Flying over the Nazca Lines: Peru's Mysterious Geoglyphs
Every year, thousands of tourists flock to Nazca to see the famous Nazca lines. Today we were two of them. The landmark might not be as famous as Machu Picchu, but the gigantic and mysterious shapes scratched into the plain desert surface remained a highlight of our trip in Peru.
Preparing for the Flight
After intensive online research and reading countless reviews, we booked a 30-minute flight with AeroNasca, one of the companies with a good ranking on www.findlocaltrips.com ↗. After a short drive from our hostel, Hospedaje El Telar ↗, we arrived at the small Maria Reiche Neuman Airport on the outskirts of Nazca. The airport was named after the woman who dedicated her life to the study and protection of Peru's most treasured national symbols.
We checked in, paid the departure tax and waited nervously in the terminal for our flight, watching a National Geographic documentary about the Nazca Lines. Half an hour later, our flight 995 was called out and we were rushed through security and led onto the tarmac. Our Cessna plane was tiny. We squeezed into an 8-seater aircraft: one pilot, one copilot and 6 fellow passengers.
Taking Off Over the Desert
Listening to the copilot's instructions, we took off smoothly from the runway to rise over the Nazca Desert, a high arid plateau that stretches between the towns of Nazca and Palpa on the pampa. Within minutes, we saw the first geoglyphs. The Nazca lines vary in terms of size, form and complexity. Most of them are simple lines or geometric shapes which run across the arid desert and date back from 200 B.C. to 600 A.D. But around 80 drawings, called scientifically biomorphs, depict animals, plants or even humans.
The Whale Geoglyph
Suddenly, we spotted the first zoomorphic design: a giant whale. The pilot maneuvered the plane left and right to make sure everyone on board had a good view. Most of the geoglyphs have a strong relationship with water. It was not a surprise to find one of the ocean's largest and noblest creatures etched in the rocky sand. The hot and stuffy cockpit added with the sharp turns and twists made us feel a little queasy. Nothing unbearable though.
The Mysterious Astronaut
The flight continued. We glided past the astronaut, known to archaeologists as the giant or the owl-man. The 30-meter high figure etched on the side of a reddish hill is The Mystery of the Nazca Desert. Some people say the lines were created by ancient astronauts. In other words, Aliens. Some argue it represents a fisherman. Whatever it is, the drawing remained an impressive and humbling sight. The pilot kept banking the plane from one side to another before continuing its journey.
The Monkey and the Dog
We flew over the iconic monkey with its spiraling tail and the funny-looking dog. The two enormous ground figures spanned hundreds of meters in the middle of the Peruvian desert. Stunning.
The Hummingbird
We kept on exploring from the air this UNESCO World Heritage site. We saw the shape of a giant hummingbird, one of the site's best-known figures. The tiny bird was spectacular and could only be appreciated from the sky.
The Condor
The condor was next. The mystical shape was one of the largest zoomorphic geoglyphs. The plane continued to fly over 13 ancient geoglyphs imprinted into the Nazca desert. Each figure was as surprising as the previous one.
Have you flown over the Nazca Lines? Which geoglyph was your favorite? Did you experience any motion sickness during the flight? Leave us your comments below. We would love to hear from you.
Tips for Flying Over the Nazca Lines
- Safety First: Book through a reputable company. Too many accidents have happened in recent years to ignore safety concerns.
- Book an early morning flight. Nazca is hot all year long and the 6-seater planes are quite small. The heat in the confined space can be unbearable in the afternoon when the cockpit turns into an oven.
- Morning flights also have less turbulence and the best viewing conditions to admire the mysterious patterns.
- We booked through www.FindLocalTrips.com for $80 USD per person. Budget an extra $30 soles for the airport departure tax (must be paid in cash).
- You MUST bring your original passport for ID verification. Photocopies are not accepted and you'll be refused the flight without a refund.
- If you have a history of motion sickness, take medication such as Dramamine 30-60 minutes before your flight. The plane banks sharply from side to side.
- Taking photos during the flight can worsen nausea, but the views are incredible. Consider filming short videos instead of constantly looking through a viewfinder.
- Alternative: If you don't want to fly, you can see a handful of the designs from El Mirador, a viewing tower next to the Pan-American Highway.
Note:
Flying over the Nazca Lines was an unforgettable experience. Despite the heat and the dizzying maneuvers, witnessing these ancient geoglyphs from the air - the only way they were meant to be seen - made it all worthwhile. A must-do adventure when visiting Peru.
Pin These Moments
✈️ Fly Over Ancient Mysteries
Experience the breathtaking Nazca Lines from the sky - 13 massive geoglyphs carved by ancient civilizations in Peru's desert!
🌍 UNESCO World Heritage From Above
Witness the iconic hummingbird, monkey, and mysterious astronaut geoglyphs on a scenic flight over the Nazca Desert.
🔍 Decode Ancient Geoglyphs
The complete guide to flying over the mysterious Nazca Lines - booking tips, best times, and what to expect on your aerial adventure!