ZERO GRAVITY PARAGLIDING SPAIN - Algodonales, Cádiz

Tom Shea

If I could have given 6 stars, I would. I have no doubt that learning to paraglide with Zero Gravity has been one of the best experiences of my life.

I was apprehensive at first - heights make me very uncomfortable. I booked the combined EP + CP course as a personal challenge, to overcome fear and to experience flight. The instructors Luisma, Ivan, Jorge and José are the pinnacle of professionalism, patient but firm, with excellent English and tons of passion, and built up my confidence through a multifaceted curriculum of theory, ground handling, tandem and solo flying until I was soaring and relaxed in the sky!

They are all extraordinary pilots, have vast local expertise about terrain and weather, and are meticulously safety-aware, including a healthy mistrust of other pilots outside of the school. If the conditions and situation were not perfect for learning, we did not fly - and this was exactly what I wanted as a timid beginner, and this bolstered my confidence when it was time for me to launch. We were almost always the first to each launch site too - completing our first flights of the day before the other schools arrived.

Algodonales is a beautiful little pueblo blanco nestled in a valley with stunning scenery all around - dramatic hills with geologic formations, rolling farmland, lakes Moorish castles. The visibility was amazing.  We did the course in February 2024 and the weather was generally great, with a few days of rain which kept the vegetation lush and green. Apparently Algodonales gives you more flyable days of the year than anywhere else in the world, because you need a launch site for every possible wind direction. On days when we couldn't fly, the instructors were kind enough to take us to nearby attractions like Cueva de la Pileta, where we saw twenty thousand year old cave paintings and incredible stalactites. Out of pure luck, the Carnival took place on the middle Saturday of our course, where the whole town comes out in fancy dress and dances to music on floats pulled by local tractors! They burned an effigy by the church on the Sunday. The food in Algodonales is very tasty and very cheap if you're coming from London. All across the town there are natural mineral water springs which you can drink from freely. We went on runs in the evenings and hikes up the neighbouring mountains and spent some time in Ronda - Algodonales would have been a nice holiday even if we weren't learning to fly!

By the end of the two weeks, I had 19 flights under my belt (4 in tandem), at 5 different sites. I had seen a 70 year old student fly happily. And most importantly, I knew that I had taken a profound, courageous, and memorable step towards living the life I had always dreamed of: as a paragliding club pilot, adventuring through the atmosphere in zero gravity.

I will be back as soon as I can to do a Low Air Time Pilot guided tour.

Pavel Liubinskii

I flew with the guys in September 2023 and have nothing but positive to share about the XC camp. Everything was organized professionally, including detailed morning briefings, logistics, and flights. Jose is good as an instructor and as a person. It was a pleasure to deal with him and Zero Gravity. I had tons of fun and will definitely come again.

Mark Tatham

I did a one week flying holiday with Zero gravity and it was awesome. We flew every day and several different sites. Great conditions and good staff. Our guide Jorge was a very good guide and a great person. Full of interesting stories and advice. It was a top notch experience and I am looking forward to my next Zero Gravity adventure.

Rob Anderson

Fantastic week flying with Zero Gravity in Algodonales. A great time flying XC in the area. Very professional outfit with the most knowledgeable guides and instructors in the area. I booked accommodation through Zero Gravity and stayed at the Owl and The Moon apartment which is owned by Jorge - everything we needed and a great place to stay. I’ll be back next year.
Thanks for everything!

Novi Dewan

Three things will (most likely) happen after you learn with Zero Gravity
(1) you will fly - solo!
(2) you will find your tribe
(3) you will want to come back to Zero Gravity. And soon!
Optional 4): for many crazy ones like us, you will find yourself getting addicted to ?

ZG‘s team are big on safety, teach amazingly and are SO motivated to help their students learn well, enjoy their flight while being safe.

It doesn’t get better than Algodonales in Spain and ZG are the local eagles ? They know their terrain, have eons of experience and are deeply dedicated.
An example would be - when the weather conditions don’t permit closer flying sites, the guys will drive you two hours away to the coast if it is flyable there!

“Who are these mysterious local rockstars” you ask? José, Luisma, Jorge, Iván, George 🙂 ?

Despite the tangible techniques that one learns on the skill, there is something about paragliding that makes it gloriously esoteric ❤️

Even for the least spiritual of us - flying without an engine will make us feel alive; we grab the ephemeral even if for a few minutes. And move outside a comfort zone that is both exciting and yet strangely comfortable.

Final words: You‘ve got to experience it! It is beautiful and simply epic with Zero Gravity. (ps: no commissions awarded for this review, I promise) ?
And lift- off! ?

Irene CD

The team at Zero Gravity is very skilled, supportive, and patient. I came twice for the club pilot course, they guided me through all the techniques and practices until I felt confident to do my first few flights.

They make paragliding seem easy. I feel they are one of the best paragliding schools in Algodonales and probably in Spain. Strongly recommended.

I can't be grateful enough for all their coaching and help.

Paul Waldron

Very knowledgeable friendly professional instructors. Great place to learn paragliding or just to improve. Superb place in Algodonales if you want to soar with the buzzards.

Jaap le Poole

I flew with José in the XC course. My skills definately went up a level to make me more a efficient and effective pilot. Besides the flying also good theory presentations were used where needed with ample time for flight prep and debrief.