Puerto Maldonado to Cuzco flight path: PEM to CUZ

Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Puerto Maldonado to Cuzco. The left side captures both the river-and-jungle drama of the Amazon lowlands at takeoff and the far more striking glaciated Vilcanota peaks, especially Ausangate, during the descent into Cusco — a far more varied and dramatic sequence than the right side's view of lower valley terrain.

During takeoff from Padre Aldamiz (PEM), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing PEM on runway 01, the aircraft climbs north then banks left through roughly 120 degrees to head west-southwest toward Cusco. That left-hand turn sweeps the view across the Madre de Dios and Tambopata river confluence and the meandering, oxbow-studded rainforest right at Puerto Maldonado, something the right side mostly misses during the turn. Notable sights include: Madre de Dios River meanders, Tambopata River confluence, Amazon rainforest canopy, distant Andean foothills on the horizon.

When landing at Velazco Astete (CUZ), sit on the Left side for the best views. On approach into CUZ runway 28 from the east, the flight path tracks just north of the Vilcanota mountain range, so the left side faces south toward Ausangate (6,384 m) and its glaciated neighbors — the most dramatic peaks in the region. The right side instead faces the lower, though still scenic, Urubamba valley ridges. Notable sights include: Ausangate and the Vilcanota Range, terraced Andean ridgelines, the high Cusco valley floor, Cusco's red-tiled rooftops on final approach.

The flight from Padre Aldamiz (PEM) to Velazco Astete (CUZ) takes about 40 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 193 miles (311 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.

Eastern slope of the Cordillera Oriental (Andes), cloud forest transition zone near the Kosñipata/Manu region, headwaters area of the Urubamba River system