Top places to visit in Nazca

• Cantalloc Aqueducts (Acueductos de Cantalloc)

  archaeological-site · 4.3 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Ancient spiral stone aqueducts (puquios) built by the Nazca culture ~AD 200-700, still channelling water today. The stacked-stone spirals (ojos) let you descend toward the underground channels.

• Nazca Lines Mirador (Viewing Tower)

  geoglyph · 4.0 rating · about 0.7 h · check the fee at the gate

  Roadside metal observation tower on the Panamericana Sur, ~20 km north of Nazca, offering ground-level views of three figures: the Hands, the Tree and part of a lizard. The only way to see lines from the ground.

• Chauchilla Cemetery

  archaeological-site · 4.2 rating · about 1.5 h · check the fee at the gate

  Pre-Inca necropolis ~30 km south of Nazca with naturally mummified bodies, bones, pottery and textiles displayed in open tombs in the desert. Dates roughly AD 200-900 and is the largest pre-Columbian cemetery of the region.

• Maria Reiche Planetarium & Observatory

  planetarium · 4.0 rating · about 1 h · check the fee at the gate

  Small planetarium at the Hotel Nazca Lines giving an evening dome presentation about the Nazca Lines, the astronomical theories of researcher Maria Reiche, and the southern-hemisphere sky viewed through telescopes afterward.

• Maria Reiche Museum (Casa Museo)

  house-museum · 3.9 rating · about 0.8 h · check the fee at the gate

  House-museum on the Panamericana where German mathematician Maria Reiche lived and is buried, displaying her measuring tools, photos, sketches and personal effects from decades spent surveying and protecting the lines.

• Cahuachi Pyramids

  archaeological-site · 4.1 rating · about 2 h · check the fee at the gate

  Largest known adobe ceremonial centre of the Nazca culture, ~28 km west of town across the desert. Excavated stepped pyramids and plazas thought to be a pilgrimage and ritual site, built roughly 100 BC-AD 500.

• Cerro Blanco Sand Dune

  sand-dune · 4.4 rating · about 5 h · check the fee at the gate

  One of the tallest sand dunes in the world (~2,078 m summit, ~1,176 m of relief), east of Nazca. A demanding pre-dawn hike up rewarded by sandboarding and dune-running back down.

Things to do

• Nazca Lines Overflight (Light Aircraft) Sightseeing · 0.6 h · from PEN 320 per person
• Cerro Blanco Sandboarding & Dune Trek Adventure · 7 h · from PEN 180 per person
• Chauchilla Cemetery Half-Day Tour Cultural · 3 h · from PEN 70 per person
• Cantalloc Aqueducts & Pottery Tour Cultural · 3 h · from PEN 65 per person
• Cahuachi Pyramids & Desert 4x4 Tour Cultural · 4 h · from PEN 110 per person

Day trips and tours

• Nazca Lines Overflight + Lines Mirador & Maria Reiche Museum 5 h · from PEN 420
• Nazca Full-Day: Chauchilla Cemetery + Cantalloc Aqueducts + Pottery 7 h · from PEN 160

Where to stay in Nazca

• Centro about PEN 40 per night

  Nazca's small town centre near the Plaza de Armas — most hotels, restaurants and tour/overflight offices are here.

Hotels

• Hotel Nazca Lines (DM Hoteles Nasca) 4-star · PEN 280 to PEN 520 per night
• Casa Andina Standard Nasca 3-star · PEN 220 to PEN 380 per night
• Hotel Oro Viejo 3-star · PEN 180 to PEN 300 per night
• Casa Hacienda Nasca Oasis 4-star · PEN 420 to PEN 780 per night
• Nanasqa Hostel 2-star · PEN 35 to PEN 150 per night

Where to eat

• Mamashana Cafe Restaurante Peruvian, International, Cafe · about PEN 45 per person
• Via La Encantada Peruvian, International, Asian · about PEN 50 per person
• La Kasa Rustika Peruvian, Criollo, Latin · about PEN 45 per person
• Restaurante La Encantada Peruvian, International · about PEN 48 per person
• Restaurant El Porton Peruvian, Criollo, Grill · about PEN 40 per person
• Los Angeles Restaurant Peruvian, Criollo · about PEN 22 per person

Getting to Nazca

Nearest airport: Ayacucho (AYP), about 201 km away in a straight line. The road or rail journey is longer.

How visitors arrive in Nazca

• Long-distance coach via Ica, e.g. Cruz del Sur By road from Lima · common · unconfirmed

  Cruz del Sur has a terminal in Nazca on its southern routes with stops along the Lima to Arequipa and Cusco corridor. Source: proactivo.com.pe

• Coach from Lima (Cruz del Sur, Tepsa, Peru Hop) By road from Lima · common

  Long-distance coaches run from Lima along the Pan-American Highway south; Cruz del Sur and Tepsa use public terminals, Peru Hop picks up from hotels. Source: theonlyperuguide.com

• Coach from Ica, Arequipa or Cusco By road from Ica / Arequipa / Cusco · common

  Nazca is on the Lima-Arequipa-Cusco coach corridor with Civa, Cruz del Sur, Tepsa and Oltursa services. Source: theonlyperuguide.com

From the bus terminal to the centre

• Taxi from the coach terminal unconfirmed

  Page does not describe the local transfer; hotels often arrange pickup. Source: theonlyperuguide.com

Getting around

• Taxi limited to a few areas

  Nazca is small and mostly walkable; taxis are not easy to hail near the centre, so ask your hotel to call one, including for the airfield.

• Walking

Safety and scams to avoid

• Unsafe / overbooked overflight operators

  Maria Reiche aerodrome and street travel agencies

  Some cut-rate operators overload planes, skimp on maintenance, or oversell seats then bump you to a later, longer wait. Touts on the street push the cheapest deal regardless of the airline's safety record.

  How to avoid it: Book with established airlines (e.g. AeroNasca, AeroParacas), confirm the aircraft and pilot, and avoid the absolute cheapest street offers. Pay attention to the weigh-in - reputable operators always weigh passengers.

• Fake "guide" or "entry fee" at the Mirador tower

  Nazca Lines viewing tower on the Panamericana

  Individuals pose as official staff and demand an inflated "entry fee" or insist you need a paid guide to climb the tower, pocketing the cash.

  How to avoid it: The tower has a small, fixed posted fee paid to the actual booth. Ignore freelancers who approach your vehicle and only pay at the official counter.

• Taxi and mototaxi overcharging

  Bus terminal, aerodrome and Plaza de Armas

  Drivers quote tourists several times the local fare, especially from the bus station or to the aerodrome, claiming a fixed "tourist price".

  How to avoid it: Agree the fare before boarding and know the rough local rates (S/4-6 in town, ~S/10-15 to the aerodrome). Ask your hotel what a ride should cost.

• Overpriced "combo" tours from street touts

  Around the Plaza de Armas and hostels

  Touts sell bundled Chauchilla/Cantalloc/overflight packages at marked-up prices, sometimes with no-show transport or a different operator than promised.

  How to avoid it: Book through your hotel or a registered agency with a physical office, get the itinerary and operator in writing, and compare a couple of prices first.

Best time to visit Nazca

• Jan 27°C
• Feb 28°C
• Mar 28°C
• Apr 26°C
• May 25°C
• Jun 23°C
• Jul 22°C
• Aug 23°C
• Sep 24°C
• Oct 24°C
• Nov 25°C
• Dec 26°C

More in Peru

• Cusco
• Lima
• Aguas Calientes
• Arequipa
• Puno
• Ica

Frequently asked questions about Nazca

What are the top-rated places to visit in Nazca?

The highest-rated places in our Nazca guide are Cerro Blanco Sand Dune, Cantalloc Aqueducts (Acueductos de Cantalloc), Chauchilla Cemetery, Cahuachi Pyramids, Nazca Lines Mirador (Viewing Tower).

Where should I stay in Nazca?

Our guide covers these areas to stay in Nazca: Centro.

How do I get around Nazca?

Ways to get around Nazca covered in our guide: Taxi, Walking.

What scams should I watch out for in Nazca?

Scams reported to us for Nazca include Unsafe / overbooked overflight operators; Fake "guide" or "entry fee" at the Mirador tower; Taxi and mototaxi overcharging. Each is explained in the guide, with how to avoid it.

What is the weather like in Nazca?

Average daytime highs in Nazca run from 22°C in Jul to 28°C in Mar.