Costa Rica 2008

[nick crane]

I'll been leading trips to Costa Rica from late dec to mid March. I stilll have space available in early January, and from mid Feb to mid March. Here's more info.


COME FLY COSTA RICA! Paracrane will be offering paragliding tours to Costa Rica this winter 2008. We will be leading small groups to a variety of wonderful flying sites from Mt San Miguel to Escaleras de Dominical. While paragliding in Costa Rica is always an adventure, it's great for any level of pilot. Tours will be lead by Nick Crane, Paragliding Instructor, Tandem Instructor and veteren Central American traveller. One week tours will be Saturday to Saturday. Nick will pick pilots up at the San Jose airport, and we will continue 1 1/2 hours to the west coast where our base of operations will be a brand new bed and breakfast for paragliders owned and run by our host Fred, known to local pilots as Grandpa Ninja. Most tours will be from 2-4 pilots, but we can accomodate up to 8 people with 2 guides (Nick and Fred) and two 4-wheel drive vehicles. While most launches are a 2-wheel driveup, some require 4-wheel drive, so we are always prepared to access the best sites at the optimum times with the best equipment.
INCLUDED: All transportation in Costa Rica, lodging and breakfast, guiding and coaching are included.
PRICES: Prices are $995 a week per person, double occupancy ($100 extra for single occupancy) call about discounts for couples or 2 week stays.

TYPICAL WEEK in PARADISE: Because we know the area, and we always have a small group, we are flexible in our flying plans. If conditions aren't optimal at one location we can easily try another site. Mother Nature has no guarantees, but last year we missed 2 days of flying in 3 months due to the weather! We usually take at least one trip to Dominical, 3 hours south of the bed and breakfast for a few days, one of the most beautiful flying sites you'll ever experience. We can fly every day for hours, or take a break for a day or an afternoon and explore a cloud forest, go rafting, surfing, take a Spanish lesson, or chill at the beach. The area we fly is remarkably diverse, with some dry forested cliffs with cactus, mixed tropical forest and lush rain forest. You will see iguanas, monkeys, pelicans, frigate birds, hawks, eagles, vultures and crocodiles (from a bridge!) and often macaws and toucans. Most sites are P-2 friendly depending on conditions, with plenty of fun and challenge for experienced pilots. We will be flying both oceanside soaring sites and inland thermal sites. The soaring sites give a great opportunity to hone soaring skills and toplanding as well as a chance to do maneuvers over the water for experienced pilots. The inland sites give a chance to refine thermaling techniques, active piloting and fly short XC.
Every year we pioneer new sites in Costa Rica. Many of our sites are privately owned and maintaining good relationships with the landowners and local communities has been our priority.

FOOD: We will have breakfast together (included in the tour package) at either Fred's place or a local soda (Costa Rican cafe), lunches we usually grab on the go, dinners we go to one of several local restaurants, where a great locally caught fish dinner and a beer is usually less than 10 bucks.
WATER: You CAN drink the water, it's treated in the whole country, but the bottled water tastes better.

EQUIPMENT DEALS: Nick is west coast importer for Niviuk Paragliders, as well as Costa Rican Importer. Call for a sweet deal!

CONTACT: For more information and updates go to:
http://www.paracrane.com
email: nick@paracrane.com or call Nick at 541-840-8587
Let's figure out a week or 2 that works for you
non-refundable deposit of $500 per person