About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim (GIG) to Lester B Pearson International (YYZ)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Rio De Janeiro to Toronto. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. The Rio departure offers the iconic Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf panorama, and the Toronto arrival delivers the CN Tower skyline and Lake Ontario approach. Neither window offers dramatic scenery during the long overwater cruise, so the endpoints decide it.
What can I see during takeoff from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim in Rio De Janeiro?
During takeoff from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim (GIG), sit on the Left side for the best views. Galeão sits on Ilha do Governador in Guanabara Bay. Departures heading north or northeast on runway 10/28 or 15/33 typically give the left side a sweeping view back over the bay, Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar), and the Rio cityscape. The right side faces the industrial north shore and open Atlantic with less visual interest. Notable sights include: Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar), Guanabara Bay, Centro and Flamengo waterfront, Corcovado ridge (Christ the Redeemer is visible as a tiny silhouette on the forested ridge).
What can I see when landing at Lester B Pearson International in Toronto?
When landing at Lester B Pearson International (YYZ), sit on the Left side for the best views. Pearson's dominant runway 06L/24R and 05/23 complexes mean most arrivals from the south come in from the southwest or south. A left window seat on approach gives a clear view of downtown Toronto's skyline including the CN Tower, Lake Ontario's north shore, and the city grid. The right side faces the suburban sprawl of Mississauga and Brampton with less distinctive scenery. Notable sights include: CN Tower and downtown Toronto skyline, Lake Ontario shoreline, Toronto Islands, Humber Bay.
How long is the flight from Rio De Janeiro to Toronto?
The flight from Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim (GIG) to Lester B Pearson International (YYZ) takes Approximately 9 to 10 hours.
What does the Rio De Janeiro to Toronto flight path pass over?
The route tracks northwest from Rio, crossing the Brazilian interior highlands (Minas Gerais plateau), then over the Amazon basin's southern fringe near Belém, crossing the mouth of the Amazon River delta — a massive brown sediment plume visible from altitude — then out over the Caribbean Sea passing near Trinidad and Tobago, across the Gulf of Mexico or eastern Caribbean depending on routing, over Cuba or Hispaniola, then up the US Eastern Seaboard before crossing into Ontario. The Amazon delta and the Caribbean island chains are the most visually distinctive features at cruise altitude.