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MAO destination photo
PTY destination photo

MAOPTY

Our Recommendation
8.8

Left Side of the Plane

The left side offers a front-row seat to the dramatic rise of the Colombian Andes and the iconic final approach over the Panama Canal and Panama City skyline.

Left Side Highlights
8.8
🌳

Amazon Canopy

Infinite views of the world's largest rainforest stretching toward the horizon.

⛰️

Colombian Andes

Dramatic views of the Cordillera Oriental as the plane traverses Colombian airspace.

🌊

Panama Canal

Unrivaled views of the Pacific entrance and the Miraflores Locks during the PTY approach.

🏙️

Panama City

The dense skyline of Punta Paitilla and Costa del Este visible against the Pacific coast.

⛴️

Ship Traffic

Dozens of massive cargo vessels anchored in the Gulf of Panama awaiting canal transit.

Sit on the left for the iconic 'Canal approach'. For afternoon flights (the typical schedule for this route), the sun will be behind the plane or on the right side, providing perfect lighting for the Andes and the Panama City skyline. Watch closely 15 minutes before landing for the Bridge of the Americas.

Right Side Highlights
6.5
🌑

Rio Negro

The deep black waters of the Negro river winding through the jungle near the start of the flight.

🌾

The Llanos

The transition from dense jungle to the vast tropical grasslands of eastern Colombia.

🏝️

Pearl Islands

A glimpse of the Archipiélago de las Perlas in the Gulf of Panama if the flight path tracks slightly east.

🌤️

Caribbean Coast

Occasional views of the distant Caribbean shoreline as the plane crosses the Isthmus of Panama.

The right side is excellent for early morning flights to avoid direct sun glare. While it lacks the direct view of the Panama Canal, it offers a wider perspective of the Gulf of Panama's diverse island chains and the lush Darien Gap region to the east during the descent.

Top Activities in Panama City
Route Information

Distance: 2,531 km (1,573 miles)

Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 22 min

Departure: MAO (-3.038609981536865, -60.04970169067383)

Arrival: PTY (9.0713596344, -79.3834991455)

Route Type: International

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