SCL (Santiago) window seat guide

At Arturo Merino Benitez International in Santiago: for takeoff, sit on the Left side; for landing, sit on the Left side. Notable views include: Andes Cordillera, Cerro El Plomo, Maipo Valley foothills, Santiago's eastern suburbs at the base of the mountains.

When taking off from Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Departing south on runway 17L, the left side faces east toward the Andes, which rise dramatically just outside Santiago. You'll get a close, high-altitude view of snow-capped peaks like Cerro El Plomo and the main Andean cordillera as the plane climbs. The right side only shows the lower Chilean Coastal Range and hazier central valley, far less impressive by comparison. Notable sights include: Andes Cordillera, Cerro El Plomo, Maipo Valley foothills, Santiago's eastern suburbs at the base of the mountains.

When landing at Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Landing on 17R means approaching from the north on a southbound heading, which puts the Andes mountain range on the left side of the aircraft. The view includes the dramatic snow-capped peaks rising abruptly east of the city, a striking contrast to the flat Santiago basin below. Notable sights include: Andes Cordillera with snow-capped peaks, Santiago's urban grid in the valley, Maipo River valley, Cerro San Cristobal hill near the city center.

The best window seat at Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL) depends on several factors: the typical runway used for your departure or arrival, the geographic features around Santiago (mountains, coastlines, city skylines), weather conditions, and time of day. Morning and evening flights often offer the best lighting for scenic views.