Private Nazca Lines flights: options, prices and what to expect

What is a private flight, and how is it different from a shared one?

On a shared flight the airline fills the aircraft with passengers from different groups. On a private flight the aircraft carries only your party, whether that is a couple, a family or a group of friends. The route over the pampa and the safety rules are the same, but you board together, have the cabin to yourselves and can talk freely with the pilot, who speaks English.

It suits families with children, couples celebrating a special occasion, photographers who want space at the window and anyone who would rather not share a small aircraft with strangers.

Private flight options by departure point

Only the private flight from Nazca has a published price and can be booked online. The other departures are arranged as private services and quoted on request, because the cost depends on the aircraft, the size of the group and the date.

What the private flight from Nazca includes

The published private flight covers the whole experience, from your hotel in Nazca and back.

Two charges are not included and are paid before boarding at the Nazca airfield: the airfield tax of S/ 30 per person and the tourist ticket (boleto turístico) of S/ 47 per person. Bring your original passport, which is required to board.

• Pickup at your hotel in Nazca and transfer to the airfield.
• Assistance from an English-speaking local guide before boarding.
• The flight in a Cessna reserved for your group, with a window seat for everyone.
• An English-speaking pilot and a map of the figures you will see.
• Return to your hotel in Nazca.

How the flight goes and which figures you see

We collect you at your hotel and drive you to the Nazca airfield, about 4 km from the town centre. After check-in and the safety briefing, you board the Cessna and take off over the pampa. The flight lasts about 35 minutes and follows the route over the main figures, and the pilot turns over each one so that passengers on both sides can see it.

Along the way you see the Whale, the Astronaut on its hillside, the Monkey, the Dog, the Hummingbird, the Spider, the Condor, the Heron (also called the Flamingo) and the Parrot, together with trapezoids and long straight lines. Before landing the flight passes the Hands and the Tree beside the Panamericana highway.

Best time to fly and practical tips

The private flight from Nazca leaves at 09:00. Morning flights usually meet calmer air over the pampa and clear light, which helps both comfort and photos. These tips come from the questions travellers ask us most often:

• Have a light breakfast and avoid heavy meals before boarding.
• If you are prone to motion sickness, ask your doctor or pharmacist about medication before the trip and look at the horizon between figures.
• The airline limits weight to 95 kg per passenger. Tell us before booking if this affects anyone in your group, as an extra seat may be needed at additional cost.
• Carry your original passport and soles for the airfield tax and the tourist ticket.
• For photos, a phone or a camera with a wide lens works well. Switch off the flash and hold the lens close to the window to avoid reflections.
• Keep a few moments to look without the camera: each figure passes quickly.

Private or shared: which one to choose

If you travel alone or on a tighter budget, the shared flight from Nazca costs US$100 per person and runs from one traveller. The private flight costs US$50 more per person and guarantees an aircraft for your group only.

These are the published shared flights from other departure points, priced per person with a minimum of two travellers. If you are unsure which airfield fits your route, our guide on where to fly over the Nazca Lines compares them.

• Nazca and Palpa Lines flight: US$230, adds the Palpa geoglyphs.
• Flight from Ica: US$250.
• Flight from Pisco airport: US$350, with pickup at your hotel in Paracas and 1 h 40 min of flight.
• Flight from San Martín port: US$350.

Frequently asked questions