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: 2026-04-21 01:19 UTC · Source: Open-Meteo · Thermal window 10:00–18:00 local time
Not recommended for flying, cloud base ~891 m, wind 12 km/h, precipitation 3.9 mm.
base ~891m · wind 12 km/h · precip 3.9mmNot recommended for flying, cloud base ~951 m, wind 14 km/h, precipitation 4.2 mm.
base ~951m · wind 14 km/h · precip 4.2mmNot recommended for flying, cloud base ~845 m, wind 14 km/h, precipitation 6.0 mm.
base ~845m · wind 14 km/h · precip 6.0mmComposite flyability score (CAPE + LI + wind + precip + low clouds). Cross-check with local pilots before flying.
Detailed hourly weather
2026-04-21⚠️ Marginal · peak 80 at 12h
- Cloud cover >85% — no radiation to trigger thermals
⏰ Useful window: 10:00 – 16:00
| 08 45 | 09 53 | 10 53 | 11 63 | 12 80 | 13 80 | 14 80 | 15 22 | 16 16 | 17 16 | 18 10 | 19 10 | 20 10 |
Peak 12h: CAPE 330 J/kg · LI -2.2 · BL top 1365 m · w* 8.0 m/s · cloud base 3438 m · 0°C at 4930 m · Pro score 70/100 · sun 69° 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: 12:00 (peak of the day)
Surface T: 18.1°C · Td: 10.2°C
LCL (cloud base): 987 m
BL top: 1365 m
0°C level: 4930 m
Approximate profile from surface variables + synoptic levels. Red lines = temperature, dashed blue = dew point. Orange bands = detected inversions.
🌬 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) | 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 LZ (5) · Despegue Bistro (65) · La Malinche (66) · Cabanas Plano LZ (5) · Ixtapan de la sal (57) · Nevado (12)