Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Tampa to Havana. While the takeoff offers excellent Tampa Bay views from the right, the landing approach into Havana from the left provides more dramatic and sustained scenery—the Florida Strait crossing, Havana Bay's distinctive geography, and the colorful city waterfront create a more memorable final descent than the initial climb-out.

During takeoff from Tampa International (TPA), sit on the Right side for the best views. Right-side seats capture the Tampa Bay estuary and coastal geography as the aircraft climbs southwestward. You'll see the distinctive shape of Tampa Bay, Clearwater Beach, and the Gulf of Mexico opening up beneath you during the initial climb. Notable sights include: Tampa Bay (the large inland water body with multiple peninsulas), Clearwater Beach and barrier islands (thin strips of sand along the coast), Gulf of Mexico (open water to the west), and the Florida peninsula's urban sprawl inland.

When landing at Jose Marti International (HAV), sit on the Left side for the best views. Left-side seats offer the best views during descent into Havana. You'll see the Cuban coastline, Havana Bay's distinctive shape, and the city's waterfront as you approach from the north over the Florida Strait. Notable sights include: Havana Bay (the crescent-shaped harbor with visible fortifications), the Malecón waterfront promenade and Old Havana's dense urban core, the Florida Strait (the water you crossed), and the green vegetation and flat terrain of western Cuba inland.

The flight from Tampa International (TPA) to Jose Marti International (HAV) takes Approximately 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes.

The Florida Strait dominates the midpoint of this short flight. At cruise altitude (around 15,000-20,000 feet), you'll see the open water between Florida and Cuba, occasionally with visible boat traffic and weather patterns. The strait is roughly 90 miles wide at this latitude. On very clear days, you may see the Cuban coastline appearing on the horizon as you approach from the north, with the flat terrain and vegetation of western Cuba becoming increasingly distinct in the final 20 minutes of flight.