Nazca Travel To See The Peru Lines and The Line Of Nazca

When in Peru, it is almost obligatory to travel to Nazca to see the Peru lines, or the line of Nazca, or Nazca lines, whatever you wish to call them! These geoglyphs are among the most enigmatic archeological sites found on earth.

The arid climate in the Nazca valley has enabled these mysterious designs to remain highly visible for thousands of years. One of the most peculiar things is that they are really only visible from the air, at an altitude of at least 1,500 ft.!

There is a great deal of popular speculation surrounding these and other sites, namely that they are a reference to visits from extraterrestrial beings sometime in the past. When you consider the size and design of the Nazca lines, it is not hard to imagine how such a theory could exist.

These lines are scratched in the earth over great distances, from 300 meters to several kilometers in length. How and why would anyone even create such a thing? And why are they only visible from the sky?

In some ways the Nazca culture was highly developed, including complex aqueducts and underground reservoirs. The pyramids in the area also are a cause for mystery and speculation.

Cahuachi is the archeological center of the Nazca culture and is located some 25 km. from Nazca. You will find pyramids and line designs of serpentine shapes and trapezes that cover 1 sq. km.

How to get to the desert lines

To get to Nazca from Lima, you can either fly or drive. It is 443 km from Lima and the Southern Pan American Highway is not really the greatest, so flying is much easier.

However, you obviously have a much more interesting trip if you drive or take a bus. Either way, it is a good idea to make reservations for your trip, as well as your lodging. Not everything in Peru functions quite as well as we might wish, and people tend to be late for almost everything.

Tips for Nazca travel

There are many competing companies to fly you over the lines in the desert, so finding one is not a problem. Just make sure you do not eat before your flight, as it is quite common for people to get airsick and vomit during the trip. You don't want to see the bottom of a bag during your flight!

If you can't stomach a flight, there is always the Maria Reiche Observation Tower that gives you some good views of the lines. It is named after the German researcher who believed the lines to be an Astronomical Calendar indicating the direction of stars, planets, and solar solstices.

Nazca Hotels

There are a number of hotels in the area, notably the Nazca Lines Hotel, the Hotel Alegria, the Nido del Condor and the Hotel la Maison Suisse. Prices vary from $35 to over $100 per night, per person. As always, it is a good idea to make reservations, and then double check before you leave for Nazca.