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VVI → TJA
Which side of the plane to sit from Viru Viru International Airport (Santa Cruz) to Capitan Oriel Lea Plaza Airport (Tarija)?
Right Side of the Plane
The right side offers a front-row seat to the dramatic transition from the Amazonian lowlands to the rugged, folded ridges of the Sub-Andean belt and the high peaks of the Eastern Cordillera.
Amboró National Park
The southern edge of this biodiversity hotspot, where jagged red cliffs meet dense cloud forests.
The Andean Elbow
View the 'Codo de los Andes', the massive geological bend where the mountain ranges shift orientation from North to South.
Serranía del Aguaragüe
Spectacular views of long, continuous 'sawtooth' mountain ridges that look like waves frozen in stone.
Inter-Andean Valleys
Deep, arid canyons and hidden valleys that contrast sharply with the green peaks above them.
The Tarija Basin
On final approach, see the high-altitude vineyards and the Guadalquivir River cutting through the valley floor.
The right side is significantly more scenic for this route. Aim for an afternoon flight when the sun illuminates the western faces of the mountain ridges. Keep your camera ready during the mid-flight segment for the tectonic folds which are among the most distinct in the world.
Santa Cruz Expansion
Aerial view of the rapidly growing southern districts of Santa Cruz de la Sierra and the Lomas de Arena sand dunes.
Rio Grande Meanders
The massive Rio Grande (Guapay) carves wide, sandy loops through the tropical landscape south of the city.
The Gran Chaco
Vast stretches of the dry Chaco forest extend toward the horizon, showing the flat transition to the Paraguayan border.
Sub-Andean Foothills
Initial low-lying parallel ridges that mark the very beginning of the Andean uplift.
Sit on the left for morning flights to avoid the direct glare of the sun. This side is better for observing the winding river systems and the vastness of the Bolivian lowlands before entering the mountainous terrain near Tarija.
Distance: 465 km (289 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 47 min
Departure: VVI (-17.6448, -63.135399)
Arrival: TJA (-21.5557003021, -64.7013015747)
Route Type: Domestic
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