El Castillo
📍 Quindio · Nearest city: Calarca (3 km)
54 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 2281 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
4.54610, -75.61610Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-19 16:16 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Día muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~1036 m, viento 9 km/h.
base ~1036m · wind 9 km/hDía muy favorable para XC, base de cúmulos ~745 m, viento 7 km/h.
base ~745m · wind 7 km/hNo recomendable para volar, base de cúmulos ~636 m, viento 8 km/h, precipitación 2.3 mm.
base ~636m · wind 8 km/h · precip 2.3mmComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Detailed hourly weather
2026-04-20✅ Flyable · peak 85 at 14h
⏰ Useful window: 10:00 – 15:00
| 08 63 | 09 63 | 10 78 | 11 80 | 12 80 | 13 80 | 14 85 | 15 70 | 16 63 | 17 60 | 18 78 | 19 65 | 20 65 |
Peak 14h: CAPE 130 J/kg · LI -2.2 · BL top 1165 m · w* 8.0 m/s · cloud base 3393 m · 0°C at 4950 m · Pro score 71/100 · sun 61° over slope
2026-04-21✅ Flyable · peak 80 at 12h
⏰ Useful window: 09:00 – 16:00
| 08 70 | 09 73 | 10 73 | 11 73 | 12 80 | 13 80 | 14 78 | 15 78 | 16 73 | 17 78 | 18 70 | 19 65 | 20 65 |
Peak 12h: CAPE 390 J/kg · LI -2.4 · BL top 1170 m · w* 8.0 m/s · cloud base 2893 m · 0°C at 4870 m · Pro score 70/100 · sun 82° over slope
Hourly flyability (0–100). ⛈️ = storm risk · ☁️⚠️ = cloud suck · 🏔️ = active ridge lift. CAPE = convective energy, LI = stability, BL top = thermal ceiling, w* = estimated dry thermal velocity. Source: Open-Meteo (ECMWF/GFS/ICON blend model).
Estimated vertical profile (Sounding)
Reference time: 14:00 (peak of the day)
Surface T: 25.4°C · Td: 16.5°C
LCL (cloud base): 1112 m
BL top: 1165 m
0°C level: 4950 m
Approximate profile from surface variables + synoptic levels. Red lines = temperature, dashed blue = dew point. Orange bands = detected inversions.
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 4 | Medium |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.70 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.50 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Real takeoff terrain
| SRTM elevation | 2287 m AMSL |
| Average slope | 2.5° |
| Slope aspect | 241° (SW) |
| Hemisphere | north — Slope facing the daytime sun (favorable for thermals) |
Derived from SRTM 30m (NASA).
Nearby sites
Buenavista (47) · chinchina (3) · La Union (68) · Roldanillo - Los Tanques (60) · Villa Luca, Ansermanuevo (69) · Wayra, Ansermanuevo (59)