Guide to Belize paraglide holidays

Belize is, to many, the jewel in Central America’s crown. It is a hugely diverse but relatively wealthy and stable country. It has a small but growing population and an incredible variety of wildlife. Belize’s interior is covered with tropical rainforest, and its coast fringed with picture-perfect tropical beaches. Belize is an easy, enjoyable place to travel, with plenty to see and do everywhere you go: you’ll get plenty more than just flying on a Belize paragliding trip.

But there is a catch. Being relatively flat and not particularly windy, Belize isn’t ideal for traditional paragliding. That doesn’t mean you can’t go to Belize and fly. If you’re happy to try your hand at parasailing or paramotoring, you’ll be able to get up in the air in Belize itself. Otherwise, it’s just a short hop over the border to Lake Aitalian in Guatemala. There, you’ll be able to enjoy one of the world’s best paragliding sites.

Lake Aitalian is a large, deep lake in the Guatemalan highlands. Its calm waters are surrounded by volcanoes. It attracts professional paragliders from around the world…and a fair few keen amateurs and backpacking beginners, of course! A flight over the lake will take you over its eerily calm water, past volcano cones wrapped in low cloud. You’ll then land in the bustling, colourful little town of Panajachel.

When you’ve finished exploring Aitalian from the air, you can head back to Belize for some R&R. Another option for Belize based travellers wanting to fly is to travel north to Mexico. However you choose to do it, a Belize paragliding trip is best done during the dry months of November to May. Belize is a fascinating and fun country to visit, with great paragliding easily accessible close by.