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SJO → IAD
Which side of the plane to sit from Juan Santamaria International Airport (San Jose) to Washington Dulles International Airport (Washington)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side provides a more dynamic sequence of views, including the turquoise Caribbean waters, a transit over western Cuba, the length of the Florida peninsula, and the scenic Chesapeake Bay during the descent.
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Tortuguero Coastline
The lush, canal-filled rainforests of Costa Rica's Caribbean coast are visible shortly after departure.
Western Cuba
The flight path often crosses the Pinar del Río province, offering views of the unique 'mogote' limestone hills.
Florida Everglades
A vast expanse of wetlands and the sprawling metropolitan landscape of the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas.
Chesapeake Bay
On the final approach, the massive Bay Bridge and the intricate coastline of Maryland and Virginia come into view.
The right side is perfect for morning flights to avoid the direct sun. During the final approach to IAD, keep your camera ready for the Potomac River; depending on the wind direction, you may even see the Washington D.C. monuments in the distance to the east.
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Central American Volcanoes
Immediately after takeoff, catch glimpses of the Poás and Barva volcanoes towering over the Central Valley.
Lake Nicaragua
A massive freshwater sea featuring the twin volcanic peaks of Ometepe Island rising from the water.
US Gulf Coast
As the plane enters US airspace, the white sand beaches of the Florida Panhandle and Alabama are visible.
Appalachian Ridges
The rolling green and blue ridges of the Blue Ridge Mountains provide a beautiful backdrop during the descent into Virginia.
Book an early morning flight to see the Costa Rican volcanoes before daily cloud cover builds up. If flying in the late afternoon, the left side will face the setting sun, which provides great lighting for the Appalachian mountains but may require closing your window shade due to glare.
Get eSIMs for Costa Rica
Get eSIMs for United StatesDistance: 3,288 km (2,043 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 52 min
Departure: SJO (9.993860244750977, -84.20880126953125)
Arrival: IAD (38.94449997, -77.45580292)
Route Type: International
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