Seeing Popocatepetl from a plane9 ★
At about 17,800 ft, one of the world's most watched volcanoes: millions of people live within 60 miles of it, and it vents ash and steam almost constantly. Look for the steep snowy cone with a plume from its crater.
4 of our routes pass it. Puebla · rated 9 of 10
The easy pick
Los Angeles to Puebla: sit on the left, on the way down.
Which side, by route
| Route | Side | When |
|---|---|---|
| Houston to Puebla | Left | on the way down |
| Los Angeles to Lima | Left | 179 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Oaxaca | Left | 187 min after takeoff |
| Los Angeles to Puebla | Left | on the way down |
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 Popocatepetl from?
It depends on the direction: the left on most of our routes (4 of 4). The table lists each route's side.
When can you see Popocatepetl 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
Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez Estadio Olímpico Universitario Mexico City Ajusco National Palace Houston (IAH) Los Angeles (LAX) All routes