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GRU → PTY
Which side of the plane to sit from Guarulhos - Governador André Franco Montoro International Airport (Sao Paulo) to Tocumen International Airport (Panama City)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side offers a superior view of the Panama Canal approach, the Caribbean coastline, and the impressive Panama City skyline during the final descent into Tocumen.
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Amazon River Meanders
Spectacular views of massive river curves and the confluence of tea-colored and muddy waters.
San Blas Archipelago
Stunning white-sand islands and turquoise reefs of the Guna Yala region visible near the coast.
Panama Canal Entrance
Look for the long queue of massive container ships waiting to enter the canal from the Caribbean side.
Panama City Skyline
A dramatic view of the 'Miami of the South' with its dense cluster of modern skyscrapers.
Gatun Lake
The massive man-made lake that forms the central part of the Panama Canal waterway.
The right side is the primary choice for the approach into Panama City. As the plane descends, you often fly parallel to the canal. Request a window seat away from the wing for unobstructed views of the cargo ships and the city center. Early afternoon flights provide the best lighting for photography of the green landscape and the blue Caribbean.
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Amazon Basin
Vast stretches of dense rainforest and winding tributaries visible for hours over northern Brazil.
Western Andes
Distant views of the Colombian mountain ranges as the aircraft moves toward the Isthmus.
Gulf of Panama
The deep blue waters of the Pacific side visible during the southern turn for approach.
Pearl Islands
A beautiful archipelago in the Pacific that can sometimes be spotted on wider approach paths.
Choose the left side for better sunset views if flying in the late afternoon. It also avoids the direct, harsh glare of the morning sun for the majority of the northbound journey across the equator.
Get eSIMs for Brazil
Get eSIMs for PanamaDistance: 5,086 km (3,160 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 5 hrs 59 min
Departure: GRU (-23.435556411743164, -46.47305679321289)
Arrival: PTY (9.0713596344, -79.3834991455)
Route Type: International
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