Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Newark to Cancun. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. During the cruise over the Gulf of Mexico the views are largely featureless water on both sides, so the dramatic New York departure and the turquoise Cancun approach are the highlights, and both favor the left.

During takeoff from Newark Liberty International (EWR), sit on the Left side for the best views. EWR typically departs south or northeast on runways 22L/22R or 4L/4R. On a southbound departure toward Cancun, climbing out to the left gives you Manhattan's skyline directly to the northeast, plus the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay. The Statue of Liberty and Verrazano-Narrows Bridge are clearly visible from the left side during the turn south. Notable sights include: Manhattan skyline, Hudson River, Statue of Liberty in Upper New York Bay, Verrazano-Narrows Bridge.

When landing at Cancun International (CUN), sit on the Left side for the best views. Cancun's runway 12/30 means arrivals typically come in from the northwest over the Yucatan Peninsula. On approach from the northwest, the left side faces north toward the Caribbean coast, giving you the turquoise waters of the Nichupte Lagoon, the Hotel Zone barrier strip, and the open Caribbean. The right side faces inland over scrubby jungle with little of interest. Notable sights include: Nichupte Lagoon, Cancun Hotel Zone barrier island, Caribbean Sea, Isla Mujeres on the horizon.

The flight from Newark Liberty International (EWR) to Cancun International (CUN) takes Approximately 4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes.

After departing the Mid-Atlantic coast, the flight tracks southwest over the Delmarva Peninsula and the Chesapeake Bay, then crosses the North Carolina and South Carolina coastlines before heading out over the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida peninsula may be visible to the left in the distance depending on routing. The bulk of the cruise is over open Gulf of Mexico water with no significant landmarks until the flat limestone shelf of the Yucatan Peninsula appears, its coastline marked by the vivid color change from deep Gulf blue to the shallow turquoise of the Caribbean reef system.