Seeing Pico Turquino from a plane
Photo: Oliver Rühl at de.wikipedia, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons
Cuba's highest point at about 6,470 ft, in the Sierra Maestra where Castro's rebels hid in the 1950s. A bronze bust of José Martí stands on the summit. Look for the forested ridge rising straight off the south coast.
5 of our routes pass it. Cuba
The easy pick
Miami to Santiago: sit on the right, on the way down.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Lauderdale to Cali | Left | 60 min after takeoff |
| Fort Lauderdale to Campinas | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | 61 min after takeoff |
| Miami to Curitiba | Right (the left side is better for the whole flight) | 55 min after takeoff |
| Miami to Santiago | Right | on the way down |
| New York to Kingston | Left (the right side is better for the whole flight) | 177 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 Turquino from?
It depends on the direction: the right on most of our routes (3 of 5). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Pico Turquino 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
Desembarco del Granma National Park Santiago de Cuba Blue Mountain Peak Jardines de la Reina National Park Fort Lauderdale (FLL) Miami (MIA) New York (JFK) All routes