Alicante Parasailing Flight and Boat Trip

The marina of Alicante

The experience starts at Pier 8 in the marina of Alicante, a lively waterfront of yacht berths, cafés and promenades right in the city centre. It is a few steps from the Explanada de España, the famous palm-lined promenade with its wave-patterned marble paving, and from the old town. Arrive 15 minutes early to check in and meet your instructor.

From the pier, the boat heads out past the harbour walls into open water. As the city falls behind, you get a clear view of the castle on Mount Benacantil rising above the rooftops and of the long beaches stretching north. If you are wondering how to get to the parasailing meeting point in Alicante, the marina is easy to reach on foot from the centre or by tram to the Mercado or Luceros stops.

The parasailing flight above the sea

Once the boat reaches the flying area, the instructor fits your harness and life jacket and explains the simple steps of the flight. The take-off is dry: you sit on the platform at the back of the boat and the parasail lifts you gently as the line is released. Within moments you are gliding about 150 metres above the water, in near silence, with only the wind around you.

The flight lasts about 15 minutes, which is long enough to relax, wave to the boat and take in the view in every direction. Many travellers ask if parasailing in Alicante is safe: the activity is run by trained instructors with harnesses designed for several flyers, and flights only go ahead when wind and sea conditions are right. At the end, the line is wound back and you land softly on the boat.

Postiguet beach and the castle from above

From the air, Alicante looks like a postcard. Directly below the castle hill lies Postiguet, the city beach of golden sand lined with palms, and beside it the old town, El Barrio, with its colourful houses and narrow lanes. The medieval castle on Mount Benacantil, at about 166 metres, appears almost at eye level, a rare view of one of the largest fortresses in Spain.

Turning towards the marina, you see the Explanada, the boats in their berths and the modern waterfront. In the late afternoon, the light turns warm and the city glows against the sea, which makes the evening departures popular with photographers. Bring a phone strap or a small waterproof case if you want to film the flight safely.

The Costa Blanca coastline and mountains

Looking north, the coast stretches past the Albufereta cove and the rocky headland of Cabo de la Huerta to the long sandy beach of San Juan, one of the largest on the Costa Blanca. Behind the coastal plain rise the mountains of the interior, and on clear days you can make out distant peaks far inland. To the south, the low silhouette of Tabarca Island sometimes appears on the horizon.

The best time for parasailing in Alicante is from late spring to early autumn, when the sea is calm and the air is warm. Morning flights tend to have the calmest water, while late departures offer softer light. Combined with a beach afternoon or an evening in the old town, this is one of the most memorable things to do in Alicante.