Nasca Lines

After a full day’s driving from Lima, down the good quality Pan-Am,  we reached the town of Nasca. This is famous for the Nasca Lines which are massive drawings etched into the desert floor by a Pre-Inca civilization. They are only properly visible from the sky so we were determined to take a flight over the lines to get a good view. There is an observation tower from which you can view two of the drawings (the hands and the tree) but the view isn’t very good.

Archaeologists have been investigating the lines for many years and there are a number of conflicting theories as to what they are for. One theory is that they are astronomically aligned another that they provided pathways for rituals. The lines were created by clearing the stones from the path and leaving them piled by the side.

We booked the flight through the Hotel we were staying at, The Hotel Maison Suisse (a good place for camping) and couldn’t negotiate a discount from the USD 120 price each. We’ve since learnt that booking directly at the airpot is a better solution and leads to some decent discounts.

We were picked up for the transfer to the airport at 1pm (slightly unnecessary as the airport was a 10 minute walk away). On reaching the airport we were told to wait after paying our 25 Soles airport tax. We didn’t get to fly until 4.30 or so and were furnished with a number of bullshit excuses as to why.

The plane was a small 6 seater (4 passengers, a pilot and co-pilot). We strapped in and took off for our 30 minute flight. This takes a route over the main drawings of the lines and gives you a great view by bankng to either side so people seated on both sides get a great view. The downside of this is that you’re in a small plane banking sharply from left to right and it is pretty nausea inducing !

Once you’ve seen the lines themselves, some several times, the plane heads over to the wells which are part of a massive irrigation system built by the same people who built the lines.

We were very glad to get back on the ground as we were both feeling pretty sick ! Our transfer was nowhere in sight when we landed so we just walked back to the truck.