Sit on the Right side of the plane for the best views on flights from San Jose to Amsterdam. The right side delivers the dramatic volcanic scenery of Costa Rica's Central Valley on departure, which is the most visually spectacular moment of the flight. The landing views into Amsterdam are good on the left, but the polder landscape is relatively flat and subtle. The volcanic takeoff on the right is the standout experience of this route.

During takeoff from Juan Santamaria International (SJO), sit on the Right side for the best views. Juan Santamaría's primary runway 07 departure heads east, putting the Irazú and Turrialba volcano complex on the right (south) side as the aircraft climbs and turns north. You get a clear look at the Central Valley and the volcanic ridge before the aircraft banks toward the Caribbean coast. Notable sights include: Irazú Volcano (3,432m), Turrialba Volcano, the Central Valley urban sprawl of San José, Caribbean lowlands visible to the northeast.

When landing at Schiphol (AMS), sit on the Left side for the best views. Schiphol's most common landing approach is runway 18R/18C from the north, meaning the aircraft tracks southbound over the Netherlands. The left side faces east, giving views over Amsterdam's canal ring, the IJ waterway, and the distinctive polder landscape of the Randstad. The right side faces the North Sea with little to see. Notable sights include: Amsterdam canal ring and city center, IJ waterway and Amsterdam harbor, Randstad polder grid (flat reclaimed land with linear canals), Haarlem visible to the southwest.

The flight from Juan Santamaria International (SJO) to Schiphol (AMS) takes Approximately 11 to 12 hours nonstop, or 13 to 16 hours with a connection through Miami, Houston, or Madrid.

The route tracks north over the Caribbean Sea and Cuba, then crosses the Atlantic roughly over Bermuda and the Azores archipelago (visible as small dark volcanic islands in the deep blue Atlantic if routing passes nearby), before crossing into European airspace over the Bay of Biscay and northern France. The Pyrenees may be visible on the southern horizon depending on exact routing. Much of the Atlantic crossing is open ocean with no landmarks.