Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Cuzco to Puerto Maldonado. Right-side seats capture the dramatic Vilcanota Range departure and provide better views of the high Andean plateau terrain during the initial climb. While the landing favors the left, the takeoff scenery is more visually striking and geographically significant.

During takeoff from Velazco Astete (CUZ), sit on the Right side for the best views. Cusco typically departs runway 27 (westbound). Right-side seats face north during climb-out, offering direct views of the snow-capped Vilcanota Range and the Sacred Valley terrain as the aircraft gains altitude over the Andean plateau. Notable sights include: Vilcanota Range (snow peaks to the north), Sacred Valley floor (agricultural terraces and settlements), Cusco city sprawl (urban grid below), Urubamba River valley (winding drainage pattern).

When landing at Padre Aldamiz (PEM), sit on the Left side for the best views. Puerto Maldonado typically lands runway 33 (northeast approach). Left-side seats face southeast during descent, providing views of the Madre de Dios River confluence and the rainforest canopy transition zone as the aircraft descends toward the airport on the river's eastern bank. Notable sights include: Madre de Dios River (wide brown waterway with visible meanders), rainforest canopy (dense green expanse), river confluence with tributary streams (lighter-colored water patterns), Puerto Maldonado settlement (small urban cluster on eastern bank).

The flight from Velazco Astete (CUZ) to Padre Aldamiz (PEM) takes Approximately 45 minutes.

The flight path descends from the Cusco plateau (11,000 feet) across the eastern Andes foothills, transitioning from high-altitude grassland and sparse vegetation into progressively denser cloud forest. The Urubamba River system is visible during early flight stages, flowing northeastward. As the aircraft descends toward Puerto Maldonado, the landscape transitions into the Amazon Basin—the terrain flattens dramatically, cloud cover typically increases, and the dense rainforest canopy becomes the dominant feature. The Madre de Dios River and its tributaries become visible through breaks in the clouds during the final descent approach.