Nazca Lines in Peru
Often compared to the mystical crop circles that have appeared in the U.S. Midwestern states, Peru’s Nazca Lines are a unique mystery. No doubt the largest and most amazing set of geoglyphs (designs produced on the ground) in the world, the Nazca Lines have been causing experts to hypothesize for centuries as to how they were made and just what their meaning might be.
Found in the Nazca Desert between the towns of Nazca (or Nasca) and Palpa, it is believed that the geoglyphs were produced by the Nazca people who flourished in the area from about 200 to 700 AD. Dubbed a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, the Nazca Lines are a must-see for anyone who is traveling in this area of the country.
These amazing designs were made by moving the reddish-colored pebbles that cover the ground to reveal the white underneath. Shapes include everything from simple lines and geometric patterns to much more complex designs including monkeys, fish, hummingbirds, llamas, lizards, spiders, and sharks. The largest ones measure more than 650 feet across!
The most remarkable aspect of the Nazca Lines is the fact that they are so precise and easy to identify, especially given that the artists would have been unable to view them from the air to check their dimensions, etc. because they were created long before air travel was a possibility.
There are a number of theories as to why these geoglyphs were created. Most scholars believe they have some spiritual or religious significance. Some believe that they were created by the Nazca people to honor their gods, who would be able to view them from the sky. Others believe they may have been related to ancient cultures’ strong beliefs in astrology and the study of the Universe in its totality (cosmology). Other historians have hypothesized that the shapes were primitive looms for the production of ancient textiles; specifically, the long strings and wide pieces of fabric that were typical of that era and region.
There are those, of course, that also ponder extraterrestrial involvement in the production of the Nazca Lines and others who believe that the Nazca people possessed much higher technical knowledge than we could have imagined possible for those who lived in the early centuries A.D.
Thankfully, because of the dryness of the dessert, the geoglyphs have been very well preserved and those who have the privilege of flying over them are treated to an awesome sight. Various tours are available and generally depart from the Ica Airport, taking about 60-90 minutes total to complete, depending on what is included. Many of the tour companies pick up from hotels in Lima. Most of the planes used for Nazca Line tours hold about 5-12 people. The tour does not come cheap (usually about $75 to $100 USD per person) but viewing the lines is indeed a thrill. Reservations should be made a few weeks in advance to ensure a space on the plane.Return to Peru Travel Guide Main Page