About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Eldorado International (BOG) to Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Bogota to Santiago. While takeoff offers excellent Cordillera Oriental views on the right, the landing approach on the left provides more sustained and dramatic Andes scenery as the aircraft descends into the Santiago basin. The left side captures the full visual drama of the approach.
What can I see during takeoff from Eldorado International in Bogota?
During takeoff from Eldorado International (BOG), sit on the Right side for the best views. BOG typically departs runway 01L/01R (northbound). Right-side seats offer immediate views of the Cordillera Oriental rising steeply to the east, with the city sprawling westward below. The eastern mountains are the dominant visual feature during climb-out. Notable sights include: Cordillera Oriental (eastern range of Colombian Andes), Bogotá city grid and urban sprawl to the west, Río Magdalena valley in the middle distance to the northwest, high-altitude páramo terrain on the eastern slopes.
What can I see when landing at Arturo Merino Benitez International in Santiago?
When landing at Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL), sit on the Left side for the best views. SCL typically lands on runway 07L/07R (eastbound approach). Left-side seats provide extended views of the Andes as the aircraft descends from the west. The Cordillera Principal and surrounding peaks are visible throughout the approach, and the descent path offers dramatic mountain scenery before reaching the valley floor. Notable sights include: Cordillera Principal (main spine of the Chilean Andes), Maipo River valley, Santiago city basin with the Andes backdrop, pre-Andean foothills to the west.
How long is the flight from Bogota to Santiago?
The flight from Eldorado International (BOG) to Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL) takes Approximately 4 hours 15 minutes.
What does the Bogota to Santiago flight path pass over?
The flight path crosses the high Andes spine between 30,000-35,000 feet. Notable features include the Cordillera Central of Peru (visible around 2 hours into flight), high-altitude lakes and salt flats in the Atacama region, and the transition from the wet Andean slopes of Colombia/Peru to the arid pre-Andean terrain of northern Chile. The Atacama Desert becomes visible as a vast tan expanse in the final hour of flight, with the Chilean Andes rising dramatically to the east.