El Picacho - Malinalco
📍 Mexico , Ocuilan · Nearest city: Santa Monica (5 km)
60 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 2451 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
19.00780, -99.47090Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-05-02 16:08 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Not recommended for flying, cloud base ~1250 m, wind 13 km/h, precipitation 6.3 mm.
base ~1250m · wind 13 km/h · precip 6.3mmVery favorable day for XC, cloud base ~2058 m, wind 14 km/h.
base ~2058m · wind 14 km/h · precip 0.5mmComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
🌬 Daily wind (next days)
Daily summary (10m wind). Full hour × altitude chart is being added progressively.
Takeoff orientations
Green = good orientation · Yellow = possible · Gray = not suitable
🗓️ Best season to fly (2024 climatology)
Monthly climate score: historical avg of temp, wind, rain and cloud cover. Green = optimal month.
⭐ Best month: Feb (100/100, 22°C, 12mm lluvia) · Worst month: Sep (45/100, 360mm lluvia)
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 2 | Low |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.99 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.61 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Real takeoff terrain
| SRTM elevation | 2465 m AMSL |
| Average slope | 13.9° |
| Slope aspect | 342° (N) |
| Hemisphere | north — Orientation unfavorable for direct solar thermals |
Derived from SRTM 30m (NASA).
Takeoff description
A part of beautiful grass covered sheep grazing pastures, a south-east facing launch with the wind usually crossing 45 degrees from the right. There is a also a true south facing alternate further on down the trail from launch. It is a rather steep launch.
Pilot comments
Marco Guillermo also pays the rent on the best training hill in the region, near the base of launch.
Nearby sites
Despegue Bistro (65) · La Malinche (66) · Ixtapan de la sal (57) · Nevado (12) · Tepoztlan (47) · Tuxpan - Iguala (56)