Major city · Peru
NazcaNasca
Stay one night: fly the lines in the morning (from about US$80 plus S/30 tax and S/47 entry), then leave for Ica or Arequipa.
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- PEN
- Best months
- Apr–Nov (dry, clear mornings)
- avoid Dec–Mar (wet season, bus delays, more haze)
- Airport
- NZA
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 7Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the fir…
- South America ↗Above 2,500 m (Bogotá, Quito, Cusco, La Paz) keep the first day light; sleep lower where you can (Sacred Valley before Cusco) and descend if headache comes with vomiting or confusion.
- South America ↗A yellow fever certificate is required on arrival in French Guiana, and asked for on some routes into Bolivia, Paraguay, Suriname and Guyana, or when arriving from Amazon areas — vaccinate at least 10 days before travel and carry the card.
- South America ↗Overnight buses are the norm in Argentina, Chile and Peru, but pick top-tier companies and keep valuables on your body; on-board thefts from overhead racks are the common loss.
- Peru ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Peru's migration authority (Migraciones) or a Peruvian consulate; keep the entry record you receive, as hotels may ask for it.
- Peru ↗Machu Picchu entry is by timed ticket for a named circuit, with daily caps; in high season tickets sell out weeks or months ahead. Buy tickets only from the official Ministry of Culture seller or a licensed agency.
- Peru ↗The classic Inca Trail needs a permit booked through a licensed operator, often months ahead; the trail closes every February for maintenance.
- Peru ↗Altitude sickness is common above 2,500 m: ascend gradually, rest on day one, and ask a doctor before travel if you have heart or lung conditions.
Nazca is a small desert town on the Panamericana Sur, built on the site of the ancient Nazca culture and known for the Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage site of giant figures and straight lines etched into a 500 km² plateau. The lines are best seen from a small plane; the town itself is dusty and has little to hold you beyond a night. Most travellers arrive by bus from Lima, Ica or Arequipa, fly in the morning, and move on.
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Nazca, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, S/).Peru-wide
- SIM or eSIMClaro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel sell prepaid SIMs; register with your passport at official shops.Peru-wide
- Tap waterNot safe from the tap; bottled or filtered.Peru-wide
- TippingRestaurants: About 10% if service is not included.Peru-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/C. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Peru-wide
- SafetyNazca is generally safe by day; the real risk is the bus-station tout economy and overpriced flight packages.
- RestroomsPaper in the bin; carry tissue and coins for public toilets.Peru-wide
- Emergency numbers105 police · 116 fire · 106 SAMU ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany museums close Mondays; strikes can shut roads and shops.Peru-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportNZA María Reiche Neuman Airport (Small airfield south of town; sightseeing flights depart here, 07:00–16:00 as required.NZA María Reiche Neuman Airport (Small airfield south of town; sightseeing flights depart here, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM as required.
- Getting aroundThe centre is walkable; a taxi inside town is around S/3, though drivers may ask more.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeS/4–8
- Sit-down mealSet menu (soup, main, drink) at a local restaurantS/5–10
- Street or quick mealStreet food at the Plaza de ArmasS/3–8
- BeerS/8–15
- Taxi, about 5 kmTaxi, about 3 miTaxi inside townAgree the fare before you get in.S/3–5
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a weekS/30–50
- Museum or sight ticketObservation tower entryS/2
- Budget bedHostel dorm bed, a night, per personPEN 25
- Mid-range bedDouble room, a night, per roomPEN 120
- High-end bedDouble room, a night, per roomPEN 280
A day, not counting the bed: Budget PEN 90 · Mid PEN 180 · High PEN 400
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- NZA María Reiche Neuman Airport (Small airfield south of town; sightseeing flights depart here, 07:00–16:00 as required. Flights are short, about 30 min.)NZA María Reiche Neuman Airport (Small airfield south of town; sightseeing flights depart here, 7:00 AM–4:00 PM as required. Flights are short, about 30 min.)
Weather and climate
Nazca: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C86°F
17°C63°F
2 rd
Feb
30°C86°F
17°C63°F
2 rd
Mar
30°C86°F
16°C61°F
1 rd
Apr
29°C84°F
14°C57°F
0 rd
May
27°C81°F
11°C52°F
0 rd
Jun
25°C77°F
9°C48°F
0 rd
Jul
24°C75°F
8°C46°F
0 rd
Aug
25°C77°F
9°C48°F
0 rd
Sep
27°C81°F
10°C50°F
0 rd
Oct
28°C82°F
12°C54°F
0 rd
Nov
29°C84°F
14°C57°F
0 rd
Dec
30°C86°F
16°C61°F
1 rd
High / low °C°F · rd = rain days
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
The centre is walkable; a taxi inside town is around S/3, though drivers may ask more. Taxis are scarce near the plaza — ask your hotel to call one. To the airport, expect about S/5. Buses to the observation tower run along the Panamericana; flag one down for the return.
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Cantalloc aqueducts and Paredones
goDoor to door: About 1–1.5 h
Taxi or tour from town, about 4 kmTaxi or tour from town, about 2.5 mi
Spiral blow holes of the underground puquios, still partly in use; combine with the Inca ruins of Paredones.
Chauchilla Cemetery
goDoor to door: 2–3 h
Taxi or tour, about 30 km southTaxi or tour, about 19 mi south
Mummies in original tombs, plus a ceramics workshop and a gold-extraction demo on most tours.
Palpa Lines and Chicchitara carvings
cautionDoor to door: Half day
Car or tour north along the Panamericana
Older lines and rock carvings; often added to longer flights or driven. Roadworks near Palpa can delay you.
Cerro Blanco sandboarding
cautionDoor to door: About 7.5 h
Tour from town, starts about 04:00Tour from town, starts about 4:00 AM
Second-highest dune in the world; around S/300 per person for groups of 2+, S/450 solo. Check board straps and that wax is provided.
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Around Plaza de Armas
Walkable centre; most hotels, restaurants and agencies are within a few blocks. Best for one night.
Near the bus offices (northwest)
Convenient if you arrive or leave overnight; a short taxi or walk from the plaza.
Panamericana Sur / El Carmen de Pangaravi
Hacienda-style stays outside town with pools and dune views; you need a taxi for everything.
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- S/80–150 excl. bed
- Mid
- S/150–300 excl. bed
- High
- S/300+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Double room1 × 1 night × PEN 120 | PEN 120 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × PEN 180 | PEN 360 |
| Nazca Lines flight, 6-passenger plane2 × PEN 300 · check; about US$80, more in high season and with a credit card | PEN 600 |
| Airport tax + entrance fee2 × PEN 77 · check; tax cash only | PEN 154 |
| Taxi to the airport1 × PEN 5 | PEN 5 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × PEN 35 | PEN 70 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | PEN 131 |
| Trip total≈ PEN 720 per person per day, bed included | PEN 1,440 |
2026 estimate in soles; flights, long-distance buses and the S/30 airport tax + S/47 entry fee excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Set menu (soup, main, drink) at a local restaurant | S/5–10 |
| Street food at the Plaza de Armas | S/3–8 |
| Coffee | S/4–8 |
| Beer | S/8–15 |
| Taxi inside townAgree the fare before you get in. | S/3–5 |
| Observation tower entry | S/2 |
| Museo Arqueológico Antonini entrycheck | about US$6 |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | S/30–50 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Touts at the bus station and on the street push fake or overpriced hotel-and-flight packages. Ignore them and have your hotel pick you up.
- Book flights at the airport sales desks, not through street agents or online brokers; you can compare prices directly.
- Bring your passport to fly — it is required at check-in and security (Peruvians may use a national ID).
- The airport tax (S/30) is cash only; the entrance fee (S/47) is separate from the flight price.
- Small planes bank hard for views; take motion-sickness pills if prone and fly in the morning when turbulence is lower.
- Palpa bridge construction has caused long delays on the road north; allow extra time.
- A toll of S/7.50 applies when entering Nazca by car from the north, cash or card.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 105
- Fire
- 116
- SAMU ambulance
- 106
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
NazcaNasca
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
A esta dirección, por favorTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police105
- Fire116
- SAMU ambulance106
Embassy
No embassies in Nazca; most are in Lima. The US, UK, Canada and Australia have embassies in Lima (check addresses).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi town centre → airport: about S/5
- Taxi town → observation tower, round trip: about S/50 per car (check)
- Collectivo Nazca → Ica: about S/13, 2–3 h (check)
Say or show
- Buenos días — Hello (BWEH-nos DEE-as)
- Gracias — Thank you (GRAH-syas)
- ¿Cuánto cuesta? — How much is it? (KWAN-to KWES-ta)
- Quiero volar sobre las líneas — I want to fly over the lines (KYEH-ro bo-LAR SO-bre las LEE-neas)
- No, gracias — No, thank you (no GRAH-syas)
- ¿Dónde está el terminal de buses? — Where is the bus station? (DON-de es-TA el ter-mee-NAL de BOO-ses)
Carry your passport to fly the lines; it is checked at the airport.
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Nazca. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Apr–Nov (dry, clear mornings) · avoid Dec–Mar (wet season, bus delays, more haze) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 3 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 7 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for NZA: flight desk hours, passport rule, cash-only tax, taxi fallback.
- Walking clusters with anchors: Plaza de Armas, Jr. Bolognesi, Museo Antonini, bus offices.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (Museo Antonini, Cantalloc, Chauchilla, observation tower) and eat pages with menu prices.
- Arrival fixtures for overnight buses from Lima, Ica, Arequipa and Cusco so gates A–D can go green.