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SCL → UIO
Which side of the plane to sit from Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport (Santiago) to Mariscal Sucre International Airport (Quito)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side offers an unparalleled front-row seat to the massive Andes mountain range for nearly the entire duration of the flight, including the highest peaks in the Western Hemisphere and the spectacular 'Avenue of the Volcanoes' in Ecuador.
Mount Aconcagua
Visible shortly after takeoff from SCL, this is the highest mountain outside of Asia at 6,961 meters.
Avenue of the Volcanoes
A stunning series of high-altitude volcanic peaks lining the final descent into Quito.
Mount Chimborazo
The point on Earth closest to the sun, recognizable by its massive ice-capped dome.
Cotopaxi Volcano
One of the world's highest active volcanoes, known for its near-perfect symmetrical cone shape.
Andean Altiplano
High-altitude plateaus featuring colorful lagoons and salt flats tucked between mountain ridges.
Cordillera Blanca
The snow-capped peaks of the central Peruvian Andes, offering sharp, jagged glaciated scenery.
Sit on the right for the most iconic South American views. Morning flights provide the best lighting for the Andes, highlighting the textures of the snow and rock. Be ready with your camera immediately after takeoff for Aconcagua and during the last 45 minutes of the flight for the Ecuadorian volcanoes. Note that window seats over the wing may have significant heat shimmer from the engines, so aim for seats well in front of or behind the wing.
Pacific Coastline
Dramatic views of the rugged coastline where the arid desert meets the deep blue Pacific Ocean.
Atacama Desert
The stark, martian-like landscapes of the world's driest non-polar desert stretching toward the horizon.
Coastal Cities
Aerial perspectives of northern Chilean and Peruvian coastal settlements like Antofagasta and Lima.
Oceanic Sunset
Breathtaking unobstructed views of the sun dipping into the Pacific on late afternoon flights.
Gulf of Guayaquil
The massive estuary system as the flight crosses from Peru into Ecuadorian airspace.
Choose this side for late afternoon flights to avoid direct sun glare and enjoy the sunset over the Pacific. While less mountainous, it provides a sense of the vastness of the Atacama and the sharp contrast between the ocean and the desert. It is generally calmer for photography due to less sun reflection on the wing during the morning.
Distance: 3,782 km (2,350 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 4 hrs 27 min
Departure: SCL (-33.393001556396484, -70.78579711914062)
Arrival: UIO (-0.129166666667, -78.3575)
Route Type: International
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