Ica to Nazca Tour Review: A Full-Day Archaeological Adventure

Thinking of taking that leap, so to speak, to see the famous Nazca Lines? Then you, like your adventurous peers, probably already know a tour from Ica is a pretty hot ticket. So, you might want a real scoop of what the full-day archaeological tour is actually like, from start to finish. You’re about to get that right here.

Why Nazca from Ica? Makes Sense, Sort Of

Alright, first up, the location situation is, like, important. Now, some might question, isn’t Nazca a town by itself? Of course. But here’s the lowdown; loads of visitors, they pick Ica as a base because it’s got a certain something; basically it’s more going on. There’s that famous Huacachina oasis with its adventurous dune buggy rides, and generally, there are slightly better travel connections if that’s your thing. If you, like a few others, are already chilling in Ica, doing a day trip to Nazca is just really quite convenient. This, naturally, dodges that need to switch hotels and sort yourself out in a new town that may well seem to be more dead.

What’s On Offer in the Tour Package, Sort of Briefly

So, a typical full-day tour often, it usually includes transport to and from Nazca from Ica. The main event, which is that scenic flight over the Nazca Lines, is pretty standard. Usually, there are stops to see other places along the way too. Places, it could be, that includes the Nazca Lines viewing tower (if heights get you excited), maybe a trip to a local museum, and conceivably even time to check out some ancient aqueducts because they have always seemed really neat. Now, generally food isn’t included. Yet, they often factor in a meal break in Nazca itself where there are lots of different options for things you could get.

My Experience With the Tour Itself, Very Honestly

The day? You know, it kicked off early. It kicked off before sunrise actually. Around 6 a.m. Usually, the pick-up from your hotel is just done and dusted, with what you see and get being a reasonably comfy minivan, it’s just stuffed with what appear to be keen sightseers. That ride to Nazca is, like, maybe around 2-3 hours. It sounds like a long time. A large part of the trip will be something close to desert landscapes.

I found it to be, generally, fairly straightforward after getting to Nazca. What I mean by this, is you head straight to the airfield where that essential pre-flight briefing happens. I can’t remember a whole heap about what they said; possibly, it included stuff on safety and what we should expect in the air, maybe things of that sort. Then? You’re up. That small aircraft can be really very alarming, though. So keep it simple.

The flight itself is, really, the heart of the whole thing. You get an opportunity to observe those world-famous geoglyphs cut into the desert floor. They are very ancient. Now, viewing these enormous figures, they include the hummingbird, the monkey, and that weird spider thing, all from up high, offers, too it’s almost, a genuinely special sense of how insignificant we are. At least from a temporary state of mind.

That pilot, he like he really tilted the plane so passengers on both sides could catch a good glimpse. This meant tilting on one side, that side get that view, and then that other side will soon get that view. If you’re prone to motion sickness, you might want to keep that in mind. It really did feel like one pretty serious rollercoaster to me. Honestly, you know, it’s just really fairly exciting, despite that. The flight itself only lasts, like, around 30-35 minutes but really it does seem longer.

Later? I hopped off to grab lunch. You, like your friends, probably, will also get an opportunity to sample what Nazca has on offer when it comes to lunch. They are, apparently, really known for that dry goat stew. But I personally skipped it.

Nazca Lines From the Viewing Tower – Skip It

Before this, there was a stop at that viewing tower. From ground level. My advice? Not worth the time to go there really. All you get is that glimpse of maybe 2 lines, if that. This sounds really pointless. And mostly it is.

Other Things You Get to Do and Observe, Briefly

That tour I hopped on had what felt like, a lightning-fast stop at the Cantalloc Aqueducts. These ancient systems, which the Nazca people employed for agriculture, are actually just a marvel of ancient engineering, maybe you have the same thought as me! If your group decides to go, what will happen is they give that fairly rushed explanation of how they work and what their significance might be.

My time at that Antonini Archaeological Museum was more interesting. It presents what appears to be relics recovered from sites near the Nazca Lines, including textiles, pottery, and all sorts of what one could describe as ancient tools. If you enjoy, similarly to me, that insight into the culture that crafted those lines you get from the items here, that insight really brings everything together more nicely.

The Down Sides to Taking the Tour, Sadly

Okay, not everything about these tours are perfectly perfect. The journey can feel awfully long for anyone prone to car sickness. It really does become seriously tiring. The actual scenic flight can seem intensely turbulent too. If, like other fellow plane-fearing tourists, this sort of thing gets to you, I think this is what would make a great tragedy.

Tour quality, of course, varies hugely too. Based on that package selected. Also the company you decided to do this thing with, it could be what changes it too. If the information isn’t on-point, or if that staff come across like they couldn’t really care less, what then seems like a once-in-a-lifetime deal may turn out to be a fairly substandard experience.

Is this Archaeological Tour in Nazca Actually Worth it? You Probably Ask

Well, yes, is that the basic answer? Yes! Those Nazca Lines, really they’re pretty darn iconic, if you have to go. To gaze at these age-old mysteries stretching across that desert offers a rare, in some respects, insight into humanity’s drive to leave that lasting stamp on its homeland, no matter what it seems to involve. This particular experience brings culture, history, plus adventure together in one rather memorable day.

You probably think, there are a few things I’d say; Firstly, weigh up the duration of it against your comfort level; make that comparison that needs to be compared! If car rides over several hours leave you green, very green, I think you would be best off seeing whether a flight directly out of Nazca is possible; Secondly, always perform an amount of due diligence; ensure whoever you decide to go with offers that knowledge alongside good support; Lastly, remember that full-day tour packs quite a punch, but very few actually will let you down.

So yeah, you know, prepare for the inevitable long travel involved. Get yourself geared up, possibly with travel sickness pills if necessary. And get your camera prepared to photograph some incredible images and pictures and you will potentially return having felt a great and awesome sense of seeing an ancient and cool thing. If seeing such old places interest you at all, I think, similarly to your historian acquaintances, you will be over the moon!

• Iconic Views: Seeing the Nazca Lines from above is an essential sight.
• Cultural Immersion: The Antonini Museum can fill the hole in the heart with a feeling of completeness.
• Long Day: Brace for a full day of early starts. You may hate it, though!

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