Skydiving in Rio de Janeiro: where to make a tandem jump

At a glance

Where to jump: Rio, Resende or Boituva

In Rio

Visit Rio, the city’s tourism bureau, describes tandem jumps that take off from Jacarepaguá Airport. The plane climbs to 10,000 feet, you jump, and you land on the beach in Barra da Tijuca. This is the easiest option if you do not want to leave the city. Whether it runs on your dates and who operates it is something we check when we look for a school.

Resende

The Resende city government calls the town the best place for skydiving in Rio de Janeiro state and one of the five best in Brazil. Jumps take off from the airfield inside the town, with the Serra da Mantiqueira and Pico das Agulhas Negras, the highest point in the state, in the background. The town also teaches AFF (accelerated freefall) courses for those who want to learn to jump solo. We plan Resende as a full day out with a private driver.

Boituva

Boituva, in São Paulo state, runs the National Skydiving Center (Centro Nacional de Paraquedismo). According to the city government:

• the landing area is about 81,000 m²;
• about 5,000 jumps take place each month, sport and tourist;
• 15 skydiving schools work on site;
• it opens Monday to Thursday 9:00 to 18:00 and Friday to Sunday 7:00 to 18:00.

Boituva suits a trip that also includes São Paulo. How to travel between the two cities: São Paulo to Rio.

How a tandem jump works

A tandem is made for first-timers. You get a short safety briefing and jump attached to the instructor, who opens and steers the parachute.

1. Ground briefing: what to do at each stage.
2. Harness: you are clipped to the instructor. It has to fit you properly.
3. Climb in the plane to the jump height the school sets.
4. Freefall. CBPq gives an example: a tandem from 3,500 m takes about 30 seconds.
5. Canopy ride and landing on the drop zone.

If you want video of the jump, say so in the request and we will ask the school how they film it.

Who can jump

• Age: from 12 with written authorization from both legal guardians, per CBPq.
• Weight: we found no single official limit; each school sets its own. That is why we ask for height and weight.
• Health: tell us about any condition in advance and we check the school’s requirements.
• Alcohol: ANAC rule RBAC 105 does not allow a jump if the person appears to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs that may affect safety. After a big night, move the jump.

What we check before booking

We book only schools that work under CBPq and ANAC rules.

The instructor. A tandem pilot in Brazil is rated by CBPq. To take the course they need category D, at least three years since their first jump, at least 30 jumps in the last six months (three in the last 30 days) and a medical certificate. After the course they make 10 training jumps under the direct supervision of an experienced tandem pilot.

The plane and pilot. Under RBAC 105 the pilot may allow a jump only if there is a valid NOTAM for the operation.

More on our checks: how we vet providers.

Weather and a spare day

ANAC rules forbid jumping without visual contact with the landing area or when visibility or distance from clouds is below the set minimums. The school and the pilot decide on the day. Keep a spare day in your trip, especially for Resende or Boituva. Seasons: Rio weather.

What to tell us in your request

• Dates, ideally with a spare day
• Where you prefer to jump: Rio, Resende, Boituva or “advise me”
• Number of people
• Age, height and weight of each jumper
• Whether you need a driver there and back
• Whether you want video

How booking works

1. You send the details above.
2. We check dates with schools that passed our checks and send a proposal within 24 hours: place, jump height, what is included, price and cancellation rules.
3. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm. A single jump costs no more through us than with the same school on booking platforms: our fee is already included in the price.
4. After confirmation you get the school’s name, the address and the check-in time.

If plans change: cancellation at no cost up to 48 hours before; one date change at no cost with 48 hours’ notice if the school has another date; weather stops the jump: new date or full deposit refund; the school lets you down: a replacement or a full deposit refund.

Other ways to see Rio from above: hang gliding, a scenic flight or a helicopter tour. More in adventure activities in Rio.