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Fly Over the Mysterious Nazca Lines
Published by Kirsten Gallagher, Writer
Country: Peru 
The Experience
Nazca is a small town located in the desert region of southern Peru. Many tourists travel to Peru each year to see these mysterious Nazca Lines: enormous ancient geoglyphs etched in the landscape. The Nazca Lines are essentially shallow ditches, with the top layer of reddish soil removed to reveal lighter ground just underneath. Nobody knows for certain why the Nazca people created the Lines in the first place, although many theories abound.
It's estimated that the Nazca Lines were created sometime between 400 and 600 A.D. so it's quite remarkable that they're still preserved. Conditions in the Nazca desert are dry and windless, and there is very little rainfall. This has kept the Lines intact for centuries. In 1994, the Nazca Lines were declared a UNESCO Word Heritage Site.
Because of their size, it’s best to take an aerial Nazca Lines tour. Planes seating four or five passengers can be chartered at the small airport nearby (Aerodromo Maria Reiche). It's easy to pick out the many different figures from nature once you hit the air on a Nazca Lines tour. There are hundreds of simple geometric designs, but most tourists are interested in seeing the depictions of animals and insects. Some of the most famous ones include the Nazca condor, hummingbird, spider, parrot, and monkey. The monkey, with its coiled tail, is perhaps the most recognizable of the Nazca Lines, and there are plenty of postcards with its image for sale in the giftshop.
One figure stands out from the rest as somewhat of an anomaly. The "Astronaut," as he is called, appears to be a human wearing a dome-shaped headpiece, like an astronaut's helmet. This adds grist to the mill of theories purporting that the Nazca Lines were actually landing sites for extraterrestrials. A more likely explanation, however, is that the Astronaut represents a holy man who played a central role in Nazca ritual.
More moderate theories suggest that the Nazca Lines were sacred pathways that the Nazca people followed as part of their rituals. It's been established that the Nazca people partook in rituals of water worship—not surprising given the challenging climate that they inhabited. The scarcity of water was no doubt a focal point in their lives.
When flying over the geoglyphs on a Nazca Lines tour, and you overlook the huge expanse of land that they cover, it becomes strikingly apparent how much time and energy the ancient civilization put into their devotional practices. The construction of the Lines in Nazca, Peru would have taken months, if not years, of intense labour. They express a deep reverence for nature and an awe of its force. Experiencing the Nazca Lines temporarily transports you into that unfamiliar, ancient mindset which allows you to view the world as a mystery.
It's estimated that the Nazca Lines were created sometime between 400 and 600 A.D. so it's quite remarkable that they're still preserved. Conditions in the Nazca desert are dry and windless, and there is very little rainfall. This has kept the Lines intact for centuries. In 1994, the Nazca Lines were declared a UNESCO Word Heritage Site.
Because of their size, it’s best to take an aerial Nazca Lines tour. Planes seating four or five passengers can be chartered at the small airport nearby (Aerodromo Maria Reiche). It's easy to pick out the many different figures from nature once you hit the air on a Nazca Lines tour. There are hundreds of simple geometric designs, but most tourists are interested in seeing the depictions of animals and insects. Some of the most famous ones include the Nazca condor, hummingbird, spider, parrot, and monkey. The monkey, with its coiled tail, is perhaps the most recognizable of the Nazca Lines, and there are plenty of postcards with its image for sale in the giftshop.
One figure stands out from the rest as somewhat of an anomaly. The "Astronaut," as he is called, appears to be a human wearing a dome-shaped headpiece, like an astronaut's helmet. This adds grist to the mill of theories purporting that the Nazca Lines were actually landing sites for extraterrestrials. A more likely explanation, however, is that the Astronaut represents a holy man who played a central role in Nazca ritual.
More moderate theories suggest that the Nazca Lines were sacred pathways that the Nazca people followed as part of their rituals. It's been established that the Nazca people partook in rituals of water worship—not surprising given the challenging climate that they inhabited. The scarcity of water was no doubt a focal point in their lives.
When flying over the geoglyphs on a Nazca Lines tour, and you overlook the huge expanse of land that they cover, it becomes strikingly apparent how much time and energy the ancient civilization put into their devotional practices. The construction of the Lines in Nazca, Peru would have taken months, if not years, of intense labour. They express a deep reverence for nature and an awe of its force. Experiencing the Nazca Lines temporarily transports you into that unfamiliar, ancient mindset which allows you to view the world as a mystery.
When to Go to Nazca Lines
The best time of year to take a Nazca Lines tour is typically March or April. Peru's tourism spikes in July and August so it's advisable to go before that. The climate in the desert in March and April is hot but tolerable since the heat is so dry.
If you're chartering a plane from the airport (Aerodromo Maria Reiche) then try to get there either at the beginning or end of the day. The light is better for viewing the Nazca Lines at these times. If you fly over them at noon on a bright, sunny day, the glare might prevent you from getting the best view.
Expect to pay around $70 US for a seat on a Nazca Lines tour airplane. Flights last around an hour and a half, and if you're lucky, you'll be presented with an official document afterwards stating you've "overflown the famous Nazca Lines, declared the Cultural Heritage of Mankind" on the given date. It makes a great little souvenir.
If you're chartering a plane from the airport (Aerodromo Maria Reiche) then try to get there either at the beginning or end of the day. The light is better for viewing the Nazca Lines at these times. If you fly over them at noon on a bright, sunny day, the glare might prevent you from getting the best view.
Expect to pay around $70 US for a seat on a Nazca Lines tour airplane. Flights last around an hour and a half, and if you're lucky, you'll be presented with an official document afterwards stating you've "overflown the famous Nazca Lines, declared the Cultural Heritage of Mankind" on the given date. It makes a great little souvenir.
Odds n' Ends
For the more adventurous, the Nazca desert has pristine sand dunes to be experienced in a number of different ways. Cerro Blanco is the highest sand dune in the world (2,070 metres). Sandboarding is popular but you can traverse the dunes in a dune buggy if that's more your pace. There's also horseback riding and overnight camping options. Tour providers offer different combinations of activities to suit any traveller.
The Nazca Lines and the sand dunes are definitely the highlights of Nazca. The town centre does not offer much other than a glimpse into small town life in Peru. Nazca is still undergoing basic repairs since its last earthquake. You'll see collections of huts on the outskirts of the town. Sadly, many Nazca inhabitants are displaced from their homes, and living without electricity or running water.
The Nazca Lines and the sand dunes are definitely the highlights of Nazca. The town centre does not offer much other than a glimpse into small town life in Peru. Nazca is still undergoing basic repairs since its last earthquake. You'll see collections of huts on the outskirts of the town. Sadly, many Nazca inhabitants are displaced from their homes, and living without electricity or running water.
Places to Eat
- Grumpy's
- A foodie wouldn't be impressed with the restaurants in Nazca but there are a few places serving up reliable fare. Grumpy's (Lima 174) is a favourite of backpackers due to its hearty sandwiches and breakfasts. Like most restaurants in Peru, chicken and rice is on the menu and is good value for the traveller on a tight budget.
Recommended Places to Stay
- Hotel San Marcelo
- Hotel San Marcelo is fairly far from the city centre so unless you're with a tour during your stay, you'll have to call a taxi to get into town. The rooms are clean but not exactly inviting. There's a little pool to cool off in that has a very beautiful view of the desert. Try going for a dip around sunset. I stayed their as part of a GAP Adventures tour and as part of the experience, the staff of San Marcelo prepared a traditional meal of meats and vegetables cooked in an earthenware pot underground. It was delicious.
Additional Places to Stay Nearby
Search over 900,000 global hotel deals from over 30 merchants. Book via Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, Booking.com, Priceline and the websites of popular hotel chains.
13 miles away
$146 PEN+
The Casa Andina Hotel is perfectly located for both business and leisure guests to Nasca.All hotel's guestrooms have all the conveniences expected in a hotel ... 14 miles away
$239 PEN+
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