Tandem Paragliding in Madalena do Mar, Madeira

Take to the skies on a tandem paragliding flight in Madalena do Mar, Madeira, where volcanic cliffs drop straight into the Atlantic Ocean. On Madeira’s southwest coast, Madalena do Mar is known for its sea cliffs and coastal banana groves, and its sea breezes and thermals are well suited to paragliding. As your glider catches the breeze, you rise above the coastline with open views of terraced hillsides, traditional villages and the ocean horizon.

Your experience begins at the meeting point in Madalena do Mar, where you meet your pilot for a safety briefing. A short transfer then takes you up to the take-off site overlooking the ocean. There, your pilot fits you with a harness and helmet and checks all the safety equipment. Taking off requires a short run into the wind before you lift off smoothly into the air. During the 15 to 20-minute flight, your pilot handles all the controls and follows the coastal updrafts while you sit back and enjoy the view of Madeira’s sea cliffs, coastal roads and the ocean below. If you wish, your pilot can record photos and videos of your flight for €20, payable on site.

Tandem paragliding requires no previous flying experience, so it is open to first-time flyers from 12 years old. Every flight is a 1-on-1 tandem flight with a pilot licensed and registered with the Portuguese Federation of Free Flight, who knows Madeira’s wind patterns well. Participants simply need to be able to run 20 metres without assistance. All flight equipment, including helmets and certified tandem harnesses, is provided on site.

Flights run all year except from 15 January to 15 March and depend on wind and thermal conditions: for your safety, your flight may be rescheduled if conditions are not suitable. Book your tandem flight and discover Madeira’s coastline from the sky!