Back

Fly over the Nazca Lines

perex002-peru-nascalines-free-istock000005115326

Contemplate the mystery of ancient desert etchings from the air as you fly over linear depictions of animals and plants in a light aircraft.

Mystery surrounds the origins of these endlessly intriguing geoglyphs, created by the Nazca people well over a millennium ago for a purpose we can today only guess at. What is clear is that the stylised forms, many in the shape of animals, people or flowers, can only be appreciated from the air, causing bafflement as to how and why an ancient culture would draw them so precisely and on such a huge scale. You’ll also be amazed at how well these seemingly fragile desert markings have withstood the centuries, surviving as a perfect if enigmatic record of their creators’ artistry.

Light aircraft flights from Pisco on the coast circle directly over the Nazca Lines for around half an hour. There is live commentary pointing out each of the different shapes in the sand, including the distinctive monkey, spider, condor and hummingbird designs and the much-discussed ‘spaceman’.

Papagaio

Your edit for Latin American inspiration

Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.

View Extraordinary Inspiration
Bartolome, Galápagos

Meet our team

Real Latin american experts

  • Sophie
    Sophie Barber - Travel Expert

    Sophie lived in Chile before joining us and has travelled extensively across Latin America, from Mexico to the furthest tip of Patagonia and beyond to Antarctica.

  • Alex
    Alex Walker - Travel Expert

    A globetrotter since her childhood, Alex spent a year studying abroad in Guadalajara and has returned to Latin America countless times since then.

  • Maggie
    Maggie Wilson - Travel Expert

    Maggie visited Latin America on her first backpacking trip when she was 19. Since then, she has taken every opportunity to travel, and has managed to explore a lot of the region in subsequent trips.

  • Rosie profile
    Rosie Kay - Travel Expert

    During a career break, Rosie embarked on an unforgettable year-long backpacking trip across Latin America. Now back in the UK, she is excited to share her knowledge and experiences with others, helping them discover her favourite place in the world.

  • Hannah
    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Heloise
    Heloise Buxton - Travel Expert

    Heloise started her Latin American journey as an exchange student in Santiago, Chile. With extended summer holidays this was the perfect opportunity to backpack through Bolivia, Peru, Argentina and Brazil.

0 1 2 3 4 5