How To See The Nazca Lines
James Bustamante is Native to New York but born to Peruvian parents. He has been traveling throughout Latin America since early 2003 and finally made his home in Peru. James has made his way by eating and traveling through almost every country in Central and South America.
Last Updated on April 19, 2022 by James Bustamante
Peru is an amazing country full of enchanting places to visit throughout the three regions. In the coastal region, you can visit the city of Lima and taste the local ceviche or go down sound to see the Nazca lines.
If you venture into The highland region you will want to take the hike to Machu Picchu no doubt. Lastly, you can take about down the river in the Amazon Rainforest region.
There are many cool tours and trips to see in between regions such as the Nazca lines tour. One of the most solicited tours by incoming travelers tends to be exactly on How to see the Nazca lines?
First off, we have to travel away from Lima down South into Ica and Paracas. Below you’ll find the most efficient ways to reach Nazca and fly over these amazing geoglyphs. Check out this easy-to-follow itinerary to see the mysterious Nazca lines.
The City of Lima
We start the itinerary by arriving in Lima, the capital city of Peru. The pick-up is done in private by one of our drivers.
This part of the trip will be scheduled according to your group’s arrival in Peru. The drivers are available 24 hours a day so there won’t be any scheduling issues for your ride out from the airport.
After you board the vehicle with our drivers we head to the Miraflores district where we’ll help you check into your accommodations for the night. It would be preferable to stay in Lima for at least 2 nights before heading out to see the Nazca lines.
This gives you ample time to take a tour or venture around Lima on your own. If you happen to be a foodie take this opportunity to visit some of the best restaurants Lima has to offer.
The Ride to Ica and Paracas
On day two (or three) we can begin the trip down south to Ica, Paracas, and eventually to see the Nazca lines.
We begin by picking you up at your hotel in Miraflores to then go on a long drive via shuttle to our first scheduled destination, the city of Ica.
Getting to the Nazca Lines can actually be more work than going to Cusco and making Machu Picchu reservations to hike to the stone city. To see the geoglyphs we have to cover a lot of ground through the South of Lima.
The City of Ica, Peru
Once we arrive a few hours later, we check into our hotel in either Ica for the night. The following day we can schedule a few activities.
How about dune buggies through the Sand dunes? or a boat ride to the Paracas national nature reserve. We can also take some time out to visit the city of Ica and some of its more popular places to visit.
A place of interest in Ica would be its main square or Plaza de Armas where you will find the Lord of Luren church. This church was damaged by the earthquake in 2007 and has not been fully fixed yet, although the reconstruction is continuous.
We’ll also have a chance to visit the Ica Regional Museum which shows off some of the ancient pottery native to this part of Peru. There is a village called Huacachina located near the city of Ica.
Many consider Huacachina and the Huacachina lagoon an oasis perfectly nestled between sand dunes, like the massive Cerro Blanco.
The following day we leave for the nearby local airport to board a small plane to see the Nazca lines.
Fly over the Nazca Lines
Early in the morning, we take a shuttle to the local airport where we start the exciting journey to fly over the Nazca lines. The flight takes about an hour to complete and we see all the geoglyphs from the hummingbird to the more humanoid silhouettes.
The small plane will have a maximum of 4 travelers + a guide and of course the pilot for the plane.
Flights generally start at 7 am out of the Ica airport. The type of plane used will be Cessnas which will be flown by professional, seasoned pilots. During the flight, we’ll see the Nazca lines known to be the most iconic and recognizable.
These include the whale, the astronaut, the monkey, the dog, the hummingbird, condor, spider, and several more. In the extended tour, we can see over 20 Nazca geoglyphs!
Once we end the tour, you’ll receive a certificate stating you flew the Nazca lines circuit.
Nazca lines History
The origin of the Nazca lines has always been shrouded in mystery and, as of late, new lines have been found throughout the Nazca desert.
The Nazca Lines date back to between 200BC and 700BC. The Nazca lines were then discovered by scientist María Reiche in the 1940’s.
In the afternoon we return to our hotel in Ica (or Paracas). We then board the shuttle or bus back to the city of Lima and arrive back at your Miraflores hotel by that very evening.
That’s pretty much how to see the Nazca lines. If you want to see these amazing figures then we recommend a three-day trip to do it comfortably.
Trying to do this part of a Peru tour package with fewer available days might make the Nazca lines feel very rushed.
One of the high points in taking a trip to the South of Lima is that the area is always sunny and warm so it is not likely you’ll have a cloudy sky or have a cold day while in Ica (except at night, it’s a desert).
For more information on how to see the Nazca lines, Machu Picchu tours, The Inca trail Peru or Machu Picchu travel contact us today and we’ll fill you in on all the information you need to make this trip an amazing one.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Nazca Lines
How long is the flight over the Nazca lines?
The flight to see the Nazca lines takes between 35 minutes to 1 hour depending on which flight you choose.
Are there any other activities near the Nazca lines?
You will have the option of riding dune buggies near Ica or going to the Paracas national reserve.
Who made the Nazca lines?
This is a topic for debate among specialists however it is speculated that the local Nazca culture was responsible for the Nazca lines.
Will I be able to see the Nazca lines clearly during the flight?
This will depend heavily on the weather. Normally visibility for the Nazca lines is very good, however, there are days in the winter months where it can become an issue.
When were the Nazca lines created?
The Nazca Lines were created somewhere between 200BC and 700BC.
Who discovered the Nazca lines?
They were discovered by María Reiche.
How big are the Nazca lines?
The Nazca lines vary in size with some being larger than 300 meters or 985 feet.
