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VCP destination photo
MAO destination photo

VCPMAO

Our Recommendation
8.9

Right Side of the Plane

The right side provides a superior vantage point for the most iconic geographical features of the Amazon basin, specifically the winding river systems and the famous Meeting of the Waters during the descent into Manaus.

Right Side Highlights
8.9
🏞️

Xingu River Basin

Aerial views of one of the Amazon's most important tributaries and its surrounding indigenous territories.

🌊

Meeting of the Waters

The world-famous confluence where the dark Rio Negro and the sandy Rio Solimões flow side-by-side without mixing.

🚢

Amazon Main Stem

Witness the massive scale of the main Amazon river channel and its complex network of islands and sandbars.

💎

Tapajós River Contrast

Occasional views of the blue-tinted waters of the Tapajós meeting the silt-heavy main river system.

⛈️

Afternoon Convection

During the wet season, watch for towering cumulonimbus clouds that create a dramatic skyline above the forest.

Sit on the right for the best chance to see the 'Encontro das Águas' (Meeting of the Waters). This phenomenon is usually visible on the right side when the aircraft approaches Manaus from the south or east to land on Runway 29. Afternoon flights offer the best lighting to capture the color contrast of the rivers.

Left Side Highlights
7.5
🌾

Cerrado Biome

Observe the transition from the industrial landscapes of São Paulo to the vast agricultural savanna of Mato Grosso.

🌳

Pristine Rainforest

Uninterrupted views of the deep Amazonian canopy, appearing as a dense, emerald-green carpet.

🏙️

Manaus Expansion

A clear view of the city's suburban growth and industrial zones during the final approach phase.

🛶

Upper Negro River

Sightings of the dark, sediment-free waters that characterize the northern Amazonian tributaries.

The left side is ideal for morning flights to avoid the harsh tropical sun glare. Keep an eye out during the mid-flight for the dramatic change from brown, cultivated soil to the deep greens of the protected rainforest zones.

Top Activities in Manaus
Route Information

Distance: 2,620 km (1,628 miles)

Approximate Flight Time: 3 hrs 30 min

Departure: VCP (-23.0074005127, -47.1344985962)

Arrival: MAO (-3.038609981536865, -60.04970169067383)

Route Type: Domestic

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