Tandem paragliding over Iquique, from Alto Hospicio down to the beach

Iquique is one of the best places in the world to paraglide: the wind is steady almost all year and the dune drops straight onto the city and the ocean. We take off from Alto Hospicio, about 500 metres up, and fly tandem with a professional instructor pilot from Puro Vuelo, a school whose pilots have led Chile's national tandem championships since 2007. The flight lasts at least 20 minutes and the landing spot is chosen on the day depending on conditions: Huayquique beach, Playa Brava, Cavancha or the Dragon Dunes. You can take photos and film with your phone, and you also fly with a GoPro. Weight between 30 and 130 kg; people with disabilities can fly after an assessment with the instructor. Weather can mean waits of 30 to 90 minutes. Wear comfortable clothes, closed shoes (ideally ankle-high), a sweater or windbreaker, sunglasses and sunscreen.