Flight Path: Rio de Janeiro to Santiago — No Mountains Overflown

Correction: A flight from Rio de Janeiro (GIG/SBGL) to Santiago (SCL) does not cross the Andes.

Actual Route

Great-circle route: Rio (22.9° S, 43.2° W) → South/Southwest over the South Atlantic Ocean → Chilean coast near Concepción → North along coast to Santiago. Total distance ~2,900 km (1,800 mi); flight time ~4h 30m nonstop.

Why Not Over the Andes?

• The Andes run north-south along the Chile-Argentina border — west of Santiago.
• Rio is northeast of Santiago. The direct path stays over ocean/coastal Chile, avoiding the high cordillera entirely.
• Flights from São Paulo (GRU) to Santiago often cross the Andes (via Mendoza/Paso de los Libertadores) — but Rio is far enough east that the ocean route is shorter and safer.

Mountain Views?

On a clear day, left-side passengers (facing forward) may glimpse the Andes' snowcapped peaks after crossing the Chilean coast, running parallel to the flight path south of Santiago — but the aircraft does not overfly them.

Nonstop operators: LATAM, Sky Airline, JetSMART (seasonal).