Paragliding in Canoa, Ecuador is popular and cool to watch.
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When I researched Ecuador before we landed in the country in November, 2010 I searched online for the best inexpensive beach towns that had surfing. The now awesome teen (then a smaller preteen) had become a surfing fanatic, learning the skill in Huanchaco, Peru months before.
After a couple days in the capital city Quito, which I loved but wasn’t a great spot for us for an extended stay, we hopped on a bus and took a death-defying (no, not kidding, I almost got us and our luggage off on a few occasions due to a driver who either was high as a kite or at least driving as if he was) bus ride to the small Pacific coast town Canoa.
There was a nice mix of expats (from the U.S, Canada and Europe) who owned small businesses and local families, day to day life being very low-key. One expat-owned business was Canoa Thrills, who took beginners up for tandem rides, gave lessons and held competitions for professional level paragliders.
The owner was an expert paraglider and instructor plus nice guy, I decided to entrust him with the preteen for an afternoon of fun up in the skies. It was a gorgeous day, and lots of fun watching them run off the cliff then sail around high above.
The preteen made the video above with photographs I had taken.