How to get from Lima to Nazca (a guide for travellers flying in from Canada)

The short answer: Lima to Nazca is about 440 to 454 km down the Pan-American Highway South, roughly 7 hours by bus or 6 to 7 hours by private car. If you only want to see the Nazca Lines, the easiest plan is a one-day private tour from Lima, either driving all the way to Nazca or flying over the lines from Pisco Airport. Which one suits you depends on how many days you have once you land from Canada.

Below you will find every realistic option, with times and prices in US dollars, plus our honest advice on which to pick for a short stay, a relaxed week or a longer trip.

The four ways to get from Lima to Nazca

• Bus: the budget choice. About 7 hours each way (some sources say 7 h 30). Cruz del Sur and Oltursa both run the route, including night services.
• Private transfer: a private car with a driver. About 6 to 6 h 20 without stops, closer to 7 hours once Lima traffic is involved.
• One-day tour with a flight over the lines: private transport from your Lima hotel, the scenic flight and the return, all in one long day.
• Scenic flight from Pisco: a shorter drive south to Pisco Airport, then a flight of about 1 h 40 that takes you over the lines and back. You never set foot in Nazca town, but you see the geoglyphs from the air.

There are no scheduled commercial flights from Lima to Nazca, so you either travel by road or fly over the lines from Pisco.

Lima to Nazca by bus: the budget route

The bus is the cheapest way to cover the distance, and both main companies run overnight departures. According to booking sites, Oltursa has departures from 9:00 to 23:30, and the last one reaches Nazca at about 05:36.

If you like the idea of the bus but prefer not to organise it yourself, our Nazca Lines From Lima By Bus tour, from USD 275 per person, handles the details. It uses the Cruz del Sur Especial service: pickup at 21:00 in Lima, arrival in Nazca at 06:30, a 30 to 35 minute flight over the lines, return bus at 14:30 and arrival back in Lima at about 22:00. You sleep on the way down and are back in Lima the same evening.

It is good value, but a night bus down followed by about seven and a half hours on the road back makes for a tiring day. If you have just crossed from Toronto or Montreal, give yourself at least one proper night of sleep in Lima first.

Private transfer from Lima to Nazca

A private transfer suits travellers who want to set their own pace, stop for lunch or coffee along the coast, and arrive with energy to spare. The drive takes about 6 to 6 h 20 without stops and about 7 hours with Lima traffic, so plan an early start.

A private car also makes sense when Nazca is one stop on a longer route. You can sleep in Nazca, fly over the lines the next morning, and continue south or towards the Andes. Our guide on how to get from Nazca to Cusco explains that next leg.

Once in Nazca, the desert has more to offer than the lines. Short guided visits include the Chauchilla Cemetery (2 h, from USD 25), the Pyramids of Cahuachi (3 h, from USD 40), the Cantalloc aqueducts (2 h, from USD 25) and a land tour to the Nazca Lines (3 h, from USD 30).

The one-day tour from Lima: our favourite for short stays

If your time in Peru is short, a private one-day tour is the most comfortable way to tick off the Nazca Lines without adding hotel nights. Two options stand out:

• Nazca Lines Full Day Tour From Lima, from USD 375 per person. Pickup at your Lima hotel at 05:00, private transport to the Nazca aerodrome, the flight over the lines, the airport taxes, a stop at the observation tower and the drive back to Lima.
• Nazca Lines Tour From Lima, from USD 550 per person. Door-to-door service from Lima to Pisco Airport and the scenic flight from there, so the drive is much shorter than going all the way to Nazca.

It is a long day either way, so this plan works best after at least one good night of rest in Lima. If you want to add the coast, the Ballestas Islands and Nazca Lines tour from Lima (from USD 395) combines a boat trip to see sea lions with the flight, and the Nazca Lines and Huacachina Oasis tour (from USD 395) adds the desert oasis.

Flying from Pisco: less road, same view

Pisco sits between Lima and Nazca, and its airport runs scenic flights that go down to the lines and back. The flight itself takes about 1 h 40, and the whole operation from Paracas takes around 3 hours. Flights start at about 8:00, and the airline assigns the exact time. Keep in mind that the Pisco airport taxes are paid at the airport and are not included in the price.

Our Nazca Lines Scenic Flight From Pisco Airport starts from USD 350. A point worth knowing for Canadians: the Government of Canada's travel advice for Peru describes Pisco International Airport as the safest option for these flights and recommends using a certified operator. We explain the pros and cons of each airport in our guide on where to fly over the Nazca Lines.

Which option fits the days you have after landing

Direct flights from Canada land early: in the 2025 to 2026 winter season, Air Canada's Toronto flight arrived in Lima at 06:10 and the Montreal flight at 02:15. That means your first day is best kept light. Here is how we usually plan it:

• 2 or 3 days in Lima: rest on day one, then take a one-day tour. Choose the Pisco flight if you want less time on the road, or the full day tour to Nazca if you want to see the observation tower and the desert up close.
• 4 or 5 days on the coast: spread it out. Paracas And Nazca Lines Tour (2 days, from USD 495), Nazca Lines, Huacachina And Paracas 2 Days Trip (from USD 595) or Paracas Huacachina Nazca Lines Tour (3 days, from USD 595).
• 10 days or more: make Nazca part of a full circuit with Cusco and Machu Picchu. Our Machu Picchu and Nazca in 12 days guide shows a relaxed version, and our packages can be adjusted to include the lines.
• Travelling on a tight budget: the bus tour is the cheapest complete option, as long as you are comfortable with night travel.

Practical tips for the flight over the lines

• Arrive 30 minutes before your flight time.
• Eat something light beforehand, and if you are prone to motion sickness, take your medication about 30 minutes before boarding.
• Flights only leave with good visibility, so morning fog can cause delays. Leave some slack in your plans.
• At the Nazca aerodrome, the airport tax (S/ 30) and the Boleto Turistico (S/ 47) add up to S/ 77 per person, paid before boarding. Carry Peruvian soles in cash.
• The small planes have a weight limit per passenger. Let us know when you book and we will check the details with the operator.

For the story behind the geoglyphs, read our post on the Nazca Lines before you go. It makes the flight far more meaningful.

Book your Nazca day with Mystery Peru

Whether you prefer the bus, a private car, the full day tour or the flight from Pisco, we can put it together as part of a private trip, with pickup from your Lima hotel and a plan that respects your arrival time. Browse all options on our Nazca Lines tours page.

Not sure which one fits? Write to us with your travel dates and your Canadian departure city, and we will suggest the best combination. Or try our trip planning assistant to sketch an itinerary in a few minutes.