The Mysterious Nazca Lines
and the Paracas National Reserve
To the south of the city of Ica, the Pan-American Highway cuts through the desert of sand dunes to Km 420, just 25 km (15 miles) before the town of Nazca. There, on the plains of San Jose, lies a collection of mysterious geoglyphs and straight lines that were etched into the desert around A.D.600.
These Nazca Lines consist of furrows some 20 centimeters deep (8 inches) drawn in the shape of animals such as a hummingbird, a monkey or a fish, that are almost 500 meters (1,640 ft) long.
The Lines were studied by Max Uhle in 1901, by Toribio Mejia Xesspe in 1926, and it was Paul Kosok who made them known to the world in 1939. The German mathematician and student of Kosok, Maria Reiche, dedicated her life between 1940 and 1998 to protect these geoglyphs, which were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.
The Ica region also holds the Paracas National Reserve (22 km south of the city of Pisco, at Km 261 on the South Pan-American Highway). This rich coastal eco-system covers an area of 335,000 hectares (827,450 acres), that includes desert, beaches, islands, cliffsides and ocean. This natural habitat is a haven for flamingoes, pelikans, penguins, dolphins, sea lions, and an infinite variety of fish and crustaceans. An hour away by boat to the northwest lie the captivating Ballestas Islands, a
protected area of cormorants and sea lions.
Altitude
Chincha, Pisco and Paracas, sea level; Ica, 406 masl (1,332 ft), Nazca 588 masl (1,929 ft), Palpa, 347 masl (1,138 ft).
How to Get There
- By air: Flights to Ica from Lima take 1 hour.
- Overland: South Pan-American Highway from Lima to Paracas takes 3 hours; to Ica, 4 hours; to Nazca, 6 hours.
Lodging
There are comfortable hotels and hostels in the towns of Chincha, Pisco, Ica, Paracas and Nazca.
Activities
Archaeology, nature-watching, water sports such as windsurfing and waterski, boat rides, trekking, cycling excursions, sandboarding, horseback-riding.
Tourist Services
Guided tours; flights over the lines at Nazca and Palpa from Ica and Nazca (45-minute flights); complete trekking and camping services; dune-buggy rides through the desert; boat rides to the Ballestas Islands from Paracas.
Minimum Length of Stay
Three days to fly over the lines and visit part of the reserve and the Ballestas Islands as well as enjoy desert tours and adventure sports.
Recommendations
Fly over the Nazca Lines in the morning, depending on the weather. Boat rides to the Ballestas Islands should be in the mornings, also depending on the weather. Some of the beaches within the Paracas Reserve are not appropriate for children because of the banks of large seaweed and the muddy ocean floor.
Nearby Attractions
There are a number of pre-Hispanic attractions, such as the Cantayoc aqueduct (5 km east of Nazca); the ceremonial center of Cahuachi (17 km north of Nazca); and the Inca ruins of Tambo Colorado in the Pisco valley. Ica is also an attractive travel destination for its festivities and wine-growing tradition, as it is the birthplace of pisco, Peru's grape brandy. There is also the attractive Huacachina, a small and long-traditional resort in an oasis close to the city of Ica, with comfortable hotels.
Seasons / Climate
The weather is hot and dry all year round, with no rain.
Festivals
International Wine Harvest Festival (first half of March): In Ica, celebrates the grape harvest and includes wine and pisco tastings, a food festival, parades, the election of a festival queen and music concerts.
Religious celebration of the Lord of Luren (first Thursday and third Monday of October): In Ica, where large crowds attend a procession of this patron saint of the city, complemented by fairs, games and other events.
Gastronomy
- Sopa seca: noodles with shredded chicken, seasoned with annatto, parsley and basil. Served as an accompaniment to carapulcra.
- Carapulcra: stew made of diced, freeze-dried potato and pork, with annatto, dried hot chili pepper and ground peanuts.
- Guiso de pallares verdes: a spicy stew of green lima beans with milk, egg and cheese.
- Tejas: a sweet made of pecans, sweet black bean paste, chirimoya paste and other seasonal fruits.
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