Home > Lima > Nazca Lines Air Tour and Ballestas Islands Full-Day Trip from Lima
USD $490.00
Nazca Lines Air Tour and Ballestas Islands Full-Day Trip from Lima
Lima, Peru
Leaving Lima behind, you'll depart on a full-day tour to the Ballestas Islands and Nazca Lines. Visit the famous Ballestas Islands where you'll have the opportunity to observe the sea lions and birds in their natural habitat prior to continuing south to Ica. Then, board a small Cesna aircraft for a scenic air tour over the enigmatic Nazca Lines for an aerial experience of a lifetime! This full-day tour from Lima is a must-do when visiting Peru.
Departing from Lima, you'll hop in a coach and enjoy a scenic drive along the Peruvian coast. Along the way, you'll have the opportunity to stop at Paracas, an ecological peninsula famous for its wildlife and beaches. From Paracas, you'll board a ferry to visit the renowned Ballestas Islands.
The islands are famous for their sea lions and abundance of bird life. You'll have some free time to walk around and explore the islands, taking pictures of the wildlife and coastal scenery. The water off the coast of Paracas is the only place which allows for panoramic views of the Candelabra of the Andes, a 600-foot (180 meter) painting carved into the mountain side along the Bay of Paracas.
Leaving Paracas, you'll drive inland and head towards the Nazca Lines, one of Peru's eleven UNESCO World Heritage sites. Here, you'll board a small Cesna airplane which has a window seat for every passenger, and fly over the Nazca Lines. Enjoy spectacular views of this famous landmark available only from the air.
The drawings which you will be able to see perfectly each symbolize something important to the Nazca people. The monkey, measuring 300 feet (90 meters) in length, has five fingers on one hand and four on the other. This represented the nine months of drought the Nazca people faced every year. The spider is said to represent fertility and water, as this insect usually appeared before it was going to rain.
The hummingbird, condor and flamingo represented the summer and winter solstices and their beaks still point to the exact location the sun rises and sets on these days in Nazca.
Flying over the Pan-American highway, you'll see the the lizard. Unfortunately, when the Pan-American highway was built in 1937, the workers were unaware of the figures and split the lizard in half.
After your air tour of the Nazca lines, you'll enjoy a nice lunch before returning to the coach and driving back to Lima.
We really liked the Ballesta Islads, Nazca lines were good too.
Review by: Bob B, February 2018
Wow, this was a great experience that I really enjoyed. One important word of caution, if you get motion sickness really consider whether this tour is for you. I have an iron gut and I was thrilled as the small plane hard banked right and then left so that we good look DOWN onto the lines through our windows. A few passengers were not so happy and the tour does not STOP - thankfully.
Review by: Brenda B, February 2018
Fantastic tour! Saw 2 bull sea lions fighting just like the nature shows on television and although the water was pretty rough still managed to get some great pictures! I've wanted to see the Nazca Lines since I first read about them as a 10 year old and was impressed and awed. Definitely worth it!
Review by: d2blake2, February 2018
The Nazca Lines are a must see if they have not been destroyed recently. The pilot and the co-pilot of the small plane worked diligently to be sure that the pictographs were visible on both sides of the plane, even if it required some tight turns. The Ballestas Islands boat tour was an unexpected delight and offered quite a view of the various birds and other wildlife found on the islands. Overall, the tour was well organized from start to finish, including an excellent lunch.
Review by: Clayton K, January 2018
I would suggest not to sit people on the back of the plane. The flight for two of us was so bad that we did not care about these lines. The other people on the plane were just fine.
Review by: Anna, November 2017
I liked it a lot especially when the pilot was trying to draw the Nazca Lines by airplane wing.
Review by: Janine, November 2017
This isn't worth it. It's a long day and honestly, you barely get to see the lines, they are really faded and the plane flies over it rather fast, the pilot is the tour guide, so they really didn't give good information/history. I honestly wanted my money back, since it's so expensive and I do viator excursions all the time and generally love them. _br/_ If you do decide to do this make sure you take motion sickness pills at least an hour before the plane ride over Nazca, I did, but most of my plane was getting sick!
Review by: MARTIN C, October 2017
Everything well planned, timed, no hassles no worries,,,, great to see and company was on time and great, they know what they're doing and do it well !!!
Review by: cally h, September 2017
This makes for one very long day, but the organization of everything from transportion to tickets is spot on. This company really had it together. I was impressed. Yes, it is rather pricey and could be done cheaper. However, for the convenience of everything already put together for you and having someone to help along the way. Is definitely worth it. Glad I chose this tour.
Review by: Victoria G, July 2017
What was seen was great. What was not great was the constant handed off to different people to get from one place to another without clear communication of what is happening. We never knew if we were going to have the same guide during and after each segment of the tour. We were also put on a train in Lima by ourselves to get to the first location. This was unexpected and disconcerting. The things seen, island tour and line tours were very good but the overall tour management was horrible. The plane ride to see the lines was awesome. The pilots make sure that both sides of the plane get to see the lines and were great about saying were to look to see the lines.
Review by: Devorah B, June 2017
Don't waste you money!_br/_ The local tour operator is totally disorganised and the guides they use can't speak enough English to make themselves understood. Due to really poor organization on the ground I nearly missed the start of the tour entirely as this was much earlier than was communicated to me by Viator and on the voucher I printed out before I left on my trip. In addition, once again because of poor planning I landed up wasting 2 hours in a 1-horse town waiting for my flight over the Nazca lines and then due to bad weather which is NOT the fault of the company at all, I wasn't able to do the fly-over. Had the local tour operators been better organized and actually knew how to plan, I would have been able to participate in the fly-over. In addition, I wasn't taken to the lunch at all. Do yourself a favour and book with a different provider, who user more experienced local operators!
Review by: Ilka R, June 2017
This is a very nice tour, we saw lots of animals during Ballestas Island tour and we were lucky to have a very clear sky during Nazca Lines Air Tour, just remember not to have lunch before the fligth... This tour is very worthy waking up really early!!!
Review by: Kim B, May 2017
We really enjoyed seeing the nasca lines and the ballestas islands. We are disappointed in the description of this trip. We were picked up at our hotel and driven to the bus depot and sent on our way to Paracas....it isn't clear in the description that we would be taking local transportation. We did not have a dedicated tour guide, he was called our assistant. While he took us to each of the locations, we felt juggled around and on our own. Other tours we have taken felt much more personal. We would do this trip again, but I think we would arrange it on our own.
Review by: Réka B, May 2017
The tour was really great. They picked me up in time (even my hotel was not in Miraflores, but in the historical center). They took me to the bus station to Paracas. (They have headphones on the bus, just need go ask) Thanks for all these comments here I was fully prepared for the boat trip to the
Review by: CC, March 2017
I'm rating this 2 stars based on VIATOR'S DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIP. The guides from Viajes Pacifico were lovely and helpful, and the sights themselves were great. Viator should be explicit in how you are traveling when you're being picked up in the middle of the night and doing a nearly 24 hour day.
Review by: SANDIP.R.RAY, December 2016
Great trip
Review by: megenbarr, July 2016
I usually handle all aspects of booking travel and tours by myeself, so this was quite a different experience. The service was EXCELLENT! They were so incredibly organized. We were picked up at our hotel around 3:00 a.m. and the guide gave us our tickets and itinerary for the day. She waited with us until we were on the bus, which was surprisingly comfortable. They serve a small breakfast snack and offer a pillow and a blanket, as most people sleep almost the entire trip. Once in Paracas, we were met by another guide and he took us to Hotel Paracas to use the facilities before our two hour boat ride to the Ballestas Islands. Be sure you don't drink too much before the boat ride, as there are no facilities on board. The Ballestas Islands did not disappoint, however, if you suffer from sea or motion sickness, it is highly advisable that you take something before you board. The boat tour lasts about 2 hours total. _br/_ Once we returned to Paracas, our guide informed us that due to the weather, our flight was delayed, so he changed our lunch time to before the flight. That worked well for us because we had gotten up at 2:30 a.m. The restaurant was nice, with a great view, and the food was good, too. Two choices for appetizers and two choices for entrees. Drinks not included. _br/_ After lunch there was a little time to stroll around the boardwalk before meeting up to drive over to the airport. Different guide this time, who was a wealth of knowledge about Paracas and the Nazca lines. _br/_ The flight itself was amazing. The pilot and co-pilot made sure both sides of the plane saw everything and they made sure to point out exactly when and where to look. The Nazca lines are indeed a sight to behold._br/_ After the flight we were again met at the airport be sure to get your novelty stamp in your passport, if you like that sort of thing by another guide and we taken back to the office to get our belongings We had only brought two small backpacks with not much in them, but we were advised to leave them at the office as they add extra weight on the plane and then were taken back to the bus stop for our 3.5 hour ride back to Lima. The staff took really good care of us and the tour itself was pretty amazing.
Review by: Cristinel Z, July 2016
Excellent tour, excepting the low quality of the lunch in a sub-class restaurant. Again, paid $1,200 for a tour and got $10 lunch which compromised the entire experience. Also, when back to Lima, nobody waited for us in the bus station, luckyly I had a cell to call local company.
Review by: Bill604, June 2016
It was a long day but well worth it for the amazing experience. Everything went smoothly and I was very satisfied with the service provided by everyone.
Review by: kim w, June 2016
Missed several of the Nazca Lines as the nararrator spoke in Spanish 80 of the time and when he spoke English it was too late to see let alone photograph the character line.Way too much Spanish on an English speaking tour. The rest of the tour was well done and I felt we were taken good care of as fart as the ground personal and transperation aspects..
Review by: Josef L, June 2016
This tour was worth the money. The Ballestas Islands were amazing....seals, pelicans, penguins, and so many birds. I had read some other reviews about the terrible smells from the islands but we didn't experience any of that. It was absolutely perfect weather and amazing views. The Nazca Lines flight was safe and smooth. They tell you as you get on the flight to not worry about pictures as the lines are hard to capture on film from the altitude. Of course we all rushed to take pictures as we flew over them but the guide was right...it is better to see the lines and appreciate them rather than having a few bad pictures from an airplane window. Put away the camera, enjoy the view and buy a framed copy of your favorite lines at the airport gift shop. PS- You go through airport screening so bring your passport with you!
Review by: Joseph R, May 2016
Tour itself was fine. Long bus trip from Lima and had to get to pick-up point, which was difficult. Probably better to go to Paracas and spend the night. _br/_ Island tour was great with lots of super photo ops. Nazca overflight was short, tedious and the lines themselves were not nearly as well demarcated as you might think. Would not do again.
Review by: Jeremy S, May 2016
Fantastic trip in every way. We were met by Paul at our hotel promptly at 3 a.m. And taken to the bus station. The buses were surprisingly nice, with entertainment systems, food, etc.... My only regret was not bringing headphones for the 4 hr. Journey. In Paracus, we were guided the whole day by Alex, who made sure we were never left unattended to. The Nazca lines flight was amazing, al little dizzying for sure, but wonderful nevertheless. We arrived back in Lima around 8:30 p.m. -- this was my first Viator tour, as I usually like to do things myself and explore different countries on my own, but after this trip I am hooked! Great job to everyone involved during our day, thank you.
Review by: Joe, May 2016
Tour itself was fine. Long bus trip from Lima and had to get to pick-up point, which was difficult. Probably better to go to Paracas and spend the night. _br/_ Island tour was great with lots of super photo ops. Nazca overflight was short, tedious and the lines themselves were not nearly as well demarcated as you might think. Would not do again.
Review by: Gregory N, February 2016
this was a worth the money. Fun airplane ride and got to see all of the Nazca Lines the pilot tilted the plane to each side to insure everyone on board got a good look at the Lines.
Review by: Hanna P, November 2015
The tours were great. The missing star in my review is for changing the time of pick up to 3am. That was a killer. Plus no where in description did it say that you had to take a public bus to Paracas.
Review by: Maria V, October 2015
Skip this tour - It is very easy to book tours while in Peru and it is much cheaper. if you do take this tour, do not forget your passport, you will not be able to fly without it and they do not actually tell you that you need it until you are 4 hours away from Lima.
Review by: Katherine P, October 2015
It was great, each guide or representative was there on time and helpful._br/_ It a long day and starts early but the bus in the morning was really comfortable and provided pillows for sleeping. _br/_ The boat trip was fantastic and there was snacks while I was waiting. _br/_ The guide provided information on the Nazca lines before the flight and the lunch was 3 courses at a great resort. Overall a great day.
Review by: Robert H, September 2015
Fascinating. Be careful of those with flight sickness however.
Review by: Donald P, August 2015
Great Experience. The Ballestas Islands were amazing. All the Sea Lions, the Penguins and the million seabirds were a sight! The flight over Nazca could not have been more perfect. The pilot and Co-Pilot ensured we had a great experience. The lunch on the terrace at he Hacienda Hotel was superb - top notch. Lastly, all the shuttle staff were so polite and so helpful. Al in all, it was well worth the money.
Review by: Jaclyn N, July 2015
This tour was expensive and underwhelming. First, you leave at 2am to catch a bus that takes you to Paracas. When you get off the bus, you are shuffled around to different tour guides and one of them finally takes you to the departure point of the Ballestas Islands. The Ballestas Islands were beautiful, but remember to take a motion sickness pill before your Islands and Nazca Lines tours many people were vomiting. After the Islands, there was a delay in the Nazca Lines tour, so we were told to wander around in Paracas for an hour. We were finally taken to the airport for the Nazca lines. You have to fly for about 50min-1 hour to get to the lines, you view the lines for 10 minutes this is not for the faint of heart, as the plane nearly tilts on it's side and is pulling Gs, and then another hour back to the airport. Afterwards, you are taken to a resort to have lunch. My meal was fine, but my husband ended up contracting a parasite from his meal and was ill multiple times over the course of our trip. The tour company also rushes the meal, so you only have 30min to eat before boarding a cramped bus for a 4 hour drive back to Lima. I would suggest actually spending the night in Paracas for a more stress-free tour.
Review by: Kathryn C E, June 2015
Tiring but worth it!
Review by: Joan H, March 2015
Excellent but a very long day. think about doing it in two days. This turned out to be a 19 hour tour.
Review by: J Joseph H, February 2015
The tour itself was fine, but the Viator part of it was NOT fine. It was very difficult to get information about the tour from them in advance. There was too much time spent on a bus and I wish I had been notified of that. Nine hours on a bus for a 17 hour tour was excessive. Next time Im going to book locally rather than through Viator. This is the second time in two weeks Ive been disappointed with their service.
Review by: Kenneth H, November 2014
I highly recommend this tour. The views are exceptional. Everyone is friendly.
Review by: deepat6, October 2014
It was a very long day, but well worth it. Everything went according to plan.
Review by: Linda M, October 2014
This was a great tour. All driver and guides were there to meet us at all destionations when we arrived. Lunch was wonderful!
Review by: Rebecca H, September 2014
We had a great day on this tour. The group managing the tour was very efficient and well planned. At first we didn't understand that we would have a different tour guide throughout but once we got a handle on the system we were comfortable. The bus from Lima was wonderful and provided us with blankets that I wanted to keep! (We had to be ready at our hotel at 3:00am and were sleepy!) The boat tour to the Ballestas Islands was unbelievable and our guide was so well informed. He explained everything in both English and Spanish. One of my favorite experiences was going in a cave full of sea lions and the alpha male barking at us to get out! The Nazca Lines air tour was also amazing, however I would recommend taking some dramamine before hand, even if you aren't prone to motion sickness. Our lunch was delicious and the hotel we ate at was beautiful. We were served snacks of ham sandwiches on the bus both to and from Lima so if you are traveling with a vegetarian, make sure to request a special snack ahead of time.
Review by: Sourav, June 2014
It was a small flight (12 seats) and the flight was good. However viewing the figures (the actual number) will depend on the pilot-copilot. Our co-pilot showed was quite a few but we missed some of the others as well. And the commentary was in Japanese and English. All the guide and airport authority staff really good.
Review by: Eugene B, April 2014
The tour was great and everything went smoothly.
Review by: Judith T, March 2014
This tour rates a 5 with us because of the excellent care we received from the first people who picked us up at 3:00 a.m. to get us to the bus, to the last person who picked us up at the bus terminal at 9:00 p.m. The young lady who took care of us in Paracus was wonderful, the Ballestas Island tour was great, the lunch was lovely, the bus was very comfortable. Our only complaint is that the Japanese pilot who flew us over the lines only spoke Japanese and ignored us when we asked for explanations in English. I know that all pilots have to know how to speak English, but he didn't make an effort. The airline should know that they had some unhappy Americans on the trip.
Review by: Phillip M, March 2014
Although it was an exhausting day, the trip was amazing.
Review by: Brendan D, March 2014
Good but fairly expensive!
Review by: Lee O, February 2014
This was a great tour but an extremely long day and exhausting. We left the hotel at 3am and returned at 9pm. Were I to do it again, I would stay in Paracas for a few days to break up the trip. The bus was FAR FROM luxury and the breakfast served on the way and the "snack" served on the way back were disgusting. The breakfast beverages offered were coke and Inka Cola, but I was glad that they also had water.
Review by: Susan G, January 2014
This trip was awesome. A very early pickup (3:10am) but the company made sure we knew exactly the time, etc._br/_
They took great care of us, there were guides at every stop. The islands were beautiful, and the Nazca lines were wonderful. We had to wait a bit, but we were comfortable. We were late getting back from the lines, and had to eat our lunch, via box lunch on the bus back, but no problem. The bus was nice and had refreshments, etc. _br/_
We got back on timE, and had time to catch a 1am flight._br/_
I highly recommend this trip!
Review by: FRANK S, October 2013
The bus was a luxurious coach with reclining seating-wonderful. Waiting for the local transport lost uys some time, which only left us 30 minutes to eat the lunch. A Great Day though.
Review by: M. Cochrane C, July 2013
Every step of the trip there was someone to hand us a bus ticket, show us where to go, where to eat. The tour was wonderful. It fulfilled a lifelong dream. We had a good view of the Nasca Lines. One hint: it is better to just look at the lines. If you try to photograph them, you will miss part of the experience.The Ballestas Islands were also wonderful - so much animal life. The guide was knowledgeable and pointed out examples of each bird and mammal we saw.
Review by: James C, June 2013
Tour connections and tour guides were good, but it did not present any memorable moments or explanations of the places visited during the entire trip.
Review by: Kathryn L, June 2013
Fabulous tour, great transportation. The Ballestas Islands were worth the price alone. A once in a lifetime experience.
Review by: Brian H, June 2013
Yes you get to see some amazing sites. Yes there are several tour guides and operators who were very pleasant and made the tour work. However. They put us on a bus from Cruz del Sur not their own bus, scheduled everything so tightly that we never even got to eat all day, offered no apologies and still had us pay over $1000.00. We priced out the various portions and could have done it far cheaper on our own. Not worth the price we paid
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