Nazca Lines, Peru | Complete Guide and Flight Review
Hold onto your stomach and get ready to fly over what is thought to be the world’s largest display of belief that can only be fully appreciated from high altitudes! We are talking about the widespread and surprisingly well preserved Nazca Lines in Peru!
Geoglyphs are intentional human-made art forms of naturalistic or abstract forms in soil or in rock. The Nazca lines are probably the most famous geoglyphs in the world and they were made by the people living in the desertic part of the southwest of Peru from A.D 1 to 700. They were called the Nazca people and the geoglyphs were named after their makers. A total of 300 geometric figures carved into the desert’s surface have been currently mapped, 70 of which form accurate drawings of plants and animals.
Archaeologists believe the lines were created by removing the top layer of oxidised and darker coloured rocks and soil to reveal the lighter coloured sand that stands beneath. They are located in a spectacularly dry area of Peru where it only rains for less than 30 minutes a year, and spread over more than 80 km and this is likely the reason why they survived until now. The atmosferic condistions of the desert allowed for the line’s preservation and their existence was unknowened until the beggining of the 20th century!
Geographically, they are located about 400 km south of Lima right next to the current Nazca city. They are in a spectacularly dry area of Peru, where it only rains for less than 30 minutes a year, and spread over more than 80 km.
What was their purpose?
No one really seems to know!
In the 1930’s, the Nazca lines were thought to have an astrology purpose, but recent research has suggested that they may have been used for rituals to the gods in order to bring rains or even to channel rain water into subterranean reservoirs. There is still no consensus on the lines’ meaning, though it seems likely they served more than one function.
The enigma that shadows the reason for their making just adds to their mystical value!
Who discovered the Nazca lines?
and who are the people that studied them over time?
Peruvian archaeologist Toribio Mejia Xesspe was the first to study them in 1926, but they only became famous once flying really took off! American professor Paul Kosok, then further studied the lines in 1941 and reasoned that they may have astronomy meaning given their direct alignment with the sun at sunset. He called them the largest astronomy book in the world!
Next came the ‘Lady of the Lines’ – Maria R Reiche – who studied the lines for over 40 years, while living in a self-made desert hut. She was a German-born Peruvian mathematician, archaeologist, and technical translator. Reiche made a significant contribution to the safeguarding of the lines which were designated a World Heritage Site in 1994 thanks to her efforts. Today, Nazca city has murals and a museum in her honour.
Archaeologists Clive Ruggles and Nicholas Saunders developed the theory the the geoglyphs were created for ceremonial reasons in which a few number of Nazca people would walk the path of the lines, probably for a spiritual or ritual purpose and as part of ceremonies or initiation rites.
More recently, David Johnson and Donald Proulx studied the correlation between the lines and the subterranean water resources and the location of wells and faults.
So, how do you get there from Lima?
and what are the options to see the Nazca lines?
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For those short on time – 2 or 3 days tour from Lima
Geographically, the Nazca lines are located about 400 km south of Lima right next to the current Nazca city. On public transport, it takes a day trip to get to Nazca since the trip is not long enough to accomodate a night bus ride from Lima (last trip departs at 7:30 pm, arrives at 2.30 am). To visit the lines you would require one day to travel by bus, a second day to visit the lines and a third day to travel back to Lima. In this situation, you will waste 2 days of your trip stuck in a day bus which may not be the best use of time.
If you only have a short time to travel and you are really interested in seeing this part of the country (which we recommend!), the 2 or 3-day tour from Lima will be the way to go. These tours normally include the Nazca Lines, the must-see Huacachina Desert Oasis and a boat cruise to the Ballestas islands, known as the “Galápagos of Peru”. They cost around $280 USD and they are easy to book on arrival to Lima (which normally means you can ask for a discount). They are also available for booking online and below are the links to the ones we saw available:
– 2 day Viator tours and 3 day Viator Tours
– You can also check out tourist oriented bus service Peru hop tours
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Budget option – The one we did
The most affordable option is to take a bus from Lima to Nazca city.
– RedBus – Prices start on 70 S/.
– Cruz del Sur – Prices range from 120 to 140 S/ depending on the timetable available.
– More options are likely available on small local companies if you visit the Bus Terminal.
Tickets are advised to be purchased in advance on the website or at the terminal. If you can afford the time, we strongly suggest not making a direct trip from Lima and rather stop for a couple of days in Huacachina Oasis on the way down, taking the route Lima-Huacachina and Huacachina-Nazca.
Must Read (soon): Huacachina Oasis Post
When you get to Nazca, there are several budget options to be able to see some of these lines but be aware that:
1. the geoglyphs are remarkably easy to miss from ground level (check out the Lizart lines from the ground level in this link); and
2. from ground level, you will only be able to see in person 3 to 5 of the figures,
3. from an aircraft, you will be able to see 14 to 20 figures including the emblematic Humming bird and spiral – symbols of Peru.
Ground level visit to nazca – true budget option:
In Nazca city, you can catch a bus from the terminal that will take you to the doorstep of the “Mirador De Las Líneas De Nazca” – a tower that can be climbed specifically to be able to see the lines. These lines are closer and even crossed over by the national road! From the Viewing Tower you will mainly see three figures: the Hands, the Lizart and the Three. The observation tour has a price of 20 soles. If you want to also see the Maria Reiche museum, the price of the combo will be 50 soles (13.5 USD /12,3 euros).
Tours are also available to the Nazca Lines Viewing Tower Tour, but we feel they are rather simple to get to and appreciate without the need of a tour.
We normally go for the fully budget option but this time
the fascination for the spectacular drawings and
for little airplanes took the best of us!
view from the skies – best way to see the Nazca lines
The truth is that the sightseeing flight will give you the best opportunity to spot the most well preserved and emblematic drawings!
Although, I must advise that if you are one to get sick, be sure to take motionsickness tablets well in advance! Take a look at the below sample of the route taken by the aircrafts to see the geoglyphs and you can understand why…. It is quite a curvy flight path!
We went with Alas Peruanas and they included a 35 minute flight plus transfers and we got to see 14 figures. This trip costed us $70 USD/person plus taxes which must be paid in cash at the airport. There is a more expensive option that allows you to extend the flight a bit longer and see 20 figures.
Make sure to shop around and contact this agency and other airlines through Whatsapp in advance to get to know the current prices. Alternatives agencies include: aeronasca
Our flight was so exclusive! We did it just us and the 2 pilots operating the aircraft and they were super nice and informative. The pilots aimed to give us the best viewing angles and even went around again when we miss seeing a figure! There were many tight twists and turns so, once more, remember to take motion sickness pills!
Please find below some samples of the photos we took from the skies!
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