Papantla flyers.

¡Hola!
These days, we have the opportunity to witness the amazing ritual of the "Voladores" of Papantla (Veracruz, Mexico) in our city. The moment they let themselves fall from the platform is... magical.

It looks like they only have the rope tied around their waist - no harness. Is that correct?

That's right. They ascend without safety harnesses, climbing rungs fixed to the trunk (24m up); once on the platform, they retrieve the hanging ropes, wrap them around the trunk, and hook them to their belts. The "caporal" stands on the tiny top platform while playing a drum and a reed flute. Then, the "voladores" throw themselves into the void, spiraling downward as the ropes unwind. Once they reach the ground, the flautist slides down one of the ropes. It’s crazy, but a spectacle worth seeing.
And yes, this troupe is a safety inspector's wet dream.

Nice photos!

You could not pay me enough to do that though....

Ah I see it now. The top part must spin around as the ropes unwind - hence them spiraling. So they are not plummeting - whatever rate the rope unwinds at...

Well, well, never say never. In the end, it’s a matter of balance: enough tequila to lose your fear, but not so much that you forget to hook up to the rope before you jump 😁

No amount of alcohol could get me to do that either 😜

Excellent, thanks for posting them!

Good shots.
What could possibly go wrong !