Loading map...

LSC destination photo
CJC destination photo

LSCCJC

Which side of the plane to sit from La Florida Airport (La Serena) to El Loa Airport (Calama)?

Our Recommendation
9.2

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.

Right Side Highlights
9.2
🏔️

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.

Left Side Highlights
6.5
🌊

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.

Top Activities in Calama
Route Information

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

Thank you for booking your travels through our travel partners. The commissions from your bookings keep this site running.