Paragliding flight with instructor in Florianópolis

The best part of this Florianópolis experience is the sudden change from beach holiday to silent flight above Brazil’s coast. You launch with a qualified instructor from OVNI Escola de Parapente and glide in a two-person parachute over the island’s northern beaches, including Praia Brava and Ingleses.

I like the school’s more than 30 years of tandem-flight experience, and I like that the activity is private to your group rather than mixed with strangers. The main catch is wind: you may wait before takeoff, and the actual flight lasts about 10 to 15 minutes within a roughly 90-minute appointment.

Key points before you book

• More than 30 years of tandem experience: OVNI Escola de Parapente has long experience with dual flights in Brazil and abroad.
• A short but memorable flight: Expect approximately 10 to 15 minutes in the air, with preparation included in the roughly 1 hour 30 minute experience.
• Certified instruction: Your pilot is qualified by CBVL, the Brazilian Confederation of Free Flight.
• Five northern beaches in the setting: The experience is connected with Praia Brava, Praia dos Ingleses, Ponta das Canas, Praia Cachoeira do Bom Jesus, and Canasvieiras.
• Weather controls the schedule: Suitable wind is essential, so a wait or a new date is possible.
• Private activity: Only your group participates, making the setup more personal and less hectic.

A short flight with a big view

Paragliding gives you a different way to read Florianópolis. From the ground, the island is a collection of beaches, roads, hills, and holiday neighborhoods. From above, the northern coast becomes one broad sweep of sand and water, with the instructor handling the flight while you take in the view.

This is a tandem experience, so you do not need to operate the parachute yourself. The school uses equipment made for dual flights, and the instructor flies with you. That makes the activity accessible to people who want the sensation of paragliding without taking a course or learning the controls first.

The flight itself is short. Ten to 15 minutes may not sound long, but it is enough time to feel the odd calm of being airborne. The reviews describe the flight as exciting without being frightening, and one person who has vertigo said the experience never turned into panic. That is useful context, though fear and comfort vary from person to person.

The whole appointment lasts about 90 minutes. Treat that as a window rather than a promise that you will spend an hour and a half in the air. Much of the time may involve preparation, safety instructions, and waiting for the wind to become suitable.

Meeting OVNI in São João do Rio Vermelho

You meet at OVNI Escola de Parapente, at Servidão Novas Palmeiras, 1414, in São João do Rio Vermelho, Florianópolis. The activity ends back at this meeting point, so plan your day around returning there rather than assuming you will finish at a beach of your choice.

The school operates from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM, Monday through Sunday, during the listed operating period. That afternoon schedule matters in practical terms. You should avoid stacking this with another fixed-time activity immediately afterward, since wind may delay the start.

The experience is private to your group. That does not necessarily mean the instructor is yours for several hours of sightseeing, but it does mean your booking is not described as a large shared tour. For a first aerial activity, that smaller setup can make the instructions easier to follow.

The provider is OVNI Escola de Parapente, a school with more than 30 years of experience in tandem flights. One instructor named in the feedback is known as Mosquito, who flew with his crew and received praise for combining a friendly manner with a serious approach when it was time to fly. The available information does not guarantee that Mosquito will be your pilot, so do not book on the assumption that a particular instructor is assigned.

What the CBVL qualification means for you

Your flight is with an instructor qualified by CBVL, Brazil’s Confederation of Free Flight. That does not remove every risk from an outdoor air activity, but it gives you a clear standard to look for: you are not being handed a parachute and sent up alone.

The preparation is part of the value. You can expect the instructor to organize the tandem equipment and guide you through the process before takeoff. Several comments highlight the team’s professional and safe approach, while one person specifically noted that there was substantial preparation before the jump.

I would pay close attention during the briefing, even if the excitement is building. A tandem flight is simple from the passenger’s point of view, but you still need to listen carefully and follow the instructor’s directions during takeoff and landing.

The description says people of any age can take part. That is broad wording, not a guarantee for every individual. If you have a medical concern, mobility issue, or serious fear of heights, ask the provider before booking. Service animals are allowed, and the meeting point is near public transportation.

Reading the five beaches from the air

The named stops form a useful picture of the area covered by the experience. They are all in or around the northern part of Florianópolis, but the supplied information does not say that you land at each one or spend equal time at all five. Think of them as the coastal setting and route references for the activity, not as five separate beach visits.

Praia Brava

Praia Brava is the most suggestive name on the list. The beach is presented as one of the stops connected with the flight, giving you a coastal reference point as you rise above the island. From the air, the appeal is the change in scale: a beach that feels expansive from the sand becomes part of a larger view of the coastline.

Do not expect a long beach stop here unless the instructor specifically confirms it. The flight is only 10 to 15 minutes, so the main attraction is the view rather than a beach-combing break.

Praia dos Ingleses

Praia dos Ingleses is another northern beach included in the route. It helps place the activity in Florianópolis’s popular beach region rather than in an isolated launch site with no connection to the rest of the island.

If you are trying to photograph the coastline, this is the kind of section where the aerial angle matters more than any single landmark. Keep your attention on the changing shoreline, but listen when the instructor speaks. Your flight time is limited, and safety instructions come first.

Ponta das Canas Beach

Ponta das Canas adds another coastal viewpoint to the itinerary. Its inclusion means the experience is not framed around one narrow patch of sand alone. You get a sense of the northern island’s connected beach communities and shoreline.

The exact view depends on conditions and the flight path. Paragliding is controlled by wind, so avoid expecting a fixed sightseeing circuit in the same way you would on a bus tour.

Praia Cachoeira do Bom Jesus

Praia Cachoeira do Bom Jesus is also included among the named stops. This gives the experience another recognizable point along the northern coast and adds variety to the route.

For you, the practical benefit is that the flight offers more than a straight look down at the launch area. The tradeoff is that no exact aerial sequence is guaranteed in the supplied details. Weather and safe flying conditions have the final say.

Canasvieiras

Canasvieiras completes the five beach references. Together, these locations make the experience especially appealing if you are already staying in or visiting northern Florianópolis and want to see the area from a new angle.

Still, remember the duration. The experience is not a full island sightseeing tour. You are booking a tandem flight, with a short time in the air and a preparation period around it.

Waiting for the right wind

Weather is not a minor footnote here. The provider can cancel the activity in poor weather and offer you a different date or a full refund. That is the sensible policy for a sport that depends on wind and visibility.

You may also wait before flying. One account describes waiting for the wind while staying on a beautiful beach, and the delay was accepted as part of getting safe conditions. This is a good way to approach the booking: bring patience, and do not schedule a tight lunch reservation or airport transfer right afterward.

A weather delay is frustrating if you have only one free afternoon in Florianópolis. It is also preferable to forcing a flight in unsuitable conditions. If your dates are flexible, this experience becomes easier to fit into your trip.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours ahead are not refunded or accepted under the stated policy. The cut-off follows local time.

Is $107.82 a fair price?

At $107.82 per person, this is not a cheap beach activity. You are paying for a tandem flight, trained instruction, specialized equipment, and a private booking arrangement rather than simply renting gear for a few minutes.

The value depends on what you want from Florianópolis. If you are looking for a low-cost way to spend an afternoon, the price may feel high for a flight that lasts only 10 to 15 minutes. If you want one memorable activity with a strong sense of place, the northern beach views make the cost easier to justify.

The school’s long operating history also matters. More than 30 years of dual-flight experience does not guarantee perfect weather or a personal connection with every pilot, but it is a meaningful factor when you are choosing an operator for an aerial activity.

I would compare the price with the cost of other guided adventure activities in your itinerary, not with the price of a beach day. The beach itself is free. The payment here is for the instruction, organization, equipment, and the chance to see the coast from the air.

Who should book this flight?

This is a strong match for you if you want a first paragliding experience without learning to fly solo. The instructor manages the tandem parachute, while you get the sensation and the view.

It also suits visitors who like active sightseeing. You are not simply looking at Florianópolis from a viewpoint. You are part of the experience, with a short takeoff, time in the air, and a return to the meeting point.

The activity may also work for someone nervous about heights, but only if that person is willing to accept some uncertainty. One person with vertigo found the flight calm and beautiful, while another described initial fear before feeling reassured by the preparation. Those experiences suggest that good instruction can help, but it cannot predict your reaction.

This is less suitable if you need a guaranteed start time, a long flight, or a detailed spoken tour of every beach. It is also a poor fit for a packed schedule because wind can delay the activity.

Practical details that affect your day

Confirmation is provided at booking. The meeting point is near public transportation, and service animals are allowed. Most people can participate, and the activity is private to your group.

The listed operating hours are 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM every day. Check the time attached to your booking and leave room for weather changes. Since the tour ends where it starts, arrange your transportation with that return point in mind.

The experience is rated 4.7 out of 5, with 94 percent of customers recommending it. The most consistent strengths are the professional team, careful preparation, friendly atmosphere, safety, and views. The clearest limitation is also consistent with the nature of paragliding: waiting for suitable wind and accepting a short flight.

Should you book OVNI Escola de Parapente?

Book it if you want a compact, high-impact Florianópolis experience and can keep your afternoon flexible. The views across Praia Brava, Ingleses, Ponta das Canas, Praia Cachoeira do Bom Jesus, and Canasvieiras give the flight a real sense of place, while CBVL-qualified instruction and a long tandem-flight history add reassurance.

Skip it if $107.82 feels too much for 10 to 15 minutes in the air, or if a weather delay would disrupt your plans. For everyone else, this is a worthwhile choice for a first tandem flight, especially when you value a private group, careful preparation, and a view you cannot get from the sand.

FAQ

Where does the paragliding experience begin?

It begins at OVNI Escola de Parapente, Servidão Novas Palmeiras, 1414, São João do Rio Vermelho, Florianópolis, SC 88060-208, Brazil.

Where does the activity end?

The activity ends back at the meeting point.

How long does the experience last?

The full experience lasts approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. The actual flight lasts about 10 to 15 minutes.

What beaches are included in the experience?

The named beach areas are Praia Brava, Praia dos Ingleses, Ponta das Canas Beach, Praia Cachoeira do Bom Jesus, and Canasvieiras.

Who operates the flight?

OVNI Escola de Parapente operates the activity. The school has more than 30 years of experience with tandem flights, and flights are led by instructors qualified by CBVL, the Brazilian Confederation of Free Flight.

What happens if the weather is poor?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered another date or a full refund.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.