MIA to BOG: which side of the plane should you sit on?
Miami (MIA) to Bogota (BOG) is a 2,435 km (1,513 mi), roughly 3h 22m southbound flight. Here is where the sun sits along that path, computed with the same astronomy as our live calculator.
On most daytime MIA to BOG departures the sun favors the left side — sit on the right (a window on the right) for shade.
Sun side by season and departure time
| Season | Morning (8 am) | Midday (1 pm) | Evening (6 pm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| June solstice | Left | Right | Right |
| September equinox | Left | Right | Right |
| December solstice | Left | Right | Night |
What you’ll see on this flight
The left side has the better views, but it is also the sun side. If you want the scenery, pick left. If you want less glare, pick right.
You get the best views on the left. That side also gets the sun, so you trade glare for scenery on this route.
Takeoff
After takeoff from MIA, depending on the runway in use, you can catch Hialeah almost under you on the left. Biscayne National Park comes up very close on the left too, with its water-heavy shape easy to pick out. Everglades National Park sits off to the right during the climb, so it is not the main show from that side.
En route
- 37m in← LeftGreater Antilles · passes underneath
About 40 minutes in, the Greater Antilles slips by almost under the left side. It is a quick, steep look, not a long one.
- 45m in← LeftCamagüey
Around 45 minutes in, Camagüey is off the left side. You see the city from a distance, not close enough for details.
- 1h 18m in← LeftKingston
Near 1 hour 18 minutes in, Kingston stays on the left. It is a clear urban pass, with the city spreading out below and off to that side.
- 2h 28m in← LeftCartagena
About 2 and a half hours in, Cartagena is on the left as you head toward Colombia. It is a later left-side view after a long stretch over water and coast.
- 2h 47m inRight →Los Katíos National Park
Roughly 2 hours 47 minutes in, Los Katíos National Park sits on the right. It is a right-side callout near the end of cruise, not the main viewing side.
Landing
On descent into BOG, depending on the runway in use, Bogotá comes in almost under the left side. It is a brief, close approach rather than a broad city pass.
Sides and timings are computed from this route’s geometry. What you actually see depends on weather, air-traffic routing, and the runway in use on the day.
Frequently asked
Which side of the plane avoids the sun from MIA to BOG?
Across typical daytime departures, the sun predominantly hits the left side of the aircraft, so the right side stays shadier. Seat letters start at the left window, so choose the highest window letter (F on narrowbodies, K on many widebodies).
Which side has the sunset views on MIA to BOG flights?
For sunset views, flip the advice: on evening departures the sun sits on the right side of this route, so that is the side with the show.
How long is the flight from MIA to BOG?
The great-circle distance is 2,435 km (1,513 mi), which works out to roughly 3h 22m in the air on this southbound routing. Winds and routing move the real block time around that estimate.
Does the date or departure time change the answer?
Yes — that is why the table shows both. The sun's path shifts with the season, and a morning departure can put the glare on the opposite side compared to an evening one. For a specific flight, the calculator samples the sun along the whole route for your exact date and time.
Which side should I sit on from MIA to BOG?
Sit on the left for the better views. That is also the sunny side, so you will get more glare.
Do I get good views on landing into Bogotá?
Yes, but they are brief. Bogotá comes up on the left near touchdown, depending on the runway in use.