Summary
South America is full of vibrant airports serving a mix of modern airliners, vintage freighters, and rare regional types—perfect for aviation enthusiasts and plane spotters. Whether you’re visiting major capitals or high-altitude hubs, the continent offers some excellent locations to watch and photograph aircraft.
Here are 10 of the best plane spotting locations in South America, including what makes each one special and where to set up for the best views.
São Paulo–Guarulhos Airport (GRU), Brazil
Photo (c) Alexandro Dias
Why Spot Here?
Brazil’s busiest airport sees a constant flow of international widebodies from Europe, the Middle East, and North America, plus domestic traffic from LATAM, GOL, and Azul.
Top Spotting Location:
📍 Terminal 3 Observation Deck – This official deck overlooks international stands and some taxiways, with decent photo opportunities through glass. Open to the public and well signposted.
What to See:
LATAM’s A350s and 787s, Emirates A380, Lufthansa and Swiss heavies, cargo airlines, and domestic 737s and A320neos.
Santiago Arturo Merino Benítez Airport (SCL), Chile
Maurice Becker, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Why Spot Here?
Home to LATAM Chile, this airport serves as a major international hub nestled beside the Andes—offering stunning mountain backdrops.
Top Spotting Location:
📍 Public access road near Runway 17L threshold – Offers fantastic landing shots, especially in the mornings. A car or taxi is helpful to reach this spot.
What to See:
LATAM widebodies, Sky Airline A320s, foreign carriers from the US, Spain, and Brazil, and occasional freighters.
Bogotá El Dorado Airport (BOG), Colombia
Photo (c) Joao Carlos Medau
Why Spot Here?
At over 8,000 ft elevation, Bogotá offers a high-altitude spotting experience. It’s the main base for Avianca and a key hub for domestic and international routes.
Top Spotting Location:
📍 Puente Aéreo Terminal parking garage – Offers partial views over some stands and taxiways. Also, roadside spots along Calle 26 near the cargo area are popular.
What to See:
Avianca 787s, cargo movements (DHL, Aerosucre 727s), Copa, Wingo, and US carriers.
Buenos Aires Jorge Newbery (AEP), Argentina
Photo (c) Carlos Daniel Dobelli
Why Spot Here?
Argentina’s capital city’s main domesitc airport is a busy place where the domestic fleets come and go all day.
Top Spotting Location:
📍 Terminal Car Park – Many people watch aircraft here from the car park alongside the terminal, which overlooks the taxiway and runway.
What to See:
Aerolineas Argentinas, Flybondi, JetSmart Argentina, GOL and LATAM coming and going all day.
Lima Jorge Chávez Airport (LIM), Peru
Photo (c) F Delventhal
Why Spot Here?
LIM is an important connector on the west coast, with a good mix of LATAM, JetSMART, Sky, and foreign carriers.
Top Spotting Location:
📍 PeruRail cargo road area (east of the terminal) – Enthusiasts often gather here for views of departures and arrivals. Local knowledge or a guide is helpful.
What to See:
LATAM narrowbodies, long-haul flights to Europe and the US, and older freighters.
Recife Guararapes Airport (REC), Brazil
Portal da Copa/ME (victoria.camara), CC BY 3.0 BR <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/br/deed.en>, via Wikimedia Commons
Why Spot Here?
This northeastern Brazilian airport sees domestic activity and occasional long-haul flights across the Atlantic, with less congestion than GRU or GIG.
Top Spotting Location:
📍 Terminal car park upper level – Offers decent views toward the apron and some taxiways. Light is best in the afternoon.
What to See:
GOL and Azul aircraft, TAP A330s, seasonal charters, and older Brazilian aircraft.
Quito Mariscal Sucre Airport (UIO), Ecuador
Supernova76, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Why Spot Here?
Located in a scenic valley, Quito’s airport offers dramatic terrain and altitude (nearly 8,000 ft), making for interesting approaches and takeoffs.
Top Spotting Location:
📍 Patio de Comidas (Food court) inside terminal – Overlooks some stands and the runway, with limited photo angles. Nearby roads also offer external views.
What to See:
LATAM Ecuador, Avianca, Aeroregional 737-500s, Plus Ultra A330s, and occasional military activity.
Montevideo Carrasco Airport (MVD), Uruguay
AleSpotterpy, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Why Spot Here?
A quieter alternative to Buenos Aires with occasional widebody visitors and regional aircraft.
Top Spotting Location:
📍 Observation deck inside the terminal – Modern terminal with large glass windows facing the apron.
What to See:
Air Class freighters, Aerolineas Argentinas, Amaszonas, and rare visitors from Europe and Brazil.
Sao Paulo Congonhas Airport (CGH), Brazil
View from the Ibis Hotel at Congonhas. Photo (c) Gabriel Magacho
Why Spot Here?
Brazil’s third busiest airport in terms of passengers, and second busiest in terms of aircraft movements.
Top Spotting Location:
📍 Avenue Washington Luiz – A good spotting location at Congonhas as it has a walkway alongside which parallels the runway. You can walk here from the terminal if you turn right. For safety try the Ibis Congonhas hotel.
What to See:
A busy domestic and regional airport with airlines from across Brazil coming and going.
Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont Airport (SDU), Brazil
Gol 737 at Santos Dumont. Photo (c) Gustavo H. Braga
Why Spot Here?
Located in the heart of Rio with dramatic approaches over Guanabara Bay—one of the most scenic airports in the world.
Top Spotting Location:
📍 Museum of Tomorrow area or Marina da Glória – Both offer distant but stunning views of aircraft on approach, with Rio landmarks in the background.
What to See:
GOL and Azul E-jets and 737s, with frequent shuttle flights to São Paulo–Congonhas.
Title image: Gustavo H. Braga
📸 Want More South America Spotting Tips?
All of these airports and more are included in World Airport Spotting Guides (3rd Edition)—available now in print or digital format. The book includes terminal layouts, spotting location maps, and photography advice for over 350 airports worldwide.
