Nazca Lines – Huacachina and Ballestas Island, from Cusco to Lima 3 Days/ 2 Nights

You will arrive in Nazca by bus at 07:30 am (from Arequipa). Our representative in Nazca is Liliana Hamani. She will be waiting for you at the bus terminal and will then transfer you to a restaurant, should you wish to have breakfast. Most people prefer to eat something light before a flight.

Between 8:00 and 8:30 am, we will transfer you to the Nazca Aerodrome for your flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines. Flying over these enigmatic “pampas” for approximately 35 minutes, you will discover the huge designs that were drawn, maybe hundreds of years ago, by some ancient Peruvians.
You will be able to observe the most important ones, such as the monkey, spider, hummingbird, and the long, perfect Nazca Lines.

Afterwards, to complete your experience in Nazca, you will visit the pre-Inca cemetery of Chauchilla, where you can observe the burial grounds of the old Nazcas. Most of these tombs are original and have mummies,

The tour continues with a visit to the Aqueducts of Cantalloc to observe hydraulic engineering and how the Nazca people extracted sweet water from the phreatic cap, also called underground rivers; the Paredones Inca archaeological site; and workshops, where you will see how a modern Nazca descender makes their beautiful, colourful pottery. You will receive explanations of the ancient art of ceramic manufacturing, developed during the Nazca Civilisation.

After all this excitement, we will stop at Liliana´s restaurant for dinner. Then, we will pick up your luggage and transfer you to the bus terminal for your bus to Huacachina.

Ciro Arroyo will tell you about optional activities in the dunes, such as buggy tours and sandboarding.

Accommodation: DM hotels 

Our agent, Ciro Arroyo, will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to Paracas town, then to Chaco harbour, where you will board the speedboat around 8:00 am. And off you go, on your journey to the Ballestas Islands. On the way, we will make a short stop to observe the Candelabro, one of the Nazca lines, carved into the slope of a surrounding hill facing the Pacific Ocean.

A few stories about Candelabro’s origins and his imposing position have survived over time and erosion. It is proof of the excellent knowledge and high engineering of its constructors.

After a few minutes of navigating, you will start to spot some groups of sea birds, flying or swimming right beside you, and welcoming you to the rocky island formation. The Ballestas Islands have been shaped by the strong winds of the Humboldt Current, creating caves and arches that are now a shelter for sea lions and many seabirds, such as pelicans, boobies, red-footed Guanay cormorants, and Humboldt Penguins.

Early in the 20th century, people began collecting guano (bird droppings) from this area and selling it as fertiliser. Due to the vast quantities of this valuable substance, it became a significant source of revenue for coastal businesses. The Ballestas Islands are part of the Paracas National Wildlife Reserve, which is why it’s not allowed to descend from the boats during the Tour. Anyway, you will be able to observe all these species up close, and if you are lucky, you will even see the Andean Condor or dolphins.

After this majestic visit, you will navigate back to the Chaco harbour and get ready to continue your bus to Lima at 12:10, arriving in the early afternoon.

Note: Setting foot on the Islands is forbidden, as they are a protected ecological area. This Tour is conducted exclusively on the speedboat. Please bring a wind jacket; it can be chilly in the morning.