Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Nazca, Arequipa & the South Itineraries
The haul down the coast is long and dusty. If you're
short on time, you can do the most signiicant coastal
sites, such as the Nazca Lines, as a day tour from Lima,
allowing more time later to explore the southern Andes.
LIMA TO NAZCA
Desert Caravan
This excursion takes you to the key sites of the southern Peruvian coast. The trip begins in
Lima and makes its first stop at
(1) Pisco and Paracas
. The former is the port from which
the liquor gets its name; the latter, a small town abutting a wilderness reserve. From here,
you can ride through the
(2) Reserva Nacional de Paracas
, home to ancient cemeteries,
then go for a boat tour around the
(3) Islas Ballestas
, which offers vistas of dramatic
desert arches and colonies of honking birdlife. Afterwards, overnight in Paracas.
The next day, continue the journey down the coast. If you get an early start, pay a visit to
the pisco-producing vineyards at
(4) Ica
. Otherwise, head to
(5) Nazca
for a flight over the
mysterious pre-Columbian glyphs etched in to the desert. While you're in town, pay a visit
to the Chauchilla Cemetery, a pre-Columbian tomb site that is bursting with mummies.
