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PMC destination photo
PUQ destination photo

PMCPUQ

Our Recommendation
9.5

Left Side of the Plane

The left side offers a front-row seat to the heart of the Andes, featuring dramatic volcanic peaks, turquoise lakes, and the world-famous granite towers of Torres del Paine during the descent into Punta Arenas.

Left Side Highlights
9.5
🌋

Osorno & Calbuco Volcanoes

Immediately after takeoff, witness the perfectly conical, snow-capped Osorno Volcano and its rugged neighbor, Calbuco.

💧

General Carrera Lake

Look for the intense turquoise waters of Chile's largest lake, shared with Argentina, nestled among high mountain peaks.

❄️

Southern Patagonian Ice Field

Fly over the eastern expanse of the massive ice field, the largest temperate ice mass in the Southern Hemisphere.

⛰️

Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre

On clear days, the iconic jagged spires of the Chaltén massif are visible in the distance across the border.

🏔️

Torres del Paine

During the descent, keep a sharp eye out for the three distinctive granite towers that define Patagonia's most famous national park.

Sit on the left for morning flights to get direct light on the mountains without the sun in your eyes. This side is superior for mountain photography. As the plane descends into PUQ, the mountains of the Almirante Nieto range and the Torres del Paine are most visible from this side.

Right Side Highlights
9.2
🏝️

Chiloé Archipelago

View the intricate network of islands, channels, and green hills that make up the Big Island of Chiloé and its smaller neighbors.

🌊

Pacific Fjords

The coastline is broken into thousands of islands and deep fjords where the Andes meet the Pacific Ocean.

🧊

Glaciar San Rafael

Depending on the exact flight path, you may spot where the massive San Rafael Glacier meets the sea at the end of its lagoon.

🚢

Strait of Magellan

Approaching Punta Arenas, view the historic and narrow waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

The right side is ideal for afternoon flights (post-2:00 PM) to catch the golden hour light hitting the fjords and glaciers while avoiding the direct glare from the western sun. This side offers better views of the labyrinthine coastal waterways and the remote western glaciers of the Southern Ice Field.

Top Activities in Punta Arenas
Route Information

Distance: 1,297 km (806 miles)

Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 44 min

Departure: PMC (-41.43889999389648, -73.09400177001953)

Arrival: PUQ (-53.002602, -70.854599)

Route Type: Domestic

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