Matthew Barker

Tour the Mysterious Nazca Lines

A sample itinerary of a tour from Paracas Bay to the mysterious Nazca Lines, as described by a Peru travel expert at Peru For Less.

For travelers who want to see more of the mystery of Peru than Machu Picchu, take a tour of the Nazca Lines. Located on the pampas plains south of Lima, these mysterious lines have stymied scientists for decades. Even less is known about the purpose of the lines than about their creators, the ancient Nazca. The sheer size of these figures, most over several kilometers, and in total stretching over 450km of pampas, is equally awe-inspiring as they are perplexing. They are best viewed from the air – and you’ll have the chance to take a short flight over the most famous of the figures – but why would the ancient Nazca build figures that could be seen from the air? The mystery remains.

First you’ll take the train from Lima to Paracas Bay, where you can spend the afternoon on the beach or in your comfortable hotel.

The next day you will embark on a boatride to the Ballestas Islands. Not only are these islands a bird-watchers delight and home to turtles, sea lions, and other marine life, but from the boat you can see the 50m-long Candelabra, or Candlestick, another petrogylph carved out of the cliffside. Some believe the Candelabra was created by the same people who created the Nazca Lines, but because the Candelabra is located on the coast, several kilometers from Nazca, that theory is up for debate.

Eat lunch in Huacachina, the desert oasis known for its sandboarding. In the afternoon, you´ll take the bus to Nazca, where you´ll spend the rest of the evening around the town or in your hotel.

In the morning, you’ll have breakfast in the hotel and then tour the Nazca Lines. Put your thinking caps on, because there are several theories on function of the Nazca Lines, and you may have one to add. The lines were carved sometime between 500 BC and 500 AD, and some researchers they served as astronomical symbols for the ancient Nazca people. During your short flight above the lines, you’ll see the famous monkey, hummingbird, and condor, all massive figures – some reaching several kilometers long.

Later that day, you will head back to Lima, where you will be free to explore the exciting capital of Peru, or relax in your hotel.

Article Tags: Nazca Lines, Ancient Nazca

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