Are you trying to work out the exact Nazca Lines location?
Easily one of Peru’s most famous mysterious ancient creations, most people know that it’s located within a desert given the grey and orange colours in the background of most photos. However the exact location itself can be misleading given it’s situated in a more remote region of Peru when compared with Lima or Cusco – which makes aerial visits to this site much more convenient than overland transport.
In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about the Nazca Lines location. This includes exactly where it is located in Peru, why this particular area was chosen by the ancient Nazca culture, as well as how to best visit. Later we’ll also answer some of your most asked questions in our FAQ section.
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Where Exactly Is The Nazca Lines Location?
The Nazca Lines are located within the arid Nazca Desert – in the same-named region of Nazca in Southern Peru – which is some 450km south of Lima.
Within this desert, the geoglyphs are found within a 520 square-kilometre area called the Pampa Colorada – which was chosen by the ancient Nazca civilisation to build these massive geoglyphs given the contrast in colours of the landscape. As they found out, once the earthy top layer was removed, it revealed a brighter red tone underneath as there is an abundance of iron oxide sitting just below the desert. From here they then created hundreds of massive geoglyphs here that represent different animals and deities.
The Best Ways To Explore The Nazca Lines
Interested in seeing the Nazca Lines during your trip to Peru? Let’s now cover the different ways of reaching the Nazca Lines location.
Choosing A Scenic Overflight Day Tour From Lima
By far the best option for tourists who arrive into Lima, heading on a Nazca Overflight Day Tour offers numerous advantages compared to the other options below. First of all, on this tour you’ll fly from Pisco Airport which is just a couple of hours away from Lima – which saves lots of time and makes the day trip possible (the other options require an 8 hour bus and overnight stay in the city of Nazca). As well as having a professional local pilot and expert tour guide on hand, you’ll also enjoy private air-conditioned transport to and from your hotel, and also visit Huacachina and the Ballestas Islands during your day trip.
Visiting Nazca And Heading On A Local Flight
Next we have the local flight option within Nazca. Firstly you’ll need to take an 8 hour public bus to reach Nazca – or you can also take a taxi although it will be much more expensive. The next day, you can then head on a pre-booked flight from the local airstrip where you’ll also get great views of the different hieroglyphs and Nazca creations. This option makes sense if you want to see more of the surrounding Nazca region and have 2/3 days extra free – but less sense if you don’t like long travel times, or prefer to spend more time in the capital of Lima.
Climbing The Observatory Tower Within The Nazca Desert
Lastly we have the observatory tower, which is located within the Nazca Desert itself. Like the previous option of taking a local flight, you’ll first need to head to the city of Nazca which requires an overnight public bus. Once here, you’ll need to take a taxi from the city to the Nazca Desert, which takes around 30 minutes. From here you can then climb the observatory towers for a view of the nearby 2 or 3 Nazca Lines geoglyphs (depending on conditions). It’s important to note that while it’s the cheapest option, you’ll only have 45° angle views compared to the 360° views on an overflight. If you’re still unsure which option is best, then read our full guide on how to plan a Nazca Lines trip.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Nazca Lines Location
In this section we’ll now explore the most frequent questions we get about the Nazca Lines location, as well as anything else you need to know.
Can You Visit The Nazca Lines In Peru?
Yes it’s possible to visit the Nazca Lines, although you won’t be able to physically walk right next to them or over the hieroglyphs. Instead you can either see them with an unforgettable Nazca Lines Overflight which departs either from Nazca or Pisco (the latter which is closest to Lima) – or by visiting the nearby observatory tower in the Nazca Desert.
How Far Is Nazca From Machu Picchu?
Two of Peru’s most epic and mysterious ancient creations, the distance between Nazca and Machu Picchu is roughly 739km. If planning to visit both, then it’s important to know they are in vastly different remote regions – and as such you’ll need at least a day in Lima to see the Nazca Lines with a flight, and then two days to fly to Cusco and visit Machu Picchu.
Who Created The Nazca Lines In Peru?
The Nazca Lines were believed to have been created by the Nazca civilisation between 200 BC – 600 CE. This ancient culture worked out that by removing the thin top layer of the greyish orange desert, it revealed a highly contrasting red iron oxide beneath. This is why they then chose to create the different geoglyphs here to be seen in full view by their deities – as it was believed they used them as an offering and prayer for rains.
Overview Of The Nazca Lines Location
And that’s all for this guide on everything you need to know about the Nazca Lines location.
Set within the vast remote Nazca Desert, the ancient lines and hieroglyphs have easily become one of Peru’s most important ancient sites – and also one of the most recognisable along with Machu Picchu. Thankfully getting here is simple when heading with an overflight from Pisco Airport – which is close to Lima and means you can easily visit this incredible spectacle within just a single day from the Peruvian capital.
Here at TravelBuddiesPeru, we operate An Unforgettable Nazca Lines Overflight Tour which includes all private transport, expert guides and pilots, as well as included visits to the Ballestas Islands, Paracas and the famous Huacachina Oasis.
