Is paragliding safe in Tenerife?
No form of aviation or outdoor activity is completely risk-free. In tandem paragliding, risk is reduced through qualified pilots, certified equipment, conservative weather decisions, clear procedures and correct passenger participation.
I am Gustavo Lezcano. I flew paragliders for more than 30 years and have been involved in organising tandem flights in Tenerife for over two decades. As co-founder of Overfly Tenerife, my responsibility is not to convince everyone to fly, but to explain the conditions that must be met before we accept an activity.
This guide explains what managing safety really means, what a passenger should check before booking and why local experience matters when paragliding in Tenerife.
What makes a tandem flight safe?
Safety does not depend on one piece of equipment or simply on how many years a pilot has flown. It depends on a complete chain of decisions and checks, from before booking until landing.
- A legally registered and properly insured operator.
- A qualified, experienced pilot with liability insurance.
- A conservative assessment of wind, clouds, visibility and the forecast evolution.
- A take-off and landing area suitable for the conditions and the passenger.
- Certified equipment that is maintained and checked before the flight.
- A briefing the passenger understands and can follow.
- A genuine willingness to cancel when any condition is unsatisfactory.
A sunny day is not enough. Safety comes from checking the whole chain and never forcing one of its elements.
What safety equipment is used?
A professional tandem system includes a wing designed and certified for a pilot and passenger, dedicated harnesses, connection points and carabiners, protection, helmets and an emergency reserve parachute independent of the main wing.
Before take-off, the connections between wing and harnesses, passenger position, fastenings, helmet and any item that could interfere with the launch or flight are checked. The equipment must suit the passenger’s weight and size; it is not enough that it simply “fits”.
The tandem system carries one emergency reserve for the pilot-passenger unit. It is neither an individual parachute for the passenger nor a second paraglider wing. Our guide to why paragliders carry an emergency reserve explains when and how it works.
Why does Tenerife weather require local experience?
It can be sunny with little wind by the sea while conditions are different at a mountain take-off. Wind direction and strength, thermal activity, clouds, visibility and landing conditions can vary between sites and throughout the day.
We therefore do not choose a take-off only for the view or guarantee an exact route in advance. The pilot and operations team assess which site is suitable for the actual conditions and for the passenger’s weight, mobility and experience.
To understand why an activity may be postponed while the sky over Costa Adeje looks blue, read our guide to paragliding weather and cancellations in South Tenerife.
Is paragliding safe for beginners?
A tandem flight is designed so that someone with no previous experience can fly with a pilot. The passenger does not control the wing, but does take part in two important moments: take-off and landing.
Before launch, the pilot explains how to position yourself, when to walk or run and what not to do. The key instruction is usually to keep moving until the pilot says otherwise, without jumping or sitting too early. Landing instructions depend on the site and the conditions.
You need no technical knowledge, but you must understand the briefing and cooperate. If your concern is fear rather than the procedure, Inés explains how we help passengers who feel nervous before their first tandem flight.
What responsibility does the passenger have?
The operator and pilot are responsible for the operation, but they need accurate information and the passenger’s cooperation. Before flying, disclose your real weight, any mobility difficulty and any health condition, injury, pregnancy or medication that could affect the activity. If there is a medical doubt, consult a healthcare professional before booking.
You must also wear secure closed shoes, clothing that allows you to move and follow the instructions. Phones, cameras and other loose objects may not be used in flight unless expressly authorised and secured.
You can check what to wear for tandem paragliding and review how the process works from booking to landing.
Who should not paraglide?
Tandem paragliding is not suitable for every person or every circumstance. Age alone does not determine suitability: mobility, the ability to understand instructions, safe equipment fit and the conditions of the day all matter.
Do not conceal a recent injury, difficulty walking or running, an illness that may affect participation, or the use of alcohol or substances that impair attention. A case may need to be assessed before the flight day.
What happens if conditions change?
Conditions are observed before and during the activity. If they are no longer suitable before take-off, the flight may be delayed, moved to another site, rescheduled or cancelled. That can be frustrating, but it is part of a professional service.
If conditions evolve in flight, the pilot may change the route, shorten the duration or use an alternative landing area. Duration and route must never take priority over a conservative decision.
How does Overfly Tenerife manage safety?
Overfly Tenerife operates as a registered active-tourism company in the Canary Islands (TA-4-0026143.23) and as a travel agency (I-AV-0004975.1), with €600,000 in liability cover. The pilots providing the service are self-employed professionals, must carry their own cover and work within the activity’s operating procedures.
Before confirming the operation, we review passenger information and the forecast. On the flight day, conditions are assessed again, a usable site is selected, the equipment is fitted and the briefing is given. If one part of that sequence is not satisfactory, the activity is changed or does not take place.
Safety is not a promise that nothing can happen. It means identifying foreseeable risks, reducing them and always retaining the option to say: “We are not flying today.”
So, is paragliding in Tenerife safe?
It can be suitable for beginners when carried out with a responsible operator, qualified pilot, certified equipment, appropriate conditions and a passenger able to follow instructions. It is not a zero-risk activity, and no serious professional should present it that way.
After more than three decades connected to paragliding, my conclusion is simple: experience matters, but judgement matters even more. A good flight begins with a good decision on the ground.
If you understand how we manage safety and want to choose the right experience, you can compare our tandem paragliding flights before booking.