Adventure in the Town of Crucita
Crucita is a lovely seaside town, situated about a 50 minutes drive from Portoviejo, the capital city of the Manabi Province of Ecuador. A popular holiday destination, especially during carnival, the friendly people of Crucita welcome visitors to enjoy the long stretches of sandy beach, the sight and sound of an abundant variety of sea-birds, and the magnificent cliffs rising up from the beach situated south of the town that are considered by many to be the best in Ecuador for recreational hang-gliding and paragliding.
The local lodges and hostels are geared up to cater for visitors who are there primarily for the paragliding and hang-gliding experience. The launch sites are situated within a 15 minute walk and climb, or a five minute drive from the town of Crucita. Visitors never fail to be amazed by the scenery on the way to the site, but once they are airborne, that amazement turns to being mesmerized. The favorable weather conditions, together with the spectacular launch-sites, allow pilots to keep their gliders in the air for extraordinarily long periods of time. The scenery over the ocean and inland is spectacular and gliders are often joined by sea-birds that are enjoying the warm thermals keeping them effortlessly in the air. Watching the sun go down over the Pacific Ocean while enjoying dinner and drinks and sharing experiences with fellow gliders is the perfect way to end a blissful day of flying.
The main differences between paragliders and hang gliders are wing structure, pilot position, glide angle, speed, range, landing out, transportability and cost – each with its own pros and cons. The conditions at Crucita are suitable for both paragliders and hang gliders, and a day out flying may result in lively debate as to which of the sports is more exciting.
People from all over the world are realizing that Ecuador, with its temperate climate, diversity of terrain and friendly people, is the perfect place to spend their “golden years”, and Crucita is fast becoming the destination of choice for many people – both Ecuadorians and foreigners – who have reached retirement age. The real estate market is booming in Crucita, which is resulting in economic development within the community.
Certainly, the fascinating country of Ecuador has much to offer travelers, and the little seaside town of Crucita welcomes all who choose to visit.
