Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Madrid to Quito. While takeoff favors the right, landing offers the more dramatic and geographically significant views. The Andes approach—particularly Pichincha volcano and Quito's high-altitude valley setting—outweighs Madrid's departure scenery. Left-side passengers get the better overall experience.

During takeoff from Barajas (MAD), sit on the Right side for the best views. Madrid-Barajas typically departs eastbound (runways 32L/32R). Right-side seats face north initially, offering views of the Sierra de Guadarrama mountain range and the sprawling Madrid metropolitan area. Left seats see only the flat southern plains. Notable sights include: Sierra de Guadarrama (snow-capped peaks 30 miles north), Madrid city center and Retiro Park district, Tagus River valley, suburban sprawl of northern Madrid suburbs.

When landing at Mariscal Sucre International (UIO), sit on the Left side for the best views. Approaching Quito from the northeast (typical arrival vectors use runways 28L/28R), left-side seats face the Andes cordillera directly. The descent path brings you over the high Andean plateau with Pichincha volcano and surrounding peaks dominating the view. Right seats see only the western slopes and less dramatic terrain. Notable sights include: Pichincha volcano (5,897m, active stratovolcano with visible crater), Quito city nestled in the inter-Andean valley, Cotopaxi volcano (visible 50km south on clear days as a distant snow-capped cone), high-altitude páramo grasslands.

The flight from Barajas (MAD) to Mariscal Sucre International (UIO) takes Approximately 9 hours 15 minutes.

The flight crosses the Atlantic Ocean (no visible landmarks for 6+ hours), then approaches the Caribbean coast of South America. Over northern Colombia/Venezuela, the Andes begin appearing on the horizon. The descent into Ecuador reveals the Western Cordillera of the Andes, with numerous peaks visible including Chimborazo (6,263m, visible as a distant snow-capped dome) before final approach to the inter-Andean valley where Quito sits at 9,350 feet elevation.