Travel to Nazca | Hotels and Tours
Top things to do in Nazca
Nazca is for those with an interest in archaeology - Ancient mysteries in the sand.
Nazca Travel Guide - Planning to Travel to Nazca
On the vast desert etched with enigmatic figures were hard to see, the Nazca Lines.
Nazca lines, or geoglyphs, are massive mysterious drawings on the desert plateaus of Peru that have been talked about since the 1920s when airplanes began to fly between Lima and the southern Peruvian city of Arequipa.
The geoglyphs are diverse, from trapezoids, rectangles and triangles among other geometrical figures until naturalist and abstract such as hands and spirals, going through animals, humans and plants.
The Nazca Lines was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO (1994).
Nazca has comfortable hotels, restaurants, craft centers, important archaeological sites and much more ....
It's hard to say the word 'Nazca' without following it immediately with the word 'Lines,' a reference not just to the ancient geometric lines that crisscross the Nazca desert, but to the enigmatic animal geoglyphs that accompany them.
Our guide to Nazca gives you expert recommendations on the best attractions, restaurants, hotels, and more.
Sights & Attractions in Nazca
Nazca Lines
World Heritage Site. The best way to appreciate the lines is to get a bird's-eye view from overflight. These famous huge geoglyphs are located in Pampa Jumana, at about 450 meters above the sea level, in a plain arid zone or esplanade. An enormous network of lines and drawings of animals and plants, attributed to the Nazca culture, covering an area of approximately 350 Km² (135 sq. miles). Some of the best drawings depict hummingbirds, dogs, monkeys and "chaucato", long-tailed mockingbirds. The German María Reiche dedicated 50 years to studying and researching the site and reached the conclusion that it was an astronomical calendar. From a 12-meter (39 feet) viewpoint, the figures of the hand and the tree can be partially observed. However, to fully appreciate the drawings, the area must be flown over by plane. The Nazca Lines were declared a World Heritage Site (UNESCO - 1994).
Nazca City
(Sometimes spelled Nasca) The city was founded in 1591 by the Spaniards, is located over an oasis valley, surrounded by huge dunes as Cerro Blanco. It's a small city with basic services, its population is engaged mainly in agriculture and trade. In the city you can locate the Antonini Museum, Maria Reiche Planetarium and Maria Reiche Site Museum. Comfortable hotels, restaurants, craft centers and from the airfield to take a plane flight to see the Nazca Lines and Palpa lines.
Archaeological Places in Nazca
Near to Nazca City is located Cahuachi, the main urban center and capital of the Nazca culture, a ceremonial center, a sacred destination of Nazca pilgrims between 100 and 500 AD, with large ceremonial pyramids. Also archaeological complexes as Estaquería, Paredones, Chauchilla Cemetery, the aqueducts of Cantayoc, the hydraulic engineering masterpiece and that are still in operation. Near to Nazca have discovered more than 600 geoglyphs around Palpa town and named Palpa lines, located in Kilometer marker 400 of the South Pan-American Highway.
Around Nazca City
Interesting places to visit as Pampa Galeras National Reserve, a natural protected area for the protection of the vicuña and chaccu ceremony. San Fernando extraordinary aquatic ecosystem of great biodiversity. Sacaco is rich in fossils, the Maria Reiche Site Museum, Cerro Blanco the highest sand dune in the world known and excellent place for sandboarding.
How to travel to Nazca
The traditional way of reaching Nazca City is by bus from Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Paracas or Ica.
The airfield of Nazca has no regular flights.
Our recommendation for those visiting Cusco and Nazca is a travel by bus from Lima to Cusco (or vice verse) with intermediate stop in Nazca, make the overflight and then continue the trip.
Another option is a combined tour Nazca and Paracas from Lima.