Nazca Lines
Líneas de Nazca · Ica Region, Peru
An alien canvas on the desert: the mystery of 2,000-year-old giant geoglyphs
Know before you go
- Never walk into the lines area (a single step destroys a thousand-year-old site — a serious crime)
- small planes easily cause airsickness, so bring medication.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
Between 500 BC and AD 500 the Nazca people etched giant figures — a hummingbird, a monkey, an 'astronaut' and more — into the desert, visible in full only from the air; they were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1994. Their purpose remains a mystery: an astronomical calendar, alien runways, ritual paths — theories abound, and it's this unknown that makes them so magical.
Local customs
- Viewing requires a small plane
- follow flight-safety instructions
- the Ica desert is hot, so bring water and sun protection.
Religion & beliefs
- A ritual and astronomical site of the Nazca people
- come with respect and don't desecrate it.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
Peru: carry ID at all times
- Carry your passport or a valid ID document
- Going out without ID
You must show it when police ask, or you may be taken to the nearest police station.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Peru travel advice
Peru: photographing military targets is illegal
- Put your camera away when you see a military area
- Photographing any military facilities or personnel
Can mean 2 to 5 years in prison.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Peru travel advice
Peru: coca leaves and coca tea cannot be taken out of the country
- Just drink coca tea while you are there
- Taking coca leaves or coca tea out of Peru
- Carrying luggage for someone else
Coca products may not be taken out of Peru; drug convictions bring long prison sentences.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: Peru travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- Never walk into the lines area (a single step destroys a thousand-year-old site — a serious crime)
- small planes easily cause airsickness, so bring medication.
Locals appreciate DO
Peruvians recommend combining it with sandboarding at the 'desert oasis' of Huacachina, and appreciate visitors with curiosity about archaeology.
Plan your visit
Practical info
| Best time | Open all year; air currents are calmest in the early morning |
|---|
Travel tips
- You can visit all year, and air is calmest in the early morning. Flights last about 30 minutes and cost about USD 100 — be sure to book a licensed company in advance
- it's about 7 hours by coach from Lima
- combine with the bird islands of Paracas.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
There's no food in the desert where the lines are — eat in Nazca or Ica
Must-try
- Peruvian stir-fried noodles / fried rice
- Ceviche
- Ica wine / pisco tasting
Peruvian stir-fried noodles / fried rice (chifa, Chinese-Peruvian fusion — tallarín saltado), ceviche (at lunchtime), Ica wine / pisco tasting (in the winery area, adults), chicha morada / picarones (doughnuts)
| Where to eat | Restaurants in Nazca town, lakeside restaurants in the Huacachina oasis near Ica, meals at Ica wineries (tour packages) |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Don't eat a big meal before going up the viewing tower or on a flight (small planes circle and cause airsickness); no eating or littering in the protected desert |
| Typical price per person | PEN 40–75 ≈ CNY 76–143 |
| Tips | Have only a light breakfast before flying; oasis restaurants charge for the view, while Ica city is more local. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
Wotancito · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos
Photos
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0
Sources & verification notes
Compiled from Peru tourism board guides to Nazca
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