The 7-day outlook and the 12-month history below both update to your range.
7-day wind outlook
High-resolution models — the same OutDare uses.
Loading the forecast…
Over the last 12 months
52% of days flyable
191 of 365 days had a dry 2-hour+ window in your range, from a direction this site flies
Best month
Aug · 81%
Flyable days by month
A day counts as flyable when the surface wind held in your range, from a direction the site flies, with no rain, for at least 2 hours in a row (08:00–20:00) — from hourly 10 m wind over the last 12 months. A seasonal wind guide only: it can't judge gusts, thermals or turbulence, and never replaces the live forecast, airspace checks and your own judgement.
Nearby flying sites
Site facts from the OutDare flying-site database. Always verify current access and regulations with the local club before flying.