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Guide · Course or Tandem
Paragliding course on Tenerife or rather tandem?
A paragliding course on Tenerife takes you step by step to becoming your own pilot, while a tandem flight gets you into the air today. Here you can read what suits your vacation.
Check availabilityfrom $150 · free cancellation
Editor paraglidingteneriffa.deUpdated on 5 October 2026Reading time: 6 min.3 sources
In short
- 01Tandem
- You fly with a pilot and need no prior experience; in the south from $127.
- 02Course
- You learn to launch, steer, and land on your own over several days.
- 03Rules
- Spanish aviation law does not require a pilot license, but a region or association may ask for documentation.1
- 04Time
- A tandem flight with pickup lasts about 2 hours.
- 05Recommended
- Try a tandem flight first, then decide if you want to learn to fly yourself.
The difference between a course and a tandem flight
A tandem flight and a course are two completely different things, even though both involve a paraglider. In a tandem flight you hang in a harness in front of an experienced pilot, and he takes over all the flying. You do not need to know anything except a few steps at launch. After a morning you are back at the hotel and have experienced the flight.
A course, by contrast, is the beginning of a training. You learn to inflate the wing on the ground, control it, launch, steer, and land on your own. This takes several days, good weather, patience, and an instructor who guides you step by step. At the end you usually complete first short solo flights, with radio guidance from the ground.
So the question is not what is better, but what you want. Do you want to feel what flying is like once? Then a tandem flight is the right choice. Do you want to feel that way again and again, even in your own mountains at home? Then a course is worth it, and Tenerife can be a great place for that.
The Path
From your first tandem flight to your own flight
-
At the Start
Tandem Flight
You experience takeoff, flight, and landing with a pilot.
-
Later
Decide
You check whether you want to learn to fly yourself.
-
Planning
Choosing a school
Language, proof, and practice site are sorted.
-
basic course
Ground Exercises
Inflating, controlling, and running with the wing.
-
First Flights
With Radio
Short flights alone, guided by the instructor.
The tandem flight: the quick way into the air
For a vacation a tandem flight is usually the right choice. It needs no preparation, hardly any time, and no prior knowledge. On this site's flight you are picked up at the hotel, fly with an experienced pilot, and are back after about 2 hours. It fits into any vacation plan.
Tenerife offers a wide choice of tandem flights. In the south there are well-rated flights with pickup from $127. If you want more, you can book an acrobatic flight from $162 or launch from the highlands. For a first flight a gentle glide is completely enough. You then have time to enjoy the views instead of focusing on the next loop, and you learn alongside how calm and steady a wing can hang in the air.
A tandem flight is also a good test. You notice whether you like the altitude, whether you feel queasy when circling, and whether you want to experience the moment of takeoff again. Some guests know right after landing that they want to learn to fly themselves. Others are glad to have experienced it once, and that is perfectly fine too.
Compare
Tandem flight and course side by side
| Question | Tandem Flight | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Who is in control? | The pilot | You yourself |
| Prior experience | None | None, but a willingness to learn |
| Time needed | A Morning | Several Days |
| Weather Dependent | Yes | Very |
| The Result | A Flight Experience | The Way to Flying on Your Own |
| Fits | For Any Holiday Plan | For Longer Stays |
General Comparison; Each School Sets Its Own Course Schedule and Duration.
Ways Into the Air
How You Take to the Air on Tenerife
For beginners
For the bold
For learnersOwn Course
At a flight school
- Taxes
- Self-drive
- Time
- several days
- Certificate
- Clarify with the school
Decision helper
Course or tandem, which suits you?
Typical situations and the right way into the air.
Tandem Flight
No prior experience needed, in a single morning.
Course with recognized certificate
Check the recognition in your country first.
Tandem Flight
A course needs several good flying days.
Acrobatic tandem
from $162 with an experienced pilot.
There is no aviation regulation that requires registration documents or a pilot license for these aircraft. Depending on the autonomous community and the relevant sports federation, a document may be required.
The course: learning to fly on your own
Anyone who wants to learn to fly on their own usually starts with a basic course. First it is all about the ground: how to inflate the wing, how to hold it overhead, how to run. Only once that feels right come short jumps on a gentle slope, and finally the first real flights, with the instructor guiding you by radio.
Such a course takes time and a bit of luck with the weather. Not every day is suitable for practice, and progress also depends on how quickly you learn. If you only have a week of vacation and the wind does not cooperate on several days, you will not get as far as planned. That is why it is better to plan a course for a longer stay.
Some pilots learn to fly in their home country and then come to Tenerife for paragliding trips. Others deliberately start during a vacation because the island's mild weather allows practice even in winter. Both are possible. What matters is that you can have your training recognized at home if you later want to fly there.
Checklist
Before you book a course
01
Ask at the school
- What certificate do I receive at the end?
- In which language is the instruction given?
- What equipment is provided?
- What happens on days without flying weather?
02
Clarify on your own
- Does my insurance cover air sports?
- Do I have enough vacation days?
- Will the course be recognized back home?
Price calculator
How much does the tandem flight cost you?
Choose a flight and the number of people.
people
Total from$300
p. P. from $150
Check availabilityfree cancellationGetYourGuide starting prices, converted using the ECB reference rate. The booking will show you the exact price.
Video
Learning to paraglide: costs, training, and tips
Nothing loads until you tap Play.
Which rules apply in Spain
The legal situation in Spain surprises many who come from Germany. According to the Spanish aviation authority AESA, there is no regulation that specifies a pilot license or aircraft documents for paragliders.1 Depending on the autonomous region and sports association, a document may still be required.1
For you as a course participant this means: ask the school exactly what proof you receive at the end and whether it is valid in your home country. Germany, Austria, and Switzerland have their own rules for training and certificates, and a course abroad must fit those if you later want to fly at home.
Commercial providers in the Canary Islands are required to have insurance. Anyone offering adventure tourism needs, according to the Canary Islands government, an assistance or accident insurance in line with Decree 67/2015.2 Still check your own insurance, because some policies exclude air sports.
How to find a paragliding school on Tenerife
When looking for a paragliding school on Tenerife, pay attention to a few things. The school should tell you exactly what training you receive, in which language instruction takes place, what equipment is provided, and what happens in bad weather. A good school takes time to answer your questions before you pay.
Also ask where they practice. Turismo de Tenerife lists several flying areas on the island, in the north near Los Realejos, in the southwest near Adeje, and in the east near Güímar.3 For beginners gentle practice slopes are more important than high launch sites, and a school should be able to explain where you take your first steps.
The language is especially important when learning. In a course you receive instructions by radio, often at moments when you need to concentrate. If you do not feel confident in the language of instruction, look for a school with instructors who speak your language. That makes the course safer and more relaxed. Feel free to ask for a trial lesson on the practice slope or a short conversation with the instructor before you pay for a multi-day course. That way you quickly see whether the fit is right and whether you understand the explanations well.
From tandem flight to your own wing
A good way for interested people is to start with a tandem flight. You get to know the routine, feel the thermals, and see how a pilot works. Ask your pilot if he explains what he is doing during the flight. That way you get a first impression of steering without being responsible yourself.
If the flight inspires you, you can plan calmly afterward. Look for a school near where you live or plan a longer stay on Tenerife for a course. Talk to pilots, read reviews, and see how much time and money the sport takes in everyday life.
Flying on your own is a hobby that can accompany you for years. It takes you to places you would otherwise never see, and it teaches you to look at the weather with different eyes. But it also requires discipline and respect for nature. A tandem flight is the best way to find out if that fits you.
Our recommendation for your vacation
For a normal vacation we recommend the tandem flight. It fits into any plan, needs no prior experience, and gives you the feeling of flying in a single morning. The flight on this site with the Champion pilots has 4.94 points from 1,169 reviews and costs from $150.
If you already know that you want to learn to fly on your own, plan a course with enough time and clarify in advance what the training is worth at home. A tandem flight on the first day is then a nice warm-up before you start your own practice.
And if you are not sure whether flying is for you at all: give it a try. With an experienced pilot, a small group, and a language you understand, the first flight is an experience you will not regret. And who knows: maybe in a few years you will be at the launch site yourself, watching a tandem guest take their very first step into the air.
Book flight
There is still room for you above the coast of Adeje.
Reserve your spot and pay later, and cancel for free up to 24 hours before if you do not fly.
You ask,we answer.
Can I do a paragliding course on Tenerife?
Yes, at a school. Clarify in advance what proof you receive and whether it is recognized in your home country.
Do I need any prior experience for a tandem flight?
No. The pilot handles the steering, and you only walk a few steps at takeoff.
Do I need a license in Spain?
Not under aviation law. According to AESA, aviation law does not require a license, though the region and the association may ask for a document.1
How long does a tandem flight last?
Around 2 hours including pickup. As long as is the flight on this page scheduled, from pickup to return.
What does a tandem flight cost?
From $127 in the south. Well-rated flights with pickup start at this amount, while the flights on this page begin at $150.
Is a course worth it during a one-week holiday?
Only partly. A course needs several good flight days; with limited time, a tandem flight is the safer choice.
Is there instruction in German?
Ask the school. On the tandem flights of this page, German is one of the pilots' languages.
Sources
Where the information comes from
- 1AESA-Agency for Aerial Safety - MTMSAla delta, parapente y paramotor↩
- 2Gobierno de CanariasTurismo Activo↩
- 3Turismo de Tenerife, S.A.Parapente en Tenerife, una experiencia 360º que debes vivir↩
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