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LSC → CJC
Which side of the plane to sit from La Florida Airport (La Serena) to El Loa Airport (Calama)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side provides a front-row seat to the majestic Andes Mountains, high-altitude salt flats, and the world's most impressive open-pit mining operations as you approach the Atacama desert.
High Andes Peaks
Continuous views of snow-capped peaks exceeding 6,000 meters, including some of the highest volcanoes on Earth.
Chuquicamata Mine
Approaching Calama, witness the staggering scale of the world's largest open-pit copper mine.
Salar de Maricunga
High-altitude salt flats appearing as brilliant white patches amidst the brown and red volcanic terrain.
Ojos del Salado
Views of the world's highest active volcano and surrounding peaks along the Chile-Argentina border.
Domeyko Range
Intricate, colorful geological folds and mineral-rich mountains that precede the main Andean range.
Book a seat on the right for morning flights to see the sun illuminate the Andean peaks. This side is essential for seeing the massive mining craters near Calama. Keep your camera ready during the final 20 minutes of the flight for the best aerial views of the mining infrastructure.
Pacific Coastline
Striking views of the rugged coastline where the Pacific Ocean meets the vertical cliffs of the Atacama Desert.
Camanchaca Fog
Dense coastal fog banks often roll in from the ocean, getting trapped against the low coastal mountains.
Pan-American Highway
The lonely stretch of Route 5 visible as a thin ribbon cutting through the vast, uninhabited desert plains.
Cordillera de la Costa
The lower coastal range showcasing extreme aridity and unique geological patterns formed by erosion.
Choose a window seat behind the wing to capture the contrast between the deep blue ocean and the ochre desert. Afternoon flights offer the best lighting for the coastal cliffs as the sun begins its descent towards the horizon.
Distance: 856 km (532 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 26 min
Departure: LSC (-29.916201, -71.199501)
Arrival: CJC (-22.498199462890625, -68.90360260009766)
Route Type: Domestic
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