Nazca Lines flight & Huacachina from Lima: Skip the 7-hour drive
Fly over geoglyphs carved into the desert centuries ago.
A full-day private tour from Lima that flies you over the Nazca Lines and includes time at the Huacachina Oasis with dune buggy and sandboarding. You're picked up from your Lima hotel, driven 3 hours to Ica, then flown for 1 hour over the geoglyphs (the hummingbird, spider, monkey and geometric forms) before heading to a vineyard for pisco and wine tasting with lunch, then back to the oasis for activities in the sand dunes. The flight cuts out the 7-hour overland route from Lima to Nazca that most tours take.
Step-by-step itinerary
Ica and Nazca Lines tour
- Travel from Lima to Ica
- Visit Huacachina Oasis
- Practice sandboarding and buggy tour
- Fly over Nazca Lines
- Wine and pisco tasting with lunch
- Return to Lima
- Nazca Lines Entry included 2h
- Pisco Nietto Entry included 3h
- Huacachina 2h
- Marcahuasi 7h
What’s included
- Knowledgeable guide in English, Spanish or Japanese.
- pickup and drop-off from your Lima hotel in Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro or nearby.
- air-conditioned vehicle for the 3-hour drive to Ica and 4-hour return to Lima.
- 1-hour overflight of the Nazca Lines.
- dune buggy ride and sandboarding equipment at Huacachina Oasis.
- pisco and wine tasting at a working vineyard.
- Every day 06:00
Information
Fly over the Nazca Lines from Ica instead of driving 7 hours from Lima. Pick up in your neighborhood, 3-hour drive to the airfield.
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The experience
The day starts with pickup from your Lima neighborhood (Miraflores, Barranco, San Isidro or nearby), and a 3-hour drive south to Ica. Once there, you head straight to the airfield for the flight that is the centerpiece of the tour. A small aircraft takes you over the Nazca Lines for roughly 1 hour, and you see the 13 most recognizable figures carved into the desert floor between 200 and 600 AD: the hummingbird, spider, monkey, and a series of geometric shapes whose purpose remains debated by archaeologists. The lines are massive, visible only from the air, and the flight gives you the vantage point they were designed for.
After landing, the tour moves to a working vineyard where pisco and wine are produced. You taste both, and lunch, typical Peruvian food, is arranged at one of the region's restaurants (around 35 Peruvian soles, paid separately). Then comes the Huacachina Oasis, the only oasis in South America, where you ride the dunes in a dune buggy and try sandboarding on the steep slopes. It's the adrenaline part of the day, and it balances the stillness of watching ancient lines from above.
The return drive to Lima takes about 4 hours. Your guide speaks English, Spanish or Japanese depending on your preference. Children from age 8 are welcome. The air-conditioned vehicle and all transport between Lima, Ica and the airfield are included. The flight itself, the buggy and sandboarding setup, and the pisco tasting are part of the package. Lunch you arrange and pay for on the spot.
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, Spanish and Japanese.
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (8 to 14 years). Children under 8 can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What exactly are the Nazca Lines and why are they only visible from the air?
The Nazca Lines are massive geoglyphs (figures and geometric shapes) scratched into the dark desert floor to expose the lighter clay beneath. They were created between 200 and 600 AD and range from a few hundred feet to over 1,000 feet across. Their purpose is unknown. Theories include ritual sites for worship, messages to the gods for rain in an arid region, or works meant to be seen from the surrounding mountains. You see them only from the air because they are so large that ground level reveals only a line or two. The full figure is invisible until you're above it.
How long is the flight over the Nazca Lines?
The overflight lasts approximately 1 hour. You board at the Ica airfield after your 3-hour drive from Lima, fly over the geoglyphs, and return to land before heading to the vineyard and the oasis.
What is sandboarding like at Huacachina, and is it difficult?
Sandboarding at Huacachina is riding a board down the steep sand dunes: similar to snowboarding but on sand. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, and the oasis is designed for both relaxation and adventure. If sandboarding isn't for you, the dune buggy ride through the dunes is included as well, and you can enjoy the landscape without the board.
Is lunch included, and what kind of food will I eat?
Lunch is not included in the tour price, but your guide will help you arrange a meal at one of the typical local restaurants near the vineyard. Peruvian cuisine is the focus, and the cost is roughly 35 Peruvian soles, paid directly to the restaurant.
Why does this tour fly from Ica instead of driving from Lima to Nazca?
Flying from Ica cuts the travel time dramatically. Driving directly from Lima to Nazca takes 7 hours each way, which leaves little time for activities. By driving 3 hours to Ica and flying from there, you spend less time in transit and more time at the Nazca Lines, the vineyard and the oasis: making a full day of experiences possible instead of a grueling road trip.
What is the Huacachina Oasis, and what can I do there?
Huacachina is the only oasis in South America, a small lake surrounded by palm trees and sand dunes in the Ica region. The tour includes a dune buggy ride through the surrounding dunes, described as an incredible drive, and the option to try sandboarding down the slopes. It's a place to experience the desert landscape and get an adrenaline rush before heading back to Lima.
Operated by CHASKY XPEDITION. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 2 days ago
Nazca Lines flight & Huacachina from Lima: Skip the 7-hour drive
14h · EN · ES +1 · at your hotel
from US$ 650 per person
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