San Gil, Colombia

Alright… back to Colombia.

Day 3 in Colombia I was in San Gil – which is in the northern part of Colombia right in the middle of the Andes. It is a well known spot for backpackers for an adventure travel spot. And there is nothing I love more than adventure. It is considered the adventure capital of Colombia, filled with whitewater rafting, paragliding, caving, bungee jumping and more. I wish I had more time to spend there – I only spent one day there but I got a lot of adventure while there.

So, what I did I end up doing with only one day ? I went paragliding!!

Paragliding. That’s right, I went paragliding. And it was freaking awesome.

I got in late Monday night to San Gil, checking into the Maconda Hostel at 11pm that night. I get there and then see the board for adventures the next day and there it was – paragliding for 45 minutes in the Chicamocha Canyon. And I signed my name down and went to bed to get ready for my next adventure.

So, the next morning at 10am, I got picked up by the tour company to go paragliding. They picked up two other couples that would be joining in on this adventure – the girls were not paragliding, but their two boyfriends were. I was the only girl in the group ready to jump into a canyon. Myself, the two couples and four others from the paragliding company set of in a decrepit old van, around and around mountain to reach the canyon where we were going set off from. And let me tell you – it was gorgeous.

We get to the bottom of the plateau and then we had a small hike to the top.

Ready to jump off the canyon.

Hiking up to the plateau.

And boy was it windy at the top. Which I guess is perfect when paragliding – because you need the wind to to carry you off and make sure you don’t plop into the middle of some field somewhere.

So next thing I know, we’re all at the top and I start getting strapped in. They tell me the instructions in Spanish and telling me, all I have to do is run.

Strapped in and ready to fly!

Setting up for paragliding.

Once I was set up – I got strapped into my tandem partner, Edward and next thing I know he said run and then we were off. It was exhilarating. It was the most incredible thing I’ve ever experienced. For 45 mintues, Edward took me paragliding up and around the canyon. At one point we were so high we were up in the clouds and all I saw through it all were white clouds. And it was really really cold. But I could see for miles and miles and I didn’t want to come down.

While up there, Edward took it upon himself to do twists and turns in the air and we were doing crazy flips through the air. It was so much fun.

Up in the air.

High up with my tandem partner Edward.

I didn’t want the 45 minutes to end, but end it did. We landed back at the same spot we started and since I was the first person to take off, I was the first person to land. And I was able to watch the other two paragliders land.

After landing. High on adrenaline.

Landing.

I can go on and on about how amazing it was, but it’s hard to describe something that is pretty much indescribable. All I know is that if someone has a chance of paragliding, then to do so because it is something they will never regret.

But I did I tell you that after I landed, I found out that my tandem partner, Edward, was only 20 years old? I’m glad I didn’t find out beforehand or I might have been a bit freaked out. I wonder how much experience he actually had. Or how many of the guys were actually certified. All I know is that we all landed safely and that I’m still alive. And that is all that matters.

But… enjoy some of the video. One of the girlfriends got a video of me taking off and also twirling in the air. It was insane.

I will definitely be going back to San Gil when I go back to Colombia. And if paragliding is anything like skydiving, I cannot wait until June!!!

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