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YVR → MEX
Which side of the plane to sit from Vancouver International Airport (Vancouver) to Licenciado Benito Juarez International Airport (Mexico City)?
Left Side of the Plane
The left side offers a front-row seat to the dramatic volcanic peaks of the Cascade Range and the Sierra Nevada, finishing with the iconic twin volcanoes outside Mexico City.
Cascade Volcanoes
Stunning views of Mount Baker, Mount Rainier, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Hood as you fly south over Washington and Oregon.
Sierra Nevada
The high peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains, including the Yosemite valley area and Mount Whitney, are visible through central California.
Mojave Desert
Dramatic arid landscapes and geological formations of the high desert near the California-Nevada-Arizona borders.
Sierra Madre Occidental
The rugged, deep canyons and high plateaus of Mexico's western mountain range.
Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl
The two massive volcanoes flanking the Valley of Mexico are best seen from the left side during the final descent into MEX.
Choose the left side for morning flights to see the sunrise illuminate the Cascade peaks. Ensure you have a window seat clear of the wing to spot the twin volcanoes of Popo and Izta during the approach to Mexico City, which is the highlight of the trip.
Olympic Peninsula
The rugged, forested mountains and wild coastline of Washington state's northwestern tip.
California Coastline
Bird's-eye views of the San Francisco Bay Area, the Central Coast, and the sprawling Greater Los Angeles basin.
Baja California
The stark contrast between the desert mountains of the Baja peninsula and the deep blue waters of the Sea of Cortez.
Mexico City Sprawl
The immense scale of the Mexican capital becomes apparent on the right side as the plane turns for its final approach.
The right side is ideal for afternoon flights to avoid the direct glare of the sun. It provides excellent views of the Pacific coastline and the Baja Peninsula, though a marine layer of clouds often obscures the coastal views north of California.
Distance: 3,945 km (2,451 miles)
Approximate Flight Time: 4 hrs 38 min
Departure: YVR (49.193901061999995, -123.183998108)
Arrival: MEX (19.4363, -99.072098)
Route Type: International
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