Santa Cruz Viru Viru Airport - Spotting Guide

Santa Cruz Viru Viru Airport – Spotting Guide

April 19, 2017 - last modified on October 19, 2022

VIRU VIRU (VVI – SRVL) This is the main airport in Bolivia, 17 kilometers away from the city center of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, which is also the largest city in the country. Due to the capital La Paz being in great altitude, 4100 meters, this hinders the operation of several aircraft, being chosen then Santa Cruz de la Sierra to be the main airport of the country. It is from Viru Viru that departs most flights from Bolivia to Europe and the United States with operations of Air Europa (A330) and American Airlines (B767) respectively.

It is a hub of the two largest Bolivian companies BOA (Boliviana de Aviacion), Amaszonas and a third Bolivian company named ECOjet which operates with the AVRO RJ100 jets, ideal for the high altitudes of the Bolivian Andes.The main flights departing from VVI are to La Paz, but the main cities of the country are linked to this airport, such as Cochabamba, Uyuni, Sucre, Trujillo, in addition to the Latin American flights to Sao Paulo, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Lima, Santiago.

General Information
Terminal	There is one terminal
Runway	Operates a single runway of 3500 meters (16/34)

	Viewing Deck
WHERE	You can shot from the viewing deck on the top of the terminal (landside) but there is a grid with less space for your lens. After security through the glass (airside) from the international waiting area.

WHAT	You can get all movements from here. The runway is more far away so there can be heat distortion. Boliviana,Amaszonas und Ecojet are the most frequent visitors. International airlines airlines are AAL, Copa and GOL.

TIME	Only good in the afternoon for runway/taxiway movements. For side on shots on the ramp you can use the deck the whole day.

MISC.	Everything you need within the terminal. There is no shadow on the roof so be prepared with sun blocker. At the deck you have to shot trough a close-meshed fence which is suboptimal if the planes park in front of you.

FOCAL LENGTH	20-400 mm, depends on RWY/Ramp photos

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