Location: Nazca
Top Things to do in Nazca
Top 10 Things to do in Nazca, Peru
Taking a light aircraft flight over the plains 200 miles south of Lima is the best way to appreciate the Nasca Lines, the World Heritage-designated geoglyphs etched into the stony desert surface. The creators and meaning behind these startlingly precise abstracts and animal figures remain a mystery, but their 1939 discovery launched a steady swarm of tourists upon this tiny town – accessible via bus from Lima, Cusco and Arequipa.
Restaurants in Nazca
1. Nasca Lines
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2 reviews
Reviewed By asiana747 - Toronto, Canada
Cost for the tour is definitely not cheap but it was definitely worth it. Our pilot was friendly and knowledgeable. It takes about 20 minutes to get to the site from the airport and our pilot made several passes above some of the famous lines. It tends to get a bit stuffy as sun is very strong along the dry desert area. The total trip took a little over an hour.
2. Cantalloc Aqueduct
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 432 reviews
An ingenious system of stone aqueducts built by the people of Nasca in ancients times is still functioning and used by local farmers for irrigation.
Reviewed By Esoudek - Orange, Virginia
My group of 7 students had fun walking from the center of Nazca to Cantalloc through a peaceful, rather poor residential street, where the vast majority of inhabitants seemed to be stray dogs, all friendly and waiting to be petted. Atthe entrance to the wells two sweet ladies greeted us cheerfully, and collected a few
Soles from each of us. The wells were amazing, and in excellent shape after so many hundreds of years, must have been repaired recently it seems.
3. Cahuachi
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 372 reviews
Reviewed By Arieh M
The 6 of us took a tour out of Nasca which included Cahuachi.
While the site is reconstructed (partially), it is impressive.
How the pre-inca civilization managed to establish this in the middle of this arid
and desolate area is remarkable.
Our group came on a large dune buggy. Prices are negotiable (in any of the Nasca
tourist bureaus).
4. Cementerio Chauchilla
Overall Ratings
4 based on 465 reviews
This cemetery holds the mummified remains of members of the Nasca culture, dating back between 200 BC and 500 AD.
Reviewed By hgonzale3 - Fuengirola, Spain
Nazca is an amazing place and all people know about the Nazca, but this cemetery is incredible, you can see the mummies in the original places and walk around the cemetery. Please, try to find a local taxy drivers with explaining, is cheap and you will enjoy a super day. After, go the the lines
5. Didactic Museum Antonini (Museo Antonini)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 183 reviews
See an aqueduct, replicas of tombs and artifacts from major archaeological sites at this museum, which depicts the lifestyle, religion, politics and economy of the Nasca people.
Reviewed By Lucie P
A thoughtfully laid out collection illustrating the succession of cultures that have dominated the Nazca region. There are some interesting posters to illustrate historical points and a (slightly curious) English translation is provided.
There are some fascinating exhibits but the overall presentation is, sadly, a little drab.
6. Torre Mirador de Las Lines de Nasca
Overall Ratings
4 based on 280 reviews
Reviewed By CesmeTraveller - Woking, Surrey
This is an inexpensive way to at least get an appreciation of some of the Nasca lines if you do not intend to fly over them - but you do see so much more when you fly!
7. Casa-Museo Mari Reiche
Overall Ratings
4 based on 176 reviews
Get a hearty dose of Peru’s history and archaeology at this excellent museum that houses textiles, ceramics, mummies and artwork. The museum was named for the woman famous for studying the mysterious Nasca Lines of Peru.
Reviewed By CubaJD - Billericay, United Kingdom
Oscar is a very knowledgeable man who provided a fantastic guided trip to this museum. This was not something that I paid for or arranged. Oscar simply added this as it was next to the Nazca tower. Thanks Oscar. I recommend Great Nazca Tours 100%.
8. Planetario Maria Reiche
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 40 reviews
Reviewed By Aussie_Travel_Writer - Sydney, Australia
This was a short and interesting evening, learning about the constellations and how it relates to the Nazca Lines but I was a bit disappointed as it wasn't really a Planetarium but rather a telescope. Still worth a visit for the information which was shared and we had a good look at the moon through the telescope which was quite awesome.
9. Museo Lineas de Nasca Centro Maria Reiche
Overall Ratings
4 based on 66 reviews
Reviewed By Aussie_Travel_Writer - Sydney, Australia
This could be such a great museum - as it should be, considering Maria Reiche basically discovered the Nazca lines and due to her efforts and life long commitment, the lines are known to the world and she dedicated her whole life restoring and studying it. What a remarkable woman! Maria lived here until the Nazca Lines hotel offered her a room where she could be cared for by a nurse until her dying day. Her sister joined her in Nazca and passed away 3 years after Maria. They are both buried in the grounds of the museum.
The museum is neglected and dusty with faded signage, photos and displays and the surrounding Gardens in a poor state. On the day of our visit they were frantically trying to clean the place up in anticipation of officials who would visit the museum on Maria's birthday the next day. (I doubt the effort would have been made otherwise…) Even our guide was in disbelief that they waited till the last minute to patch up the paths and water the garden which obviously would not magically recover overnight. Worth a visit if you're into the Nazca lines but it's really a shame that it is so neglected. Allow about 30 minutes.
10. Acueductos de Nasca
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Reviewed By travelgal066 - San Diego, California
Nasca and Ica areas in southern Peru are extememly dry and yet the Peruvians have been able to bring water to these areas to grow crops and have been doing so for centuries. These are an interesting series of structures that you can see from the air when doing a fly over of the Nasca Lines.
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