The Amazing Nazca Lines in Peru
Of course, Cusco, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, and Machu Picchu are the most visited attractions in Peru, but there are other great visits you can do and one of these is the amazing Nazca Lines. But, what exactly are the Nazca Lines?
What are the Nazca Lines?
The Nazca lines and pampas geoglyphs of Jumana or simply Nazca lines are ancient geoglyphs1 found in the pampas of Jumana, in the Nazca desert, between the towns of Nazca and Palpa, in the department of Ica (Peru) . They were drawn by the Nazca culture and are composed of several hundred figures that range from designs as simple as lines to complex zoomorphic, phytomorphic and geometric figures that appear traced on the earth’s surface. Since 1994, the Unesco Committee has inscribed The Nazca and Pampas de Jumana Lines and Geoglyphs as a World Heritage Site.
Where are the Nazca Lines located? How to arrive to the Nazca Lines?
Getting to the Nasca Lines, from Lima, the capital of Peru, is quite simple: you can take a bus to Ica (approximately four hours) and, from the southern region, hire a specialized service that will take you to Nasca. These can be by bus, van or taxis that already know the route perfectly. The estimated time to get from Ica to Nasca is a little over two hours. The other alternative to get there from Lima is to take a single tour by private car: it will be a little more than six hours full of adventure through the South Pan-American Highway.
The Nazca Lines: The Figures
The imposing shapes, made in a single stroke and with a pulse that does not seem human, are to the liking of everyone who visits them. Impressive wherever you see them, although to appreciate them in their maximum splendor you would have to take one of the three paths already traced: climb the surrounding mountains (on foot), locate one of the observation towers that exist in the area (up to 12 meters high) or hire the service of a small plane. In the latter, do not worry, that yes or yes you will have a pilot in charge of the adventure through the skies.
The study and conservation of these millenary messages were promoted -mostly- by the German archaeologist Maria Reiche, considered the pioneer in her research. Although, it should not be confused with its discoverer: the American anthropologist Paul Kosok, who suggested that these figures represented an astronomical calendar.
Among the almost 800 figures that have been found to date, those of the hummingbird, the condor, the pelican, the monkey and the spider stand out. These are the most famous and the ones that are seen the most frequently, since they are the favorites of the public due to their size -some of up to 300 meters- and state of conservation. Being in a terrain with a privileged climate (very little rain) and sheltered by strong winds thanks to the large sand hills that surround them, these have not been modified by nature. As these are geoglyphs with more than a millennium behind them (according to studies, the Nasca Lines were created between 500 BC and 500 AD), many of the interested professionals, including archaeologists and anthropologists, they are amazed at how well reserved they are to date. The mystery may not be solved, but the Nasca Lines are there, within sight and patience of all those curious who wish to discover them, to amaze the sight of all those who dare to fly through the air to witness them.
How were the Nazca Lines created?
Anthropologists believe the Nazca culture, which began around 100 B.C. and flourished from A.D. 1 to 700, created the majority of the Nazca Lines. The Chavin and Paracas cultures, which predate the Nazca, may have also created some of the geoglyphs.
The Nazca Lines are located in the desert plains of the Rio Grande de Nasca river basin, an archaeological site that spans more than 75,000 hectares and is one of the driest places on Earth.
The desert floor is covered in a layer of iron oxide-coated pebbles of a deep rust color. The ancient peoples created their designs by removing the top 12 to 15 inches of rock, revealing the lighter-colored sand below. They likely began with small-scale models and carefully increased the models’ proportions to create the large designs.
Most of the known geoglyphs were formed by removing rocks from only the border of the figures (creating a kind of outline), while others were formed by removing rocks from the interior.
Given the low amount of rain, wind, and erosion in the desert, the geoglyphs have remained largely unscathed throughout the centuries.
The Reasons of the Nazca Lines
More recent research suggested that the Nazca Lines’ purpose was related to water, a valuable commodity in the arid lands of the Peruvian coastal plain. The geoglyphs weren’t used as an irrigation system or a guide to find water, but rather as part of a ritual to the gods—an effort to bring much-needed rain.
Some scholars point to the animal depictions—some of which are symbols for rain, water, or fertility and have been found at other ancient Peruvian sites and on pottery—as evidence of this theory.
In 2015, researchers presenting at the 80th annual meeting of the Society for American Archeology argued that the purpose of the Nazca Lines changed over time. Initially, pilgrims heading to Peruvian temple complexes used the geoglyphs as ritual processional routes. Later groups, as part of a religious rite, smashed ceramic pots on the ground at the point of intersection between lines.
Unlike other relics throughout the world, the Nazca Lines are largely spared from unintentional destruction, thanks to their location. But the geoglyphs aren’t completely safe. In 2009, the Nazca Lines suffered the first recorded instance of rain damage. Heavy downpours flowing off the Pan-American Highway—a network of roads that connects nearly all countries in the Americas with a Pacific coast—deposited sand and clay onto three fingers of the hand-shaped geoglyph.
Five years later, environmental group Greenpeace damaged an area near the hummingbird geoglyph during a media stunt. The activists disturbed the upper layer of rocks by the hummingbird when they trampled through the forbidden area of the desert to lay down a large sign that promotes renewable energy. And in 2018, a commercial truck driver was arrested after he drove onto a portion of the Nazca Lines, etching deep scars into an area roughly 100 feet by 330 feet (about 50 meters by 100 meters). The damage caused by the truck driver renewed calls for greater security and surveillance at the sites.
How to visit the Nazca Lines?
If you´re interested in visiting the Nazca Lines, a good option is to do the full-day trip from Lima.
Nazca’s tiny airport doesn’t serve passenger flights so almost all travelers arrive by bus instead. Buses depart from Lima every half hour or so, take around seven hours, and cost US$25 with Cruz del Sur. Other cheaper companies are available and there are direct connections from most major nearby destinations. Most travelers rock up to Nazca, check out the lines, and jump on the next onward bus that day. Having said that, there are plenty of other attractions for those with an interest in pre-Inca history that would warrant a stay of two days or more.
Once in Nazca, there are only two options for viewing the lines – take a flight or climb the nearby observation tower. Essentially, the best option boils down to your budget.
Flying is undoubtedly preferable as it offers a bird’s eye view of the most important etchings. A word of warning though, the 20-minute flight consists of numerous sharp turns which leave most travelers feeling seriously nauseous. Grab an anti-nausea tablet from a local pharmacy and try not to eat any big meals within a few hours of take-off. Early morning departures are best as there tends to be less turbulence and better visibility.
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Tours to visit the Nazca Lines and of course other amazing destinations in Peru
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