Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from Santiago to Rio De Janeiro. While left seats dominate the takeoff with Andes views, right seats capture the more dramatic and iconic landing sequence over Guanabara Bay and Sugarloaf Mountain. The landing view is more visually distinctive and memorable than the departure.

During takeoff from Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL), sit on the Left side for the best views. Santiago typically departs runway 05L/23R or 05R/23L depending on wind. Westbound departures (runway 05) climb toward the Pacific with the Andes receding behind; eastbound (runway 23) climbs inland. Left seats on westbound departures offer immediate views of the Andes' western escarpment and the Central Valley floor. Left seats on eastbound departures see the high Andes peaks more directly as you climb away. Notable sights include: Andes Mountains (western face and high peaks), Central Valley of Chile, Mapocho River valley, Pacific Ocean (distant, western horizon on westbound departures).

When landing at Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim (GIG), sit on the Right side for the best views. Rio approaches typically use runway 08L/26R or 09L/27R depending on wind. Descending from the southwest (typical routing), right seats face the Guanabara Bay and the city's iconic geography. Right seats see Sugarloaf Mountain, the bay's eastern shoreline, and the city's beach districts (Copacabana, Ipanema) as you descend toward Galeão on the northern bay shore. Notable sights include: Guanabara Bay (massive, distinctive water body), Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar), Atlantic Ocean, Rio's beach districts and coastal mountains.

The flight from Arturo Merino Benitez International (SCL) to Galeao Antonio Carlos Jobim (GIG) takes Approximately 4 hours 15 minutes to 4 hours 45 minutes.

The flight path crosses the Andes' eastern escarpment, then descends into the Brazilian plateau. Midway, you'll pass over the interior plateau of southern Brazil (largely obscured by altitude and haze), with occasional glimpses of the Serra Geral mountains and river valleys. As you approach Rio, the coastal mountains of the Serra da Mantiqueira become visible on the left, and the Atlantic coastline appears on the right. The descent into Rio reveals the dramatic transition from inland plateau to the coastal mountain ranges surrounding Guanabara Bay.