Lima, the Nazca Lines & Paracas National Reserve tour

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights Lima
• 1 night Paracas
• 1 night Lima

Day 1: Arrive in Lima

Today you’ll be picked up at Lima airport and driven to your hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure to rest or start exploring Lima.

Day 2: Excursion to Pachacamac 

Today you’ll be picked up from your hotel and driven to the archaeological site of Pachacamac, one of the most important Pre-Inca religious centres on the Peruvian coast. We’ve included a guided tour of the complex with its palaces and pyramids, and you’ll have great ocean views too. After the tour, you’ll be driven back to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day as you wish.     

Day 3: Lima city tour by bike

Today’s breakfast is included as part of a fun guided bike tour of the city! Begin by riding through the charming streets in the heart of Miraflores, before heading to Huaca Pucllana, an impressive archaeological centre in the middle of the city. You will continue to the Olivar of San Isidro, Lima’s historic olive grove park before finishing with a stunning ride beside the sea, passing by cliffs and parks.           

Day 4: Nazca Lines    

It’s an early start today as you’ll take the bus to Pisco airport, from where you’ll board a high-wing light aircraft for a scenic tour over the Nazca Lines!

The town of Nazca sits is beside a small river crossing the desolate plain of San Jose, and the remarkable lines carved into the landscape remained completely unnoticed until commercial airlines began crossing the desert in the late 1920’s. The international scientific community immediately paid attention to Nazca but the mystery of its depictions (only visible from the sky) and their origins and meaning, remain unsolved.

In the afternoon after your flight, you’ll be driven to your next hotel in Paracas.

Day 5: Ballestas Islands      

Another early start today, as you’ll be taken to the dock for a boat ride to the Ballestas Islands, dubbed ‘the poor man’s Galapagos’ because although much smaller than their counterpart, they are home to wildlife including boobies, pelicans, sea lions and Humboldt penguins.

The boat will also pause for you to look back inland at the peninsula so that you can see some more unexplained etches. The Candelabra Lines which are a well-known prehistoric geoglyph found on the northern face of the Paracas Peninsula. After the tour, you’ll return to Lima by bus in the evening, driving along the scenic route of the Pacific coast. You will arrive at your hotel for the last overnight in the capital.

Day 6: Departure        

Today you’ll be taken to Lima airport for your onward flight.