Seeing Pico de Orizaba from a plane
Photo: México en Fotos, CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Mexico's highest peak at 18,491 ft and the third-highest in North America, with the country's largest glacier. Look for a perfect white cone towering over everything between Mexico City and the Gulf coast.
7 of our routes pass it. Puebla
The easy pick
Houston to Veracruz: sit on the right, on the way down.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas-Fort Worth to Oaxaca | Right | 113 min after takeoff |
| Dallas-Fort Worth to Veracruz | Right | on the way down |
| Houston to Puerto Escondido | Right | 90 min after takeoff |
| Houston to Veracruz | Right | on the way down |
| Houston to Oaxaca | Right | 101 min after takeoff |
| Houston to Puebla | Left | on the way down |
| Los Angeles to Bogota | Right | 189 min after takeoff |
From the real paths of every nonstop on these routes in the last 10 days, at the usual time of day. Where the best seat for the whole flight is on the other side, you'd trade this sight for more elsewhere.
Questions
Which side of the plane do you see Pico de Orizaba from?
It depends on the direction: the right on most of our routes (6 of 7). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Pico de Orizaba from a plane?
Near the airport, on the climb or on the way down, and mid-flight on longer routes: see the table for each route.
Do clouds matter?
Yes. These answers assume a clear day. Within 3 days of your flight, pick your exact flight in the app for the cloud forecast.
More
Cofre de Perote Xalapa Veracruz Popocatepetl Teotihuacan Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Houston (IAH) Los Angeles (LAX) All routes