Taking a bumpy, small-plane flight over the Nazca Desert in southern Peru to view the ancient Nazca Lines—a collection of more than 300 animal, plant, and geometric geoglyphs—is a thrill. With the largest of the gigantic shapes comparable in size to the Empire State Building, an aerial view is the only way to see them in all their glory. The handful of other things to do in Nazca all tie in with the UNESCO-listed lines, from a deep dive into their archaeological excavation at the Maria Reiche Museum to exploring additional Naza culture ruins.
Nazca's desert climate is hot and dry year-round—the exact conditions that have preserved the Nazca Lines for up to 2,000 years. Flights over the geoglyphs run most days of the year if conditions allow, but the most popular time to visit is November through March. Opt for an early morning flight for the smoothest flying conditions and best visibility, and skip breakfast—the small planes make tight turns and often encounter turbulence, so motion sickness is a common complaint.
Nazca, which sits between Lima and Arequipa, can only be reached by bus—but once you've arrived in the city, you can get to many of the central hotels on foot. Nazca Lines flights leave from the non-commercial Maria Reiche Neuman Airport, about a 10-minute drive from the city, and many tours include transfers. Several companies operate flights over the lines, but be wary of just booking the cheapest—there have been valid safety concerns raised over some of the flights.
Most visitors zip in and out of Nazca with one thing on the agenda, but it's worth sticking around after your Nazca Lines flight to learn more about the mysterious lines. The Maria Reiche Museum and Planetarium Maria Reiche, both named after the German archaeologist who devoted her life to studying the Nazca Lines, offer some fascinating insights. You can also learn about the Nazca people, who are believed to have created the lines, by visiting the Cantalloc Aqueducts, Chauchilla Cemetery, and Cahuachi archaeological complex.
