Nazca Viewing Towers:
Your Guide to Seeing the Lines

The classic and most popular view

This metal viewpoint, named in honor of the German researcher who dedicated her life to the study of geoglyphs, is the best-known option.

📐 Description

A tower about twelve meters high located directly on the Pan-American Highway.

🎯 Visible Geoglyphs

From this platform, you can observe three famous figures:

• The Tree
• The Hands
• The Lizard (part of which was cut by road construction, an intriguing historical fact)

💡 Our Experience & Tips

• This is the easiest and fastest option. Allow 15-20 minutes on site
• In high season, the limited space can be crowded. Prefer off-peak hours (early morning)
• The view is close-up, but the perspective remains at ground level, which sometimes limits the complete readability of the figures

📋 Practical Information

• 2025 Rate: 6 Soles
• Access: About 20 km north of Nazca, on the Pan-American Highway
• How to get there? Take a local bus towards Ica/Lima (about 3 Soles, 30 min) or a taxi with waiting (30-50 Soles)

Walk in the footsteps of ancient cultures

This site offers a more "local" experience by climbing a natural hill in the desert.

📐 Description

A small hill requiring a walk of about 25 m elevation gain (1 km round trip).

🎯 Visible Geoglyphs

The overall view allows you to appreciate complex geometric shapes:

• Rectangular lines and squares
• The famous figure of the Loom, where you can clearly distinguish the needle, the ball of wool (a spiral) and the threads
• The summer and winter solstice lines

💡 Our Experience & Tips

• An often calmer and more authentic experience than the tower
• Ideal for photographers who want a panoramic view of the pampa
• Bring water, a hat and sunscreen; there is no shade

📋 Practical Information

• 2025 Rate: 3 Soles
• Access: About 30 minutes from downtown Nazca, near the María Reiche Viewpoint
• Visit duration: Allow 30 minutes to 1 hour to fully enjoy the site and the walk

For a different and spectacular perspective

Not to be confused with the Nazca Lines, these older geoglyphs, also UNESCO classified, offer a unique visual experience.

📐 Description

A modern 35-meter high viewpoint located near the village of Palpa.

🎯 Visible Geoglyphs

This is the most complete viewpoint, allowing observation of about ten figures (different styles from those of Nazca). As they are located on hills, their visibility is exceptional.

💡 Our Experience & Tips

• Visibility is much better than from the Nazca viewpoints due to the height and topography of the area
• Perfect for those who want to learn more about the evolution of geoglyphs in the region

📋 Practical Information

• Access: Requires dedicated transport (taxi or agency) from Nazca, as it is more remote
• Rate: About 3-5 Soles (to be confirmed on site)

Criterion	María Reiche Viewpoint	Natural Viewpoint	Palpa Geoglyphs
Price	6 Soles	3 Soles	~3-5 Soles
Experience	Close-up view, easy & fast	Walking, panoramic view, authentic	Overhead view, many drawings
Geoglyphs	Tree, Hands, Lizard	Loom, geometric shapes	About ten different figures
Ideal for	Tight budget, express visit	Hikers, photographers	Complete visit, best visibility

🗓️ When to go?

Early morning or late afternoon to avoid crowds and the crushing desert heat.

💵 Payment

Be sure to bring cash (Peruvian soles) in small bills.

🎒 On site

Hat, sunscreen, plenty of water and sunglasses are essential.

📜 Respect the site

It is strictly forbidden to walk on the geoglyphs themselves to preserve this fragile heritage. The viewpoints are designed to observe them without damage.

🚗 Logistics

For Palpa and an efficient tour of the viewpoints, the solution of a taxi with driver or a local agency is often the most practical.