Originally Posted by
dshaz
3. I'm really iffy on going to Nazca for the flight over the nazca lines. I've read in forums that some people felt it wasn't worth it. But my fiancee currently thinks that looks awesome and really wants to do it. So its on the itinerary for now.
A bit hard to answer. If you ask me if I enjoyed Nazca lines, or if it's a must.. I would say Yes! If you ask me if i want to go again... I'd say.. No. The site is nice, very very interesting. But IMHO it's not amazing as the Inca ruins around Cusco (and of course I'm not mentioning Machu Picchu). You must like or be very interesting in history, misterious places, archeological sites, etc. to enjoy it. Besides there isn't much more to do in Nazca, a very small town. My point here is the effort to go so far may be not enough worthwhile for some people, but I do think it is. Though not to go again.. not like Cusco for example that I have been lot of times (or Huaraz or the Amazonas).
Originally Posted by
MarLim
If you want to see all the Nazca lines, a flight is your only option, otherwise there is an observation tower along the Panamericana highway from where you can see 2-3 figures. It is for sure something unique, not as impressive as you might think, but still worthwile to do. Flights are done with small aircrafts and the pilots will fly many sharp curves (have a good stomach). You have to reserve your flight at least the day before, but be aware that flight schedules are depending on what time the fog clears. Try to be on an early flight, as the last ones are subject to cancellation, if they cannot start early.
Just on a sidenote, why would you go back to Lima from Nazca to go on to Arequipa then, being already almost halfway south, I'd consider spending a night in Nazca rather than 2 nights in Paracas and taking a bus from there south directly towards Arequipa.
Agree 100%. I drove by myself from Lima to Nazca, it was anout 6 hours. Nazca-Arequipa is like 7 or 8 more hours.
The early flight is recommendable not only because of the cancellations issue, but also because you
MUST fly with empty stomach,
BEFORE breakfast. The sharp curves flight are true, because the pilot wants to show all lines to all passengers, those seated at the left windows, and those at the right ones. So the airplane is always doing curves and leaning to one side and then to the other. So getting sick is easy (I didn't follow the recommendation and took the plane after breakfast. Believe me, don't do it! Fortunately it didn't happen what you are thinking, but I felt a bit sick anyway). Anyway the flight is worthwhile and far better than the tower view.
A good and faster option is to take the flight from Ica, that save you like 3 hours by bus, you don't have to sleep in Nazca and the alternative of going back to Lima makes more sense. Besides as you already must know there are more places to see in Ica (sand dunes, sandboard, Huacachina oasis, Paracas bay with seals islands, etc.).But if the Lima - Arequipa trip is by bus, then stopping at Nazca is better. And the Ica-Nazca lines flight is more expensive, that's true.