CUZ-Spot1
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December 17, 2019Cusco Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport – Spotting Guide
- last modified on December 6, 2023
Alejandro Velasco Astete International Airport (CUZ/SPZO) is the second busiest airport in Peru. It is located in the city of Cusco, a very touristic city, which is also the entrance to the citadel of Machu Picchu, and many other tourist attractions that make this a very popular destination for visitors from all over the world. 
This airport serves more than 3,400,000 passengers a year and is located in the center of the city, which makes it very accessible and easy for plane spotting. Airlines such as LATAM Airlines operate at this airport with A319 and A320 Ceo and Neo, Jet Smart A320 Neo, SKY Airlines with A320 Neo, as well as other military aircraft, helicopters of all kinds and a large influx of private aircraft.
s airport is small and has a single runway for all operations, it mainly serves domestic destinations, the most important being Lima, with more than 30 daily flights, and currently has an international destination, Santiago de Chile (Chile) for seasons, which is operated by the airline LATAM Airlines with A319 aircraft. It is also the center of operations for companies such as Servicios Aéreos de los Andes, which have helicopters for different activities.
Written by Aldo Martinelli, Miguel Hernández and Patrick Schirakow (Spot 2). Last change: September 2023 (All spots checked)
| Rating | |
| Movements |  |
| Airline Variety | |
| Photo Locations |  |
| Weather | |
| Airport Information | |
| Runways | |
| 10/28 | 3.397m x 45m – Asphalt |
| Terminals | |
| Terminal 1 | Low Cost carriers and charter airlines. |
| Terminal 2 | All other carriers. |
| Spotting Information | |
| Ladder | Maybe in the Spot #4, but it is not necessary |
| Car/Public Transport | Recommended for Spot # 4 and Spot # 5, but it is not necessary, it is easy to reach on foot or by taxi |
| Restrooms | Only in position # 1 as it is close to the terminal |
| Drinks/Food | Recommended to bring snacks and drinks. |
| Hotels | Around there are small hotels, the most recommended by sight and from own experience are the hotel ”Cómodo Homestay” and the hotel ”Cusco Airport Home (spot 6)”. |
| Season | The best time is in the months between June and November, the other months it rains a lot and there is almost no sunlight, but it is recommended all year since good photos can also be taken with the wet runway. |
| Runway Usage | |
| 10/28 | Because of the mountains, runway 28 always for arrivals. Runway 10 always for departures. |
 |
Spot #1 – Hill of advertising posters |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This point is located on the hill in front of the airport terminal. There are advertising signs on the top and it is easily accessible from the terminal. You can reach this point by walking and climbing the stairs as marked on the map. |
| WHAT | Excellent point to take pictures of the operations of the airport terminal platform. |
| TIME | In the winter / spring in the morning, afternoon and evening. Night shots of the ramp are possible as well. |
| MISC. | At this point there are no safety bars so go with caution because it could be slippery. Here are no restrooms, no bars or markets. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 737/320 = 200-300 mm |
 |
Spot #2 – Apartment
|
|---|---|
| WHERE | Due to construction works the former location along the street is no longer possible. Instead there are some new apartment buildings next to it where you can stay. As these are new buildings, the people are not so common with spotters here like at Spot 4b, but if you tell them politely what you are doing they will also let you rent a flat for 20.00 Soles. Keep in mind most people only speak spanish here. |
| WHAT | At this point you can see the planes when they enter the runway for take off. |
| TIME | In the winter / spring in the morning, afternoon and evening. |
| MISC. | Here are no restrooms, but some snack markets. Bring sunscreen, there are no shadows here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 737/320 = 70-200 mm |
 |
Spot #3 – Stairs ”Vía Expresa” Avenue |
|---|---|
| WHERE | +++ Update November 2022: Location is no longer available +++ |
| WHAT | |
| TIME | |
| MISC. | |
| FOCAL LENGTH | |
 |
Spot #4 – ”Vía expresa” Avenue Rooftop |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This point is next to the airport and it is the same way as to Spot #3. You can rent a roof of some property (S/20.00 soles = $ 8.00 dollars), to have a better view of takeoffs and landings. Basically you can ask any resident here whether you can rent the top (most do it, quite common), but we normally asked Mrs. Jovita, which lives on the second floor here (-13.5348439S, -71.9339057W) – exact position also marked on the map. |
| WHAT | At this point you can see the departures and the arrivals. |
| TIME | In the winter / spring in the morning and until August in the afternoon because the sun changes position. |
| MISC. | Here are no restrooms, but exist some snacks markets near. Bring sunscreen, there are no shadows here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 737/320 = 70-200 mm |
 |
Spot #5 – Approach lights |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This point is at the end of the runway in the southeast. You can reach this point by walking or by taxi, indicate that it takes you to the end of the runway. |
| WHAT | From here you can capture the final approach to the runway. |
| TIME | In the winter / spring all day. |
| MISC. | Here are no restrooms, no bars or markets. Bring sunscreen, there are no shadows here. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | 737/320 = 18-300 mm |
 |
Spot #6 – ”Cusco Airport Home” Hotel |
|---|---|
| WHERE | This point is located in an AirBnB-type accommodation, with two Loft-type apartments with a terrace facing the airport taxiway. This point is only accessible if you stay at the airbnb and in one of the specified spaces. It is an excellent viewpoint, but it is located within the accommodation that you have to reserve/ask for to access. |
| WHAT | At this point, you can see the planes heading to the active runway for takeoff. |
| TIME | All year round, but preferably in part of Winter and Spring (September, October, November.) |
| MISC. | Two AirBnB-type accommodations with a terrace. |
| FOCAL LENGTH | B737 / A319 / A320 = 18-55mm, 70-300mm and 80-400mm |
A little update here: The Via Expresa Avenue has now become a multi lane major thoroughfare with a lot of light poles along. Subsequently, for all positions on the rooftops it is now much more difficult to capture the plane as the poles are disturbing. However the view with the backdrop is still fascinating. It might be a little bit onerous to get access to the roof, especially if you arrive around noon time and no one opens the door as all the residents having their siesta. If you failed at spot 4, you can just cross the side street and there is a little Ceviche restaurant ( Location -13,5349117, -71,9333629) The staff and owner is quite open minded and let’s you up to the roof and also offers some chairs to sit.
For spot 5 you might be approached by security staff which is having their boot between the approach lights. They just want to verify who you are and what’s your intention. No worries here, they might also offer some of their snacks.
Spot 2 is not accessible at the moment due to construction works on via empresa. Workers do not let you on the new bridge/construction site, the whole area is also patrolled by police on horses regularly.
Another option is to rent a flat in nearby buildings, I can send you photos if you are interested.
Hi Patrick, can you send me some photos and maybe a link to the building/apartment to support@spotterguide.net please.
-Julian