Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Los Angeles to Rio De Janeiro. The left side wins overall due to the spectacular GIG arrival over Guanabara Bay with Sugarloaf and the Rio skyline. The takeoff view from the right is excellent but shorter-lived. The left side also tracks the South American coastline during descent, which is a longer payoff.

During takeoff from Los Angeles International (LAX), sit on the Right side for the best views. LAX departures heading east or southeast on runways 24L/24R put the Santa Monica Mountains, downtown LA skyline, and the Hollywood Hills on the right side. You get a sweeping view of the LA Basin as the aircraft climbs and turns south toward the Pacific. Notable sights include: Santa Monica Mountains, Downtown LA skyline, Hollywood Hills, Palos Verdes Peninsula.

When landing at Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim (GIG), sit on the Left side for the best views. GIG sits on Ilha do Governador in Guanabara Bay. Aircraft typically approach from the east or southeast over the Atlantic, landing on runways oriented roughly east-west. A left window seat gives you Guanabara Bay, the Rio city center, and Sugarloaf Mountain as you descend over the bay. Notable sights include: Guanabara Bay, Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar), Rio de Janeiro city center, Niterói Bridge.

The flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim (GIG) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours.

The route crosses the Pacific briefly before tracking southeast over Central America and Colombia, then crosses the Amazon Basin — a vast, flat expanse of dark green jungle with the Amazon River and its tributaries visible as wide brown sinuous channels cutting through the canopy. The route then passes over the Brazilian highlands (Planalto Central) before descending toward the coast near Rio. The Amazon River system is the single most dramatic geographic feature at cruise altitude, with the main channel and braided tributaries clearly visible on a clear day.