The Nazca Lines are ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert of southern Peru, in the Ica region near the town of Nazca. They were made by the Nazca culture between roughly 500 BCE and 500 CE, and they are known for their scale: more than 300 geometric and animal figures spread across an area of over 450 square kilometers. Many are best understood from above, which is why they are so often described as seen from the air.
What you will see
The site is a heritage landscape rather than a built attraction. The figures are shallow lines and shapes cut into the reddish ground, and they include straight lines, spirals, triangles and representations of animals. Because the terrain is open desert, the designs remain visible over long distances, and the visit is shaped as much by the landscape as by the drawings themselves.
Planning your visit
- Location: Nazca Desert, Nazca, Ica, Peru.
- Recognition: The lines are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, also listed as the Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa.
- Contact: +51 1 511 9393.
Nazca is a small desert town, so a visit usually combines the lines with the surrounding region of Ica. Plan your trip around the desert setting, which is dry and open, and bring sun protection and water.