best way to see nazca lines

Peru, located in South America, is a country full of surprises. With fascinating ancient history and culture, there is no denying that it has a lot to offer. Its unique natural beauty has large mountain ranges with snowy peaks and other magnificent landscapes. The range of adventure activities is innumerable during trips to Peru. Among them, hiking is considered one of the best in the world. In recent years, the style of travel has changed a lot, today you can enjoy anything from five-star luxury tours to traditional backpacker tours and accommodations. In this article, Machu Travel Peru will discuss a part of Peru that today remains a mystery, the mysterious Nazca Lines, and what is the best way to see the Nazca Lines?

The best way to see the Nazca lines

HOW TO GET TO NAZCA

how to get to nazca lines best way to see the nazca lines

If you are looking to see the Nazca lines, it is necessary to first get to the town of the same name. Getting to the small town of Nazca is not that complicated. There are buses that leave Lima several times a day and the trip takes about eight hours. The town of Nazca is located about twelve hours from the city of Arequipa and there are also several companies in Arequipa that have this service daily. Any Nazca Lines tour can help you get to your destination without problems.

THE OBSERVATION TOWER

observation tower the best way to see nazca lines

So what is the best way to see the Nazca Lines when you travel to Peru? There are only two options. The first option is the observation tower. If you decide to do the tower alone, you will climb four flights of stairs to the top of the tower. From here, you can see at least two of the figures clearly. Hands and trees from the observation tower. This option is good if you don’t like small planes or are afraid of heights. This is also a good option if you are on a very tight budget and cannot afford the cost of the flight. Note that you should do this in the morning, as the afternoon can be very windy and make the tower very uncomfortable; The entrance to the tower is around two soles plus a taxi to the tower from Nazca, which is located on the outskirts of town. The observation tower is a good option, but you won’t get the full view of the site.

FLIGHT OVER THE LINES

flying over the lines the best way to see nazca lines

The other option, which is more popular, is to buy a flight over the Nazca lines images. Buying a ticket on a small plane is the best option for those who want to see the full length of the lines from the air. Flights generally last around thirty minutes, but you get great views of the lines. However, keep in mind that these flights are not for the faint of heart. Flights can be a bit rough, especially when it’s windy. The pilot will turn around and give both sides of the plane an equal view of the lines, and this can cause nausea in some people.

THE BEST WAY TO SEE THEM

best way to see nazca lines spider geoglyph

Nazca lies right in the middle of the desert and the site of the Nazca lines looks for all intents and purposes like many bare rocks and hills. But to appreciate the true drawings it is necessary to fly over the Nazca lines or climb the tower. Although in our personal opinion, if you plan to see the Nazca Lines, the best way to see them is with a flight over them. It’s worth the extra money to fly, so be sure to budget for that expense. 

HOW TO BOOK A FLIGHT

best way to see nazca lines astronaut

There are several ways to book a flight over the Nazca lines map. You can book online with the websites of companies such as AeroNazca, AeroParacas, and Movil Air. These companies are reliable and reasonable, in addition to having been on tourist flights for several years. Another way would be to wait until you get to Nazca and buy a flight at your hotel reception. This way seems to be cheaper but you cannot choose the flight you want and you can only take what is available on the day. The last option is to buy at the Nazca airport, this is the riskiest way to buy. If there are no spaces, you may have to wait up to five hours to catch a flight. Also, these are not always guaranteed, you may miss it completely. To avoid any kind of misunderstandings, it is recommended that you book your flight in advance.

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE LINES

best way to see nazca lines hummingbird

During your vacation in Peru, you will see some of the Nazca Lines. The lines are geoglyphs that represent animals, different geometric designs, and also human figures. If you are wondering how the Nazca lines were made, then here are some interesting facts that you may not know about the well-known geoglyphs.

  • One of the largest figures in Nazca is about two hundred meters wide.
  • Archaeologists believe that the lines were created by the Nazca people from the 1st to the 8th century AD.
  • The Hummingbird in Nazca Lines is a hermit. Apparently, the Nazca culture decided to draw geoglyphs of exotic animals.
  • The reason the lines have lasted so long is because of the climatic conditions in the region.
  • The Spider is a drawing of the constellation Orion.
  • When viewed from the ground it is impossible to see the Nazca lines.
  • Most lines are four to twelve inches deep.
  • Climate change could cause damage to the lines, as only a small amount of water would be needed to wash the lines.
  • The Nazca culture was able to create the lines with the use of stakes and strings, thanks to these instruments they were able to build different geoglyphs.

“TRUTH HAS NO DEADLINES”


As you can see, although there is the option of the observation tower, the best way to see the Nazca lines is on a flight. We hope together with the experts from Machu Travel Peru to have been of help. Remember that the flight experience cannot be compared to the tower. If you want to know more about our tours, you can consult with our advisors.

Peru has so much to offer, it can be hard to know where to start. With many years of experience in the tourism sector, Machu Travel Peru is happy to help with anything regarding your trip to Machu Picchu and any tours around it. Make your Machu Picchu experience an unforgettable one!