Are you wondering what to do in Nazca Peru aside from the famous Nazca Lines?
One of the most mysterious ancient creations in South America, most trips to this arid Peruvian region only focus on these hieroglyphs. However the truth is that there’s also other interesting sites to visit, which include perfectly preserved mummies as well as ceramic workshops within the city of Nazca.
In this guide we’ll explore what to do in Nazca Peru, and how to have the most memorable trip here possible. We’ll also look at how much time you will need to see everything here, as well as answering any other burning questions you may have in our FAQ section.
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Below we’ll now take a look at the very best things to see and do around Nazca Peru.
Easily the most impressive of this list (and a big contender for all of Peru), the Nazca Lines cannot be missed when in the region. There are over 300 hieroglyphs here which date back over 2000 years old, which can best be seen from flying above. Here we can see all kinds of mysterious geometric designs, which include the Astronaut, the Spider as well as the Hummingbird. They were made by scratching several inches of surface-layer dirt, which revealed a bold red color below (which is why they are so easy to see when flying from above).
Whilst this chilling place may seem like another cemetery, it’s quite unique in its ways too. Home to various mummies, they are in almost perfect condition given the dry arid air as well as how they were prepared before being buried. Also found here were many archaeological artifacts, which gives us an insight into just how important the idea of the afterlife was to the Nazca civilization. The Chauchilla Cemetery is located some 27km south of Nazca, just off the desert town of Poroma.
Situated within the city of Nazca itself, the Museo Antonini is one of many historical museums found here. However this one in particular is renowned for its grand collection of ancient artifacts that were once used daily by the Nazca civilisation. Here we can see multiple exhibition rooms which showcase everything from embroidered clothes and tools to the famous pottery that they designed. The Museo Antonini is located along Avenida Bolognesi, roughly 7 blocks east of the main Plaza de Armas square.
Looking somewhat similar to the circular Moray Ruins in the Sacred Valley, the Cantalloc Aqueducts actually served a much different purpose. These series of holes allowed wind in which pushed underground water to where they were needed in the town and region (almost like a canal). Given how dry and difficult living conditions are in the region, these creations allowed the local people to survive, grow and thrive. Today they are all still here to see, and walking around we can really appreciate the timeless invention from this incredible culture.
This really depends on you and your own travel goals here, however most people only come to Nazca for the day. 24 hours is more than enough to fly above the ancient Nazca Lines, and also check out the main sites around town.
If you are interested in really diving into the culture and learning more about its history, then we would recommend spending between 3-4 days here. This will be plenty of time to head on a tour to the Chauchilla Cemetery, as well as visit the archaeological museum and the Cantalloc Aqueducts.
Now you may be strapped for time in Nazca when in Peru, and if you still want to see the legendary Nazca Lines then we highly recommend heading on our memorable day tour from Lima. Not only will we fly from nearby Pisco (which saves travel times), you will also get to visit both Huacachina and Paracas within the same day too!
In this section we’ll now explore the most frequent questions we get about what to do in Nazca Peru.
The Nazca Lines are by far the most popular site to see in the region, given they are one of Peru’s most mysterious unsolved sites. Here we can view numerous geoglyphs that date back several thousands of years, and if flying from above then we can get some incredible 360° views as we learn about the importance of each design.
It’s first important to remember that it’s very hot here, so you’ll want to wear light clothing and apply sunscreen several times in the day to avoid burning. If staying overnight, you’ll also want to bring a jacket as temperatures can drop rapidly here. Another great idea is to learn more about Nazca with different audiobooks and our other articles – as this will help you to fully understand these creations before seeing them.
The city of Nazca is by far the closest to the Nazca Lines, which is 7km away and is roughly a 15 minute drive. Ica is the next closest major city (which is famous for its giant sand dunes) and is around 120km north of the lines. Driving from Ica to the Nazca Lines will take around 2 hours in total. Lima is even further away at a distance of 425km (6 hours driving), which is why we recommend flying from nearby Pisco airport.
And that’s all for this guide on what to do in Nazca Peru.
With over 300 fascinating ancient hieroglyphs to spot from above, the Nazca Lines are by far the most impressive sites to see within Nazca. However if you do have more time free or want to stay in the city itself, then you can also visit other local attractions too such as the Chauchilla Cemetery as well as the Cantalloc Aqueducts.
Are you looking to fly over the Nazca Lines? Here at TravelBuddiesPeru we operate a convenient Nazca Lines tour that departs from Lima, meaning we can see these incredible creations within just one day from the capital. As well as including all private transport and a local guide, we’ll also explore the Huacachina desert as well as the diverse Ballestas Islands.
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