Peru Nazca Lines Flight and Desert Trek

Nazca · Peru

Easy4 daysSouth America~£600 est.

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Overview

The Nazca Lines only resolve into creatures from the air: a hummingbird 96 metres long, a spider, a condor, the strange waving figure nicknamed the astronaut -- geoglyphs scraped into the desert varnish by the Nasca culture between 500 BCE and 500 CE and preserved by one of the driest climates on Earth. Cessna overflights from Nazca's airstrip last about 35 minutes and bank hard over each figure: take a morning slot before the thermals build, and go easy on breakfast -- most people regret it. On the ground, climb the roadside Mirador tower for an oblique view of the tree and lizard figures, visit Maria Reiche's museum to meet the mathematician who mapped the lines for five decades, and take the desert track to Cahuachi, the Nasca ceremonial city of eroded adobe pyramids. Flights cost about 80-100 pounds plus airport tax; four days covers Nazca, Cahuachi and the Chauchilla tombs comfortably. May to November brings the most reliable flying weather -- expect fierce sun regardless.