The Nazca Lines are a group of geoglyphs in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru and are considered a World Heritage Site. These geoglyphs were made (between 100 BC and 300 AD) by excavating shallow trenches in the ground, and exposing the light-colored clay and lime earth, contrasting against the surrounding reddish-brown desert land surface. These massive etchings reveal distinct patterns only visible from the air.
Award booking flights from the US to Lima
AAdvantage miles have frequent business class ticket sales to Lima.
LATAM flights are easy to book with the Alaska Mileage Plan.
If you don’t have Alaska miles, Qantas miles can also be used (American Express, Citi, Capital One transfer partner).
Lima Accommodations
Hyatt Centric Lima is a good low priced accommodation for Hyatt lovers.
If you have Hilton points, I highly recommend staying at Hilton Lima Miraflores, which is within a walkable distance from the oceanfront mall in Miraflores.
Larcomar: Ocean-front shopping in Lima
Nazca Lines Scenic Flight Options
From Lima, it takes around 3 hours to drive to Pisco, 5 hours to Ica and 7 hours to Nazca (see image below) and scenic flights are available from all these locations.
Flying over the Nazca Lines from Pisco airport is the most popular option for US-based visitors landing in Lima. Most Nazca Lines scenic flights (http://www.nazcaflights.com/nazca-lines-flights/nazcalinesflights.htm) leave from Capitán FAP Renán Elías Olivera Commercial Airport in Pisco in the Ica Region of Peru.
If you have a rental car and are willing to drive to Nazca, you can book scenic flights for <$100 USD. From Ica and Pisco the flight prices are $250-300 USD. If you want the company to arrange for private transportation from Lima to Pisco the charge will be around $400 USD for two people (Nazca Lines Private Tour).
Nazca Lines Pictures
During the Nazca Lines flight you are going to see figures like the hummingbird, dog, hands, astronaut, tree, spider, whale, lizard, shark, monkey, and condor.
Conclusion
A day trip to see Nazca Lines in Peru requires careful planning and one should be prepared to drive for several hours to catch the scenic flights. It is important to book the flights when it is a clear sunny day with good visibility. If you are traveling with more than two people, I recommend driving a rental car to Nazca for cheaper flight prices.