The WalkOn Inn: The best place in town - Nazc - Puno - Chivay

Excellent little hostel, costing about 25 sols per person. Pool, Internet, WiFi, DVD lib, roof terrace, laundry etc etc

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Flight Over the Nasca Lines

Tour description:
At the designated time, our staff will pick you up from your hotel and afterwards you will be transferred to the local airport of Nazca, located just 4 kilometers away from downtown. Upon your arrival at the airport, our staff will show you a video film about The Nazca Lines. This interesting documentary lasts about 40 minutes and involves serious information about the Nazca Culture, as well as the figures you will see from the air. For this aerial tour, you will board a small Cessna single-engine aircraft (Station air, Skyhawk or Skyline type), which has spacious room for 5 people, each person with a window seat. After the video, our English speaking pilot will proceed to give you a briefing about this air tour and also will give each participant a map of the archaeological zone, which shows all the figures you will see from the air. After some basic information about the Lines and safety instructions, you will board the airplane and will take off. In a matter of just 2 minutes you will be flying over the Nazca Lines zone, and the first figure you will see from the air it will be the whale. This beautiful marine deity is located on the eastern part of the archaeological complex, and was drawn over a big rectangular figure (see Nazca Lines map). As soon as we get close to the whale our pilot will let you know and then will fly in circles over it. The next figure you will see is a triangle, which appears over a small hill featuring 3 points. On the other side you will also see the famous trapezoids that, according to Erick von Daniken were ancient runways for visitors from another planet. These trapezoids are about 2 kilometers long and their perfection is stunning. Some kilometers further west we will find one of the strangest creatures on the Nazca desert “The Astronaut”. Unlike the other drawings, the astronaut was etched on the slope of a small hill, and not on the desert surface. His body is facing to the south and according to Maria Reiche it does not represent an astronaut, but a shaman or ancient Nazca priest, someone with magic powers who could predict the weather. Later on we will fly over the monkey figure, an enormous drawing that measures about 90 meters in length, and shows at one hand five fingers and on the other just four, symbolizing the 9 month of drought the Nazca people suffered every year. The monkey figure was discovered in 1954 by Maria Reiche, and according to her point of view it is associated to the big deeper constellation. After the monkey, we will fly over the dog figure, a small drawing that according to some scholars it represents a divinity worshipped by the Nazca people. Then it comes one of the best preserve figures of the whole area “The hummingbird”, a gorgeous design perfectly made on a dark plateau located at one corner of the archaeological complex. According to Maria Reiche this figure is associated with the summer solstice, as one of the lines connected to its beak, points towards the place where the sun rises every year during our summer solstice. Not very far from the hummingbird, you will find the spider, a figure that according the local knowledge, represents the fertility and water, as this insect used to appear when it is going to rain or the water in the rivers is about to come. Some meters away we will find the huge condor figure, featuring a straight line that crosses its wings and points towards the place where the sun sets every year on summer solstice. Our next figure will be the flamingo, which is the longest figure on the desert, with over 300 meters. According to Maria Reiche the beak of this bird points towards the place where the sun rises every year on winter solstice. Then we will fly over the parrot figure, a huge bird with about 230 meters in length. In addition to the parrot you will also see several geometric designs around, and the beautiful valley of Ingenio. Finally we will fly over the Pan-American Highway, where you will see 2 figures; the hands and the Huarango tree. If you look carefully, you will find next to the tree, another figure representing a big lizard. Unfortunately when the people built the highway in 1937, they had no idea that ancient figures were drawn there, so the cut the lizard figure in two, destroying mainly the central part of its body, leaving the tail on one side of the road and on the other side part of its back, and its complete head with its two hands. After flying over these figures, we will return to the airport and during the way back you still can enjoy other straight lines that run for kilometers and a stunning panoramic view of the Nazca desert.

End of the tour.
To see a complete map of the Nazca Lines: click here
Flight duration: 35 minutes.
Included:

• Round trip transfer to the airport.
• A video film about the Nazca Lines.
• Airport Taxes.
• Personalized Bilingual Assistance.

Important information:
-The airplanes used for this aerial tour are of highest standard available.
-All the planes are equipped with cloth-seats and safety belts.
-All the planes have a capacity of 5 people plus pilot.
-Our Pilot will be able to speak to you through the intercom.
-Manoeuvres like loops and rolls are not allowed.
-All flights are subject to weather and air traffic control.
-This tour is operated in English unless otherwise stated.
-You must send all your personal information, if booking this tour.
-This tour departs from the Maria Reiche airport, located in Nazca.
-Daily departures available all year round.

• This tour should be booked al least 2 weeks in advance during the months of July, August and September (high season).

We also offer especial flights over the Nazca and Palpa Lines with helicopters. For further information, please check the link further down.
You need to bring:
On this tour you can wear light clothing as sometimes it is hot inside the plane, especially if doing this flight during summer time, from December to March, when temperatures may reach 40ºC.

• In order to meet you easily in the city of Nazca, we might book also a hotel or hostel room for you depending on your budget. We have especial deals with hotels and hostel in Nazca. Do not hesitate in asking.

Note: In order to make this flight more interesting, we would suggest our clients to attend the lecture about the Nazca Lines, that takes place at the little Maria Reiche Planetarium located at the Nazca Lines Hotel. This short conference will give you a better insight into the Nazca Culture and also will help you to get better acquainted with the figures you will see from the air. The show lasts about 45 minutes and also involve sky watching, through sophisticated digital telescopes.

In Nazca we stayed at the Hostal Guillens. It is "cheap and cheerful". Is on the main road into town from Lima. (right hand side, almost opposite the bus stations) Excellent secure parking for many motorbikes, bicycles and cars. We paid 65 soles for a room with 3 beds and a bathroom. This place is not modern and flash, some might find it a little noisy, but we more than enjoyed our stay. They do not have wifi, but you can use their computer. No breakfast. Cheap and clean restaurants a few doors away. The owner, Francisco, is a former tour guide and an excellent source of information. GPS: S 14 degrees 49.682'. W 074 degrees 56.728'.

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Chris