Tandem Paragliding is for the thrill-seeker who has saved up enough money for their next travel adventure. Make the memory of a lifetime at Oslob Cebu Paragliding Development, the only paragliding site in the entire Visayas, with a highly capable and professional team of instructors!
Tandem paragliding is perfect for people who want to alleviate their stress levels effectively. It would surely appeal to people of all ages: students, workaholics, parents, and even seniors who want to stay active! Instead of stress eating, or retail therapy, why don’t you give paragliding a try? It is a surefire way to give your brain the reset it needs from daily stressors in life– without having to deal with buyer’s remorse afterward.
If you have thoughts like “I do not want a mediocre travel experience, I want to feel alive!”, then you should go tandem paragliding!
Table of Contents
What is paragliding?
Paragliding is defined by Britannica as “the sport of flying parachutes with design modifications that enhance their gliding capabilities.” In addition, paragliding is a sport that can be both recreational and competitive. To add to this, unlike airplanes, paragliding utilizes lightweight, free-flying and foot-launched gliders with no rigid primary structure.
The pilot positions themselves inside the seated harness, and controls the paraglider wing (the teardrop shaped fabric from where the harness dangles from) via the lines attached to the edges of the paraglider.
In order to launch, the pilot prepares the wing the way one would do with a kite– by pulling it up, and running down the hillside until the paraglider wing catches the wind and flying speed is reached.
With that said, takeoff and landing are usually on foot and take place on a hill, mountain, or elevated surface of land. In addition, landing should be done on a wide open space.
Paragliding is said to have originated in France in the 1950’s, when engineer Pierre-Marcel Lemoigne developed the “ascending-gliding parachute” for sport parachute enthusiasts and military pilot training. Predictably, the design has evolved over the years, but this invention has supported and radically influenced tactical programs, weaponry, transportation of goods and cargo, and even space exploration programs!
The story behind Oslob Cebu Paragliding Development (OCPD)
In 2017, Malcolm Vargas, an American paraglider based in Taiwan, visited Cebu in search of the perfect paragliding spot. Like so many of us, he was drawn to the small, quiet and quaint coastal town in the south of the island– Oslob.
Vargas found Oslob to be the best place away from the city to unwind from the stressors that urban life brings with its fresh air, friendly locals and tourist spots. This is because the sea breeze at Oslob is also present year-round, and the location has wide, open spaces which are ideal for landing.
Following this, Vargas was introduced to Tito Rendon, a fisherman, and the two became close friends. It did not take long for Rendon to be taken and fascinated by the world of paragliding. Rendon found himself breaking his usual daily routine as a fisherman and learning all there is to know about paragliding.
He traveled to Sarangani in the Soccsksargen Region for practice and received further training and certification by overseas instructors from Paraglide Tandem International (PTI). PTI is a nonprofit organization based in New Jersey, USA, of safety pilots whose main focus is to promote the sport of paragliding.
Unsurprsingly, Tito Rendon has been in love with paragliding ever since. He shares with CSP, “It might look scary, but that’s only for the first few times. Once you have gotten the hang of it, you will definitely get addicted. It’s a lot like biking, but in the air. Now, we are always on the lookout for the perfect weather and wind so we can paraglide!”
Tito Rendon opened Oslob Cebu Paragliding Development in 2018. As a result, aspiring pilots and instructors like him then started learning and practicing off their current base, but OCPD did not take in customers until 2020.
Sadly, OCPD had to suddenly halt operations two years ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The upside is, this gave them more time to train and prepare the area. Now, they’re readier than ever to introduce the joy of tandem paragliding in the Visayas!
As of 2022, OCPD has 3 instructors. According to Mr. Rendon, overseas instructors will be visiting in May 2022 to conduct training.
Services offered at Oslob Cebu Paragliding Development
Solo Paragliding
Open to all licensed paragliding pilots, local and international.
Site Fee: Php 250 (5 USD) but use your own gear!
Tandem Paragliding
Price: Php 3,500 / pax (68 USD)
Inclusives: all flying equipments, pilot, site fee for both take-off and landing
Ages: 12 yrs old and up
Maximum weight: 100 kilograms (passenger only)
Paragliding Lessons
Lesson Fee: Php 35,000 (675 USD)
Site Fee: Php 250 (5 USD) but use your own gear!
Camping
Entrance Fee: Php 200 (4 USD) with complimentary morning snack (painit)
Bring your own tent/hammock or you may rent:
- Tent Rental good for 2 pax: Php 150 (3 USD)
- Tent Rental good for 4 pax: Php 200 (4 USD)
Corkage Fee: Php 500 (10 USD)
Viewing Deck
Do I have to paraglide if I drop by the site? Can’t I just hang out? The answer is yes!
Entrance: Php 25 pesos ($0.50)
They are also eyeing the end of April 2022 to launch wall climbing at the same site! In addition, Oslob already offers lots of other sports in the area: motocross, downhill mountain bike, downhill skateboarding and sportfishing!
What is Tandem Paragliding?
Tandem Paragliding is essentially two people paragliding together, hence “tandem” – one passenger and one instructor.
Everyone wants to fly, but not just anyone can maneuver a paraglider! The beauty of tandem paragliding is that even non-pilots can enjoy the sublime adrenaline rush of flying without any skill and experience. This is because the expert paraglider will do all the work for you.
The passenger will have to run a little bit during take-off. After ascent, the expert pilot will soon give the instruction to sit back in the harness, all that’s left to do is to relax and enjoy the views!
Equipment for Paragliding
- Airbag
- Anemometer
- Binoculars
- Helmets
- Radio
Information you must know before Tandem Paragliding
Paragliding is not a cheap sport. This owes to the fact that a lot of care and investment go into the equipment, pilot training and safety measures. Moreover, neither is it just about taking off whenever the wind blows.
The pilots at OCPD share with us information you need to know:
1️. Paragliding is highly dependent on the wind. The wind has to be a certain direction and speed before taking off.
The pilots at OCPD use a device called an anemometer to measure the wind speed. The wind speed helps indicate a change in weather patterns, like a storm, which is a deciding factor if it is a good time to paraglide or not.
According to the pilots, the “wind must be slow, but not too slow.” With that said, the gust of wind should not exceed 22 kilometers per hour, otherwise it is too strong.
Tito Rendon jokingly said, “here, we call the waiting time ‘para-waiting’.”
You may notice this cylindrical-shaped cloth when you are at the site. This is called a windsock.
It is a basic guide to wind direction and speed. According to the pilots at OCPD, for paragliding, the wind must be steady and should come from any one of these three directions: northeast, east or southeast.
2. The warmer, the better for paragliding. Pilots note that that it is around 10AM to 2PM when the wind is usually steady and is at just the right speed. In addition, summer (March-May in the Philippines) is the best season for paragliding.
Why is this so?
The wind, even when we do not feel it, is never completely still– air molecules are constantly moving, bouncing around and hitting each other. This act of colliding against each other creates air pressure. Air has mass and gravity drags it down.
However, unlike solid objects, air does not fall straight down but it goes out in all directions.
When the sun heats up the Earth during the summertime, the heat is not evenly distributed but it is transferred to the air. The uneven distribution of heat to the air means there will be areas of low and high pressure. These two areas collide with each other, and this is the wind we feel.
Basically, there are more chances of catching the perfect wind for paragliding during the summer or during the afternoon because pressure increases in warm temperatures.
Contact OCPD before coming to the site. They are willing to accommodate beyond the limited slots per day as long as the weather is good and suitable for flying.
3. Tandem paragliding is an 8-15 minute long activity. For first timers, they begin to feel a little lightheaded after 8 minutes in the air. For experts and experienced pilots, they can stay in the air for as long as 3 hours!
Hence, after 8 minutes or so, the pilot will look for a space to land. Following this, a car will bring you back to the paragliding site. The travel time is about 10 minutes. This service is already inclusive of the fee.
4. Maximum weight of the passenger is 100kg (220 pounds). The weight limit exists because the combined weight of the passenger, pilot and necessary gear affects the level of control, safety and enjoyment of the activity.
Weight is especially crucial if there is hardly any wind. Hence, pilots would definitely refuse to fly when the combined weight is close to the limit.
OCPD also allows 2 passengers at once but both must have exactly the same weight. Otherwise, the glider may tip over to one side during the flight! Additionally, their combined weight must not exceed 100kg.
5. Kids as young as 12 years old can paraglide. OCPD can also cater to even younger kids (10 years old) but only if they can fit snugly inside the seated harness.
Step-by-step guide to Tandem Paragliding with OCPD
1️. Waiver and Payment. Sign the waiver and pay the necessary fees.
2. Brief Orientation. The instructors are friendly and will answer any questions you may still have.
Do a bathroom break before you gear up for your trip! OCPD has restrooms on site (one for men and one for ladies).
3. Parawaiting. This would be a good time to familiarize yourself with the cameras.
4. Run and… take-off! Make sure your camera is on!
The best angle is from up above (so the camera captures the scenery below you as well) or to position the camera from below your torso (this way, you don’t look stagnant on camera).
You may bring your own Go Pro cameras, though OCPD also offers rental of their own.
5. Landing! Good job!
Wait for their car to pick you up and bring you back to the site (or, you can ask them to drop you off somewhere else along their way back, if you wish).
Rental of Go Pro (standard): Php 500
Rental of Go Pro (360): Php 700
Tandem Paragliding: Php 3,500 / pax
Estimated total expenses: Php 4,000-4,200 (78~82 USD) / pax
If you choose to rent their cameras, OCPD advises to bring your own SD Card.
When is it not advisable to do tandem paragliding?
Apart from the aforementioned weight limit, here are other factors that should be taken into consideration:
- Low to Zero visibility. Paragliding is impossible during bad weather and when it is dark.
- Alcohol Intoxication. When the passenger (and/or pilot, of course!) has had any alcohol before take-off.
- Heart conditions or anxiety. Paragliding may be too overwhelming an experience. Open up if you have any heart conditions, or if you are prone to anxiety or panic attacks.
How should I dress for tandem paragliding?
- Sunglasses. This is especially useful if you will be paragliding at midday, when the sunlight is quite harsh.
- Comfortable clothing and closed shoes. Long pants and sleeves are advisable, but not required. Moreover, flip-flops or any open footwear are not allowed.
- Use Go Pro Cameras. It is recommended to rent Go Pro Cameras as they come with the handy camera stick/extension pole. Bringing your phones during flight is not advisable because you may drop them.
How to get to Oslob Cebu Paragliding Development (OCPD)
There are four ways to get to Oslob: by private car, taxi, Ceres bus or with CSP Cebu!
For this article, we will cover the last three methods:
Taxi & Motorcycle
A one-way trip to Oslob via taxi will cost you around Php 1,500 (around 30 USD).
However, it is unlikely for taxi drivers to agree to a one-way trip. Why? The chances of them meeting a passenger on their way back to the city is low, and driving back to the city passenger-less is a waste of time and gas.
It will also be hard for taxis to drive up to the paragliding site. Taxis will have to drop you off at 7/11 or Oslob Centro. Afterwards, you would have to ride a motorcycle (habal-habal) for the next 300-500 meters to get to OCPD.
If you are keen on availing a taxi for your trip, it is best to contact a taxi company ahead of time as it is easier than negotiating with the taxi driver on the spot. It is not everyday that they get requests for a trip to the South.
| TAXI SERVICE | CONTACT DETAILS |
| Airland Taxi | (032) 255 1319 |
| Atlax Taxicab | (032) 253 6637 |
| Blue Eye Taxi | (032) 238 0307 |
| Catz Taxi | (032) 414 6449 |
| Corominas Taxi | 0939 424 4492 (Smart) |
| Danny’s Cebu Taxi Service (Danao City) | 0906 153 4659 (Globe) |
| Good Shepherd Taxi | (032) 345 0861 |
| Holiday Taxi | (032) 345 1622 |
| Ken Taxi Services (Talisay City) | 0915 895 2544 (Globe) |
| Kevin Mitz Taxi | (032) 255 1319 |
| King Spider Taxi | (032) 261 6655 |
| Scorpion Taxi | (032) 254 4335 |
Taxi (round trip): Php 3,000 (58 USD)
Motorcycle (round trip): Php 200 (4 USD)
Estimated total amount of expenses: Php 3,200 (62 USD)
Ceres Bus
You may travel to Oslob via Ceres Bus. It will still take you about 4 hours to get there.
To do so, here are the steps:
- Go to the South Bus Terminal. This is where you will find several buses headed to different areas.
- Head to the ticketing counter to pay. The fare to Oslob is around Php 300 (6 USD) for one-way.
- Find the bus headed to “Oslob”. There are several personnel in the terminal who can help you. As a matter of fact, they tend to approach travelers first to ask where they are headed, and they will direct you to the right bus.
- Disembark at Oslob Centro or 7/11. From here, you will take a motorcycle to Oslob Cebu Paragliding Development.
Location: N. Bacalso Avenue, Cebu City, Cebu 6000
Contact Number: (032) 253 3830
Travel time: 4 hours to Oslob + 10-15 minute motorcycle ride to OCPD
Bus fare (round trip): Php 600 (12 USD)
Motorcycle fare (round trip): Php 200 (4 USD)
Estimated total amount of expenses: Php 800 (16 USD)
1. If you are prone to motion sickness, sit on the first few rows instead of the back, and bring medicine with you. The ride up to OCPD is long and winding, so may even bring a barf bag or sickness bag.
2. Do a bathroom break before leaving, otherwise, you’d have to wait for the bus to halt at a stopover before getting to a toilet.
3. Bring smaller bills and coins with you. Otherwise, if you pay with huge bills like Php 1000 or Php 500, you may not get the change back!
Travel to Oslob with CSP Cebu!
This would be the most convenient way: guides will pick you up from your hotel and be with you the entire time. You will not have to worry about getting lost, looking for transportation, or struggling with the language barrier (if you are a foreigner).
- All entrance fees
- Face mask
- Female guide from CSP Planet
- Local driver from CSP Planet
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Free use of Go Pro Camera
Due to the unpredictability of the weather conditions for paragliding, please coordinate your travel plans and expectations with CSP. To make the most of the trip to the South, customers typically make visits to neighboring tourist spots before paragliding. Hence, rates will vary.
There is also a money-back guarantee, so in the event that, say, the site had to unexpectedly close for the day, you will be refunded in full!
You may contact us through the following:
CSP Travel and Tours Inc. is accredited by the Department of Tourism and all tour packages are approved by the Philippine Ministry of Tourism.
Experience/comments on Tandem Paragliding
The paragliding experience for me was overall very exhilarating, and beyond what I expected. I had thought it would be like parasailing but it’s way better. Each turn of the glider took my breath away. I would surely try it again. It’s highly recommended for people who want an experience to remember.
Tandem Paragliding Media
Summary on Tandem Paragliding
1. Tandem Paragliding is perfect for those who are willing to spend on a unique travel experience.
2. Paragliding is highly dependent on the weather, so contact and coordinate first before dropping by the site.
3. The best time to paraglide is at 10AM-2PM.
4. Solo travelers will be spending Php 4,800~7,200 in total (100~140 USD).
5. The safest and most convenient way to get to the paragliding site is through availing a tour package.
Address: Can-anao Road, Poblacion, Oslob, Cebu
Opening Hours: 8AM-4PM everyday, even on holidays!
Travel time from Mactan: 4 hours
Travel time from Cebu City: 3 hours
Official Facebook Page: Oslob, Cebu Paragliding
Contact Number: 0927 641 1122