Santa Elena
📍 Guanacaste · Nearest city: Hojancha (8 km)
27 XC score / 100 · takeoff at 783 m · 📍 View on map
Coordinates and external links
10.00450, -85.47030Forecast next days
Updated: 2026-04-21 02:11 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Not recommended for flying, cloud base ~1131 m, wind 12 km/h, precipitation 3.1 mm.
base ~1131m · wind 12 km/h · precip 3.1mmNot recommended for flying, cloud base ~866 m, wind 14 km/h, precipitation 5.6 mm.
base ~866m · wind 14 km/h · precip 5.6mmNot recommended for flying, cloud base ~530 m, wind 12 km/h, precipitation 2.8 mm.
base ~530m · wind 12 km/h · precip 2.8mmComposite 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
Why this site has thermal potential
| Factor | Value | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Hotspot density (5 km) | 1 | Low |
| Avg thermal probability | 0.77 | Based on thousands of aggregated IGC flights |
| Solar orientation | 0.00 | Slope faces south in northern hemisphere |
| Own flight history | 0.00 | Thermals detected in platform IGC tracks |
Real takeoff terrain
| SRTM elevation | 784 m AMSL |
| Average slope | 0.1° |
| Slope aspect | 225° (SW) |
| Hemisphere | north — Slope facing the daytime sun (favorable for thermals) |
Derived from SRTM 30m (NASA).
Takeoff description
null
Nearby sites
Nosarita (28) · Socorro (0) · The Point/Zapotal (0) · Zapotal (0) · Lepanto (17) · San Miguel (Barranca) (12)