Discover Nazca

The giant figures of a hummingbird, monkey and spider, drawn into the desert floor over 1,500 years ago, can only be recognized in their full size from a bird's-eye view, which is why small scenic aircraft offer daily sightseeing flights over the desert plateau.

The Nazca culture likely created the enormous geoglyphs between 500 BC and 500 AD as ceremonial paths or astronomical calendar lines, though their exact purpose remains the subject of scientific debate and speculation to this day.

Just a short drive from Nazca lies the palm-fringed oasis of Huacachina, surrounded by towering sand dunes, where buggy tours and sandboarding down the steep dune slopes rank among the most popular attractions of the entire coastal region.

The ancient cemetery of the Nazca culture in the middle of the desert reveals well-preserved mummies along with textiles and ceramic grave goods, offering a direct and striking insight into the burial rites of the pre-Columbian population.

From Lima, Nazca can be reached by long-distance bus in about seven hours along the Pan-American Highway. Most travelers combine the trip with a stopover in the oasis town of Huacachina.

The giant figures of a hummingbird, monkey and spider, drawn into the desert floor over 1,500 years ago, can only be recognized in their full size from a bird's-eye view, which is why small scenic aircraft offer daily sightseeing flights over the desert plateau.

The Nazca culture likely created the enormous geoglyphs between 500 BC and 500 AD as ceremonial paths or astronomical calendar lines, though their exact purpose remains the subject of scientific debate and speculation to this day.

Just a short drive from Nazca lies the palm-fringed oasis of Huacachina, surrounded by towering sand dunes, where buggy tours and sandboarding down the steep dune slopes rank among the most popular attractions of the entire coastal region.