Traditionally the Nazca Lines have only ever been accessible by a lengthy bus ride from Lima followed by a night over in Nazca before seeing the awe-inspiring lines. Now however, a new option is available to those who want to avoid the tiring and often cumbersome bus ride – a flight from Lima directly to Ica and onwards over Nazca and an evening return back to Lima.

Approximately 2000 years ago the Nazca Culture – for one reason or another (the theories are endless) – decided it would be in their best interest to carve giant geometric designs, patterns, and stylized animal figures into the surface of a rather flat, inhospitable, and barren plain. Whether in fact the Nazca people created the lines to appease the gods, or whether they made them simply in order to confuse us is largely immaterial, especially as the reasons behind their creation have been debated for so long that any hope of finding a concrete explanation for their existence seems to have disappeared. What hasn’t disappeared however, are the lines – and after 2000 years they are as resplendent, mind boggling, and impressive as ever.

The town of Nazca lies about 450 kilometers south of Lima and the amazing geoglyphs, located on the plateau outside of town never fail to dazzle me. What does annoy me is that if you’re on a limited time frame it’s a difficult site to see. Traditionally one has always had to take a bus from Lima to Nazca which takes roughly seven hours. It actually took me nine hours to get there by bus a couple of years ago. What this means is that unless you really want to spend some time exploring the region –you’re looking at a two day trip at the very least. If the bus is fast you can get there and back in 14 hours. It’s a large price to pay considering the Cessna flight over the lines only lasts 30 minutes. This rather time consuming, line viewing haul is no longer necessary though.

I recently discovered – to my pleasure I should add – that it is now possible to see the Nazca Lines in one day from Lima. A flight in the morning takes you to Ica – where you board a Cessna and fly directly over to the Nazca Lines. The trip over the lines lasts a little longer owing to the distance, and after returning to Ica one can enjoy a little seafood lunch, lounge about comfortably at the swimming pools at Las Dunas hotel, and even try some famous Huacachina sand-boarding before returning to Lima on a late afternoon flight.

I did this trip recently and found it to be not only a great way to get to see the lines, but also found it to be rather relaxing. It’s a little fast paced, but you are given plenty of time to sit around and catch up on some reading. I’d recommend this trip to anyone pressed for time while traveling in Peru, as well as for those who like to get things done comfortably and quickly. On the other hand there is a lot to be said about Nazca and other sites in the area. The Hacienda Cantayo, located on the outskirts of town, is possibly one of the finest hotels in Peru and is definitely one of my personal favorites. Another reason to stay in Nazca is to see the rather eerie - although fascinating - ancient bone cemetery of Chauchilla on the outskirts of town. So there are things to see and do in the area if you want to take your time. It is however, nice to know that we now have the option of getting down to Nazca, seeing the lines, and getting back to Lima in a day.

I hope this helps anyone interested. Keep on traveling!

Bart

http://www.cat-travel.com/peru-tour-25-lima-nazca-lines.asp

http://bart-cat-travel.blogspot.com/

By the way, I noticed that you can now find the Nazca Lines on Google Earth if you look hard enough. For those of you interested, search the Nazca Plain that lies in the vicinity of 14°41'00" S and 75°07'00" W.

Mystery Peru is a local Nasca agency that we booked several tours through including:
- overflights of Nasca Lines
- personal guided tour of Nasca Museum,
- Cantallo Aqueduct system
- personal guided tour of Chauchillo Cemetery
- car and driver from Nasca to Arequipa
- tour to the Colca Canyan from Arequipa
- tour of Lake Titicaca

Enrique, the owner, is extremely competent and detail-oriented. He made sure everything went off without a hitch. This was a great way of doing these tours for a family of 4, with having one personal guide take us to these places -- instead of being part of a big bus group of tourists.

Tours to the Colca Canyon and Lake Titicaca were arranged by him through other agencies, and thus were with larger groups of people. But he made sure everything was organized clearly, and that we were picked up at the right time, and at the right places. Even when we had to change hotels in Puno, we emailed him, and he immediately sent a contact to double-check our location.

One tip about the Nasca Lines -- take your GRAVOL before you get up in the air!!!

We found the 9-hour drive during the day, in a private van much preferrable over the overnight bus. We got to see the variance in landscape, saw dolphins in the ocean, small shanty towns--and not have to cope with trying to sleep on a bus.

Its a unique experience to see the Nazca lines from a small plane, but if you have a weak stomach do not do it.

My husband and I were recently on vacation in Peru. We had a great time, Peruvian Oddyssey did a wonderful job with all of our arrangements, except for the Aero Condor flight over the Nazca Lines.

We flew from Lima to Ica in a small plane with about 15 other tourists. On the way to Ica the plane few over the Lines for 20 minutes and then landed in Ica. We thought we were going to go back up to see more lines after lunch for the full promise of 45 minutes of seeing the lines.

We waited in the Ica airport from 11:00 until 12:30 to eat lunch. We were encouraged to see a small zoo behind the airport. Zoo had a Condor in a small cage and a pitiful Alpaca whose hooves and teeth needed immediate attention. I was very saddened by the care of these animals.

Finally we were taken in a bus to the Dunes resort for a lunch that lasted until 2:30. After realizing that there was going to be no more flights in a "smaller plane to see the lines," we complained with no results.

Finally, after wandering this resort for an hour and a half, we boarded the bus to see a small, but interesting museum, an oasis that had seen better times, (very decrepit), and a small winery for making Pisco.

We had been told we would be back in Lima at 5:00; we did not return until 7:00.

I feel we were really "ripped off" for $700.00. Better to see the lines in a book, sitting in the comfort of your home.