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PTY → UIO
Which side of the plane to sit from Tocumen International Airport (Panama City) to Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Quito)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a superior mix of coastal geography, the dense Darién Gap, and a spectacular front-row seat to the snow-capped volcanoes of the Andes during the descent into Quito.
Search flights from PTY to UIO
Panama City Skyline
Dramatic views of the Punta Paitilla skyscrapers and the historic Casco Viejo shortly after departure.
Pearl Islands
The Archipiélago de las Perlas appears as emerald dots in the azure waters of the Gulf of Panama.
Darién Gap
One of the world's most inaccessible wildernesses, showing a vast, unbroken carpet of tropical rainforest.
Chocó Coastline
The rugged, high-rainfall coastline of western Colombia where the jungle meets the Pacific Ocean.
Cayambe Volcano
A massive, snow-capped volcano that sits directly on the Equator, visible during the approach to Quito.
Sit on the left for the most iconic Andean views. Flights usually arrive in the morning or midday; the sun will be in the east/northeast, providing excellent front-lighting for the Colombian coast and the Darién. As you cross into Ecuador, look specifically for the Antisana and Cayambe volcanoes which dominate the eastern horizon.
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Panama Canal Entrance
The Pacific entrance of the canal, including the Bridge of the Americas and ships waiting to transit.
Open Pacific
Expansive, deep-blue views of the Pacific Ocean horizon as the flight heads south.
Gorgona Island
A dark green volcanic island off the coast of Colombia, famous for its former prison and biodiversity.
Esmeraldas Coast
The lush northern coastline of Ecuador, marked by tropical river mouths and sandy beaches.
Pichincha Volcano
The active stratovolcano that looms directly over the city of Quito during the final landing phase.
Choose the right side if you are flying in the late afternoon or evening to witness the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean. This side provides a better view of the Panama Canal's Pacific mouth during takeoff. On the final approach into UIO, you will get a close look at the Pichincha mountain range which borders the city to the west.
Book Hotels in QuitoDistance: 1,029 km (639 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 1 hr 22 min
Departure: PTY (9.0713596344, -79.3834991455)
Arrival: UIO (-0.129166666667, -78.3575)
Route Type: International
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