Are you currently planning a trip to Nazca Lines in Peru and need up-to-date advice?
One of the most mysterious and spectacular sites you can see in all of Peru, the Nazca Lines are made up of over 300 giant geoglyphs, which depict ancient deities and animals such as the Condor and the Dog. Having a successful and stress-free trip to the Nazca Lines requires proper planning – and as such it’s worth taking the time to find out everything you need to know before making the trip here in Peru.
In this comprehensive guide we’ll explore everything you need to know about planning a trip to Nazca Lines, including how to get there, the best time to visit and whether an overflight is the very best option. We’ll also answer your most frequently asked questions in our FAQ section.
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Everything You Need To Know About Planning A Trip To Nazca Lines
Are The Nazca Lines Worth Visiting In Peru?
Arguably one of the most unique experiences you can have when in Peru, the Nazca Lines are very much worth the visit when here. Not only are they steeped in ancient history, dating back over 2000 years – they also perfectly illustrate how able this civilization was able to build such massive and perfect geoglyphs with just their bare hands. The other reason is because you will be heading on an overflight, which allows for a truly interactive tour with outstanding 360° views of the Nazca Lines. For this reason it’s a perfect addition to any itinerary around Peru.
Where Are The Nazca Lines Located?
The Nazca Lines are located in the middle of the arid Nazca Desert, which is some 420km south of Lima. The exact reason this particular spot or desert was chosen is still unknown, however it’s known that the Nazca civilization lived nearby, and most likely used this particular area as it has a contrasting colour in deeper layers – which they carved to make the lines stand out.
While it seems far to get to the Nazca Lines travelling overland from Lima (roughly 8 hours by bus), you can easily cut the time needed by heading on our Nazca Overflight Tour From Lima, given you take the flight from nearby Pisco which is only a couple of hours from Lima. Later in this guide we’ll walk you through exactly how you can get to the Nazca Lines, and the different tour options available.
When Is The Best Time To See The Nazca Lines?
Concerning the best time to visit the Nazca Lines, there’s two different things we need to keep in mind. First is the season or month, and the other is the time of day.
Firstly it’s good to know that the Nazca Lines are ideal for viewing all months of the year. This is because this desert region is incredibly dry and receives such little rainfall (maximum of 0.3 inches each month), that views are usually great whatever the season. For specifics, the dry season between May and September will be more popular given it’s the high tourism season, while October until April will be slightly quieter.
Now what does matter much more is the time of day you visit the Nazca Lines. The morning and early afternoon (between 8:00-12:00) is the very best, as mists and cloud cover are at their lowest which promises the best views during the overflight. Anything later in the day is not recommended as fog or heavy clouds can potentially obscure views of the Nazca Lines.
Planning A Trip To Nazca Lines: How To See The Ancient Geoglyphs
Let’s now take a look at exactly how you can get to the Nazca Lines, and the pros and cons of each option.
Heading On A Day Tour From Lima
This is by far the best and most convenient option for travellers to experience the Nazca Lines when heading to Peru. Firstly, the private tour departs from Lima, which means no extra independent travel is needed to get to Nazca – where you’ll be picked up right from your hotel or apartment in the city. The transport to the local Pisco airstrip (where chartered flights for the Nazca Lines depart) is also much closer, so you can enjoy a quicker and more comfortable ride.
Finally, many of our Nazca Lines Overflight Day Tours also include trips to Huacachina and the Ballestas Islands – which is perfect for those who want to tick-off more bucket list items from Lima. Here our expert tour guides show you around the different regions, including unique activities such as Sandboarding in the desert or trying Pisco in local Ica wineries, as well as a boat ride from Paracas to see Humboldt Penguins and colonies of Sea Lions.
Visiting From The City Of Nazca
There’s also the option of visiting the Nazca Lines from the nearby city of Nazca. Located roughly 20km from town, you can take a taxi out to the observation tower in the desert which offers views of two of the giant Nazca Lines. It’s important to know that while you can make out the Hands and Trees geoglyphs, they won’t be like the traditional photos as you won’t be flying from above. It’s also important to know that Nazca is located some 445km south of Lima – so to get here you’ll need to take a bus which takes roughly 8 hours to get here.
Within Nazca there is also the option of taking a local overflight from the nearby regional airstrip, which is better than the option of the observation tower. Prices and flight times are generally fixed and have daily departures, however it’s important to book in advance since there’s more demand here. Again, like with the observation tower, you’ll need to make your own way to Nazca first on the 8 hour bus to be able to take the flight. This means, given flights generally leave early, you’ll need 2/3 days free to be able to do this option comfortably.
The Overflight Vs The Observation Tower: Which Option Is Best?
Given the fact that you will most likely only see the Nazca Lines once in your lifetime, it’s worth making it the best experience possible for little regret.
When deciding between seeing the Nazca Lines with an overflight or from the ground, it’s worth knowing that the overflight offers the very best views from high up in the sky, where it’s much easier to see each geloglyph and ancient creation with ease. You’ll also have 360° views and manoeuvrability as the pilot can easily get in range, where you can enjoy picturesque views of the surrounding desert (and especially when heading with a tour who has their flights departing in the morning or early afternoon when visibility conditions are at their best).
While the observation tower is also good depending on your goals, it’s important to know that views are limited given the tower isn’t very tall (remember some of these creations are several hundreds of meters long – and here you’ll have at best a 45° views of just a couple of these geoglyphs). While less expensive, they are also more remote and difficult to get to – requiring an 8 hour bus from Lima, followed by an additional taxi to take you to the desert to enter the viewing tower.
Frequently Asked Questions About Planning A Trip To Nazca Lines
In this section we’ll now explore the most frequent questions we get about planning a trip to Nazca Lines, as well as anything else you need to know.
Is Seeing The Nazca Lines Worth It?
If you want both a unique experience seeing ancient ruins and having a real adventure, then yes seeing the Nazca Lines is 100% worth it. Believed to be as old as 2000-2500 years, these giant geoglyphs are carved out of the Nazca Desert – depicting ancient beliefs and gods. For this reason heading on a Nazca Lines overflight tour is one of the most memorable things you can do when in Lima!
What Is The Best Way To See The Nazca Lines?
There are only two ways to see the Nazca Lines, which is either with an overflight, or by heading to the observation towers in the Nazca Desert itself. The overflight is by far the best way, given you get full views and all angles of these creations – while the observation tower is very limited in what you can see. With the overflight you can also see the geoglyphs in just one day from Lima, while the towers take at least two days to get to from the Peruvian capital.
How Much Does It Cost To Fly Over The Nazca Lines In Peru?
The flight itself that departs from the city of Nazca can cost anywhere from $100-$150, which would be for a 30 minute group-shared flight. Private charters that depart from nearby Pisco – which is much closer to Lima and includes a longer flight – typically cost between $150-$250, which is the standard option that we offer with our Nazca Lines tours here at TravelBuddiesPeru.
Where To Stay To See Nazca Lines?
There are two main options for staying to see the Nazca Lines when in Peru. The first is by staying within the city of Nazca itself, which is closer to the geoglyphs but is located some 8 hours south of Lima. The alternative option is staying in Lima, and taking a Nazca Lines day tour which uses an overflight from the nearby Pisco airport – which is both quicker and more comfortable for passengers, and also includes extra activities and destinations within the tour.
How Far Is Machu Picchu From Nazca Lines?
The total distance between both of Peru’s most iconic ancient wonders is roughly 800km by road. This is because Machu Picchu is located up within the towering Andes Mountains in Cusco, while the Nazca Lines are located in the desert coastal plains of Nazca. If you want to see both Machu Picchu and the Nazca Lines within one trip, then you’ll need to plan for at least 3 days to comfortably see them both – given the logistics and travel needed to get between them, and also to head on the necessary tours which depart early.
Overview Of Planning A Trip To Nazca Lines
And that’s all for this guide on planning a trip to Nazca Lines.
Peru is a truly memorable country to travel around, where we can see the famous Machu Picchu, scorching Huacachina Desert and the beautiful high altitude Lake Titicaca. The Nazca Lines are another must-see when exploring Peru, given both their history and the incredible views we can enjoy when heading on an overflight tour for unrivalled 360° views.
Looking for the quickest and easiest way to see the Nazca Lines from Lima? Book our Nazca Lines Overflight Tour From Lima Now, which includes a private flight experience over the ancient lines, as well as guided tours of both nearby Huacachina and Paracas.
