Nazca Lines Guide: Flights, Viewing Tower, Safety and Figures
Who made them, how big they are, flights from Nazca or Pisco, the roadside tower, the 2026 crash and what our 2-day tours include.
The Nazca Lines are giant drawings scraped into the desert about 400 km (250 mi) south of Lima, made by the Paracas and Nasca peoples between roughly 500 BC and AD 500. Figures reach almost 300 m (980 ft). You see them best on a 30 to 45 minute small-plane flight from Nazca.
The hummingbird, the most photographed of the Nazca figures, seen from a sightseeing plane. Its beak points toward a straight line that runs off across the pampa. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick facts
| Nazca Lines | |
|---|---|
| Official name | Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa, UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994 |
| Location | Ica region, around km 419 to 465 of the Panamericana Sur highway |
| Area | about 450 km² (174 sq mi) in UNESCO's description, 50 km long by 15 km wide according to Andina |
| Age | about 500 BC to AD 500 (UNESCO) |
| Made by | Paracas and Nasca societies, according to UNESCO and Peru's Ministry of Culture |
| Figures | more than 30 figures, plus thousands of lines, triangles, spirals and trapezoids |
| Largest figures | a bird of almost 300 m (980 ft), a lizard of 180 m (590 ft), a monkey of 135 m (443 ft) |
| How to see them | small-plane flight, or the roadside viewing tower on the Panamericana |
Sources: UNESCO World Heritage List, Peru's Ministry of Culture, Andina. Checked October 20, 2026.
The short version
- From the ground you see almost nothing. The figures are shallow grooves, 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in) deep, spread across a plain.
- The flight is the classic way. About 30 minutes from the aerodrome at Nazca, according to Andina, or about 1 hour 40 minutes from Pisco airport on our Pisco package.
- The roadside tower is the budget way. It shows two figures, the hands and the tree, from about 12 m (39 ft) up.
- Flight safety is a real question in 2026. A sightseeing plane crashed on August 1, 2026, with 13 people on board. Details below.
- Fly with an empty stomach. The planes bank hard so both sides can see each figure.
- From Lima, plan two days. Nazca is too far to fly over and return by road in a comfortable day.
Who made the Nazca Lines, and when?
The lines were made by the ancient societies of Peru's south coast, first the Paracas and then the Nasca, over roughly a thousand years. UNESCO dates them between 500 BC and AD 500, and its full statement places the Paracas phase between 400 and 200 BC and the Nasca phase between 200 BC and AD 500. Peru's Ministry of Culture says these peoples drew on the desert and the hillsides for more than 1,500 years.
The technique was simple. The pampa is covered with dark, weathered stones. Remove them and the lighter ground underneath shows through. UNESCO explains that this, plus some of the lowest rainfall on Earth, is why the drawings have survived for two thousand years.
Their purpose is still debated. UNESCO describes them as a ritual landscape with probable astronomical functions. Researchers from Japan's Yamagata University, working with the Ministry of Culture, have proposed that the big lines on the flat pampa were linked to large-scale rituals about water and fertility, according to Andina.
The modern story starts in the 20th century. Andina reports the first written mentions in 1927 and the work of the American Paul Kosok in 1939. In 1946 the German researcher Maria Reiche began studying the lines, and she spent the rest of her life measuring and protecting them. The airfield at Nazca carries her name.
What figures can you see, and how big are they?
The bird is seven times longer than the spider. Infographic: Viajes Cusco Perú
There are two kinds of drawings. UNESCO separates the representational figures, which show animals, birds, insects, plants and a few human shapes, from the lines: straight tracks that run for kilometers, and geometric shapes such as triangles, spirals and trapezoids.
Andina lists more than 30 figures reported so far, with these sizes:
| Figure | Size (Andina) |
|---|---|
| A bird (the largest figure) | almost 300 m (980 ft) |
| Lizard | 180 m (590 ft) |
| Pelican | 135 m (443 ft) |
| Condor | 135 m (443 ft) |
| Monkey | 135 m (443 ft) |
| Spider | 42 m (138 ft) |
Sizes vary by source, so treat them as approximate. Other well-known figures on the flight routes include the hummingbird, the whale, the "astronaut" on a hillside, and the hands and tree next to the highway.
New figures keep appearing. In 2020 the Ministry of Culture found a 37 m (121 ft) feline on the slope of the Mirador Natural hill, dated to the Late Paracas period. In 2024 a Yamagata University team using drones and artificial intelligence identified 303 new figurative geoglyphs, mostly smaller human figures on hillsides near old paths, according to Andina.
The monkey, with its spiral tail, drawn as one continuous line. Andina gives it 135 m. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 4.0
Should you fly from Nazca, Ica or Pisco?
Fly from Nazca if you want the shortest flight and the classic figures, and from Pisco if you are based in Paracas and do not want the long drive south. Ica is not a departure point on its own: the Ica tours we checked drive to the Nazca aerodrome and fly from there.
| From Nazca | From Pisco | From Ica | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | Maria Reiche aerodrome, in Nazca | Pisco airport, about 25 min from Paracas | no sightseeing flights from Ica airport found in our check. Tours drive to Nazca |
| Flight time | about 30 min (Andina), about 45 min in our itinerary | about 1 h 40 min | same as Nazca |
| What you see | the main figures of the Nazca pampa | the Nazca figures plus the desert and the Ocucaje, Santa Cruz, Palpa and Ingenio valleys on the way | same as Nazca |
| Where you sleep | Nazca | Paracas | Ica or Huacachina, then road to Nazca |
| Road back to Lima | about 9 h by bus | about 4 h | long day by road |
| Our package | Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca, 2 days | Paracas, Pisco, Huacachina and Nazca, 2 days | none |
Flight and road times from Andina and our own itineraries. We do not quote flight prices here because operators change them often.
Is the Nazca Lines flight safe?
Sightseeing flights over Nazca have a troubled record, and you should decide with the facts. On August 1, 2026, a Cessna Caravan operated by AeroDiana crashed near Nasca after taking off from Pisco, killing all 13 people on board, according to EFE and Gestión. Peru's Ministry of Transport and its civil aviation authority, the DGAC, suspended the company as a precaution while the accident investigation commission looks for the cause.
It was not the first. In February 2022 a Cessna 207 crashed near the Nazca aerodrome after a flight over the lines, killing seven, Reuters reported. Infobae counted seven fatal accidents and more than 50 deaths on these flights over about 29 years. After the 2026 crash, Spain's consulate advised its citizens not to take the flights, saying the planes do not meet maintenance and safety requirements equivalent to Spain's.
As of October 2026 we found no official update on whether the investigation is closed or new rules are in place. If you fly, ask which company operates your flight and check that it is not under suspension, wear the seatbelt for the whole flight and listen to the pilot's briefing. If you would rather not fly, the viewing tower and a museum day in Nazca are honest alternatives.
Can you see the Nazca Lines without flying?
Yes, but only a small part of them. Andina describes a metal tower, known as El Mirador, about 12 m (39 ft) high, from which you clearly see two figures: the hands and the tree. It stands right beside the Panamericana, and UNESCO notes that the highway itself cuts through the protected area and damaged some lines when it was built.
A few kilometers on, at km 426.4, the Ministry of Culture describes the Mirador Natural, a rocky hill where many straight lines meet. From the top you see how the lines run to the horizon, which the plane rarely lets you appreciate.
| Flight | Tower on the Panamericana | |
|---|---|---|
| What you see | the main figures from above | the hands and the tree, close up |
| Time needed | about 30 min in the air plus waiting at the aerodrome | a short roadside stop |
| Motion sickness | likely for some people | none |
| Risk | see the safety section above | traffic on the highway |
| Best for | seeing the famous figures | budget, families, people who do not want to fly |
The viewing tower seen from the air, beside the Panamericana. The hands and the tree are drawn on either side of it. Photo: Unukorno, CC BY 3.0
How do you avoid motion sickness on the flight?
Fly on a light stomach and sit by a window. The planes are small and turn steeply, first to one side and then the other, so everyone gets a view of each figure. That is exactly what upsets stomachs.
The CDC's travel health guide recommends a few things that work in any aircraft: choose a window seat, sit over the wing if you can, look at the horizon between figures rather than at your camera screen, eat small meals and avoid alcohol beforehand. Antihistamines such as meclizine or dimenhydrinate are the most common motion sickness medicines. Ask your doctor or a pharmacist before the trip, since some cause drowsiness. Our tip: look through the window, not the viewfinder, for the first figures, and take photos once you feel settled.
What is the best time of day and year for the flight?
Book the earliest flight you can. Operators schedule most flights in the morning, and wind and dust can stop them: on August 1, 2025, Corpac, Peru's airport authority, suspended flights at Nazca because strong winds after a sandstorm left visibility too poor. Flights resume when conditions improve, so a morning slot leaves room for a delay.
As for the season, the desert is dry all year. UNESCO notes that the area has some of the lowest rainfall in the world. Any month works, which is why the lines fit easily into a trip whose Andean part depends on the best time to visit Machu Picchu.
Which of our tours include the Nazca Lines?
We do not sell the flight on its own. We sell two-day trips from Lima that combine Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca, and here is exactly what each one says.
Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca, 2 days, from US$307. Day 1 leaves Lima between 4:40 and 5:00 a.m. for the Ballestas Islands boat trip, a pisco winery and the Huacachina oasis, then continues to Nazca for the night. Day 2 starts with the flight over the lines from the Nazca aerodrome, about 45 minutes, which is part of the itinerary. The airport tax, PEN 37 (about US$12), is not included. The regular bus leaves Nazca at 2:00 p.m. and reaches Lima around 11:00 p.m.
Paracas, Pisco, Huacachina and Nazca, 2 days, from US$607. Day 1 covers Ballestas, a winery and Huacachina, with the night in Paracas. On day 2 the itinerary flies from Pisco airport, about 1 hour 40 minutes, and the road back to Lima takes about 4 hours. Our tour description lists this flight over the lines as optional, so confirm with us when you book whether it is in your quote. Because the August 2026 accident involved a flight from Pisco, also ask us for the current status of Pisco flights before you pay.
Paracas, Ica and Huacachina full day, from US$207, does not reach Nazca. It is the one-day option for Ballestas and the dunes.
What we do not do: we do not operate aircraft, and the flight is run by an airline at the aerodrome. Weather, wind or the authorities can delay or cancel flights on the day. For the rest of the route, read our Paracas guide and our Huacachina oasis guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where are the Nazca Lines? In the desert of the Ica region in southern Peru, about 400 km (250 mi) south of Lima, between km 419 and 465 of the Panamericana Sur.
Who made the Nazca Lines? The Paracas and Nasca societies of Peru's south coast, between about 500 BC and AD 500, according to UNESCO.
How big are the Nazca Lines? The largest figure is a bird of almost 300 m (980 ft), according to Andina. Some straight lines run for several kilometers.
How long is the Nazca Lines flight? About 30 minutes from the Nazca aerodrome according to Andina, and about 1 hour 40 minutes from Pisco on our Pisco package.
Is the Nazca Lines flight safe? It carries real risk. A sightseeing plane crashed on August 1, 2026, killing 13 people, and Spain's consulate now advises its citizens against these flights.
Can you see the Nazca Lines from the ground? Partly. The 12 m tower on the Panamericana shows the hands and the tree, and the Mirador Natural hill shows many straight lines.
What is the best time to fly over the Nazca Lines? Early morning, any month. The desert is dry all year, and wind or dust can delay later flights.
Will I get sick on the flight? Many people feel queasy because the planes bank steeply. Fly on a light stomach, sit by a window and look at the horizon between figures.
Is the flight included in your Nazca tours? On the 2-day Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca tour the flight is in the itinerary and the PEN 37 airport tax is extra. On the Pisco version it is listed as optional.
Can I see the Nazca Lines in a day trip from Lima? Not comfortably. Nazca is about 9 hours from Lima by bus, so our tours take two days.
See the south coast with us
We run the south coast from Lima with hotel pickup, boats, buggies and guides arranged. Start with the Paracas, Huacachina and Nazca tour in 2 days, from US$307, or the Pisco version, from US$607. Short on time, take the Paracas, Ica and Huacachina full day, from US$207. Everything we run from the capital is on our Lima day trips page, and to add the Andes, see the Lima and Cusco tour in 6 days. Planning the whole trip? Our list of things to do in Peru and the Peru safety guide help.
Updated October 2026. Facts checked on October 20, 2026, against the UNESCO World Heritage List entry for the Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa, Peru's Ministry of Culture (2020), Andina (2016, 2019, 2024), Corpac via Diario Correo (2025), EFE via Swissinfo, Gestión and Infobae on the August 2026 accident, Reuters on the 2022 accident, the CDC Yellow Book on motion sickness and our own tour pages. Flight rules can change after the investigation, so confirm before you travel.