Nazca

November 1998

Trip Rating: 5/5

Nazca is a small town south of Lima that has become famous for the lines that are drawn in the desert nearby.  Although this town is not on the most frequently visited list, it is well worth the time spent to get there.   The lines are etched in the desert by removing the darker top soil to expose the lighter soil underneath.    There are many explanations for the  lines etched in the desert, all I know is that they are neat.   These lines are huge and to be seen correctly you need to take an over flight.    I did that, and I don't regret it.   Equally impressive is the Cemetery of Chauchilla and its mummies.   In this cemetery you can see mummies that are over 500 years old sitting out in hot year round sun.   This is a very dry place that receives little rain.  

Jere before the Nazca Lines over flight.

Hummingbird drawing  as seen from the air.

Whale drawing  as seen from the air.

Astronaut as see from the air. 

Witch doctor on the streets of Nazca.  These witch doctors can frequently be seen performing their trick in town squares.   Usually they are selling herbs from the jungle.

The Quipu, an ancient accounting device, used by tying knots to keep track of records.  Currently the accountant is all tied up in the Quipu!

Extracting mercury from a gold/mercury mix in Nazca.

Mummy in the Cemetery of Chauchilla.   These mummies, which are over 500 years old, stay outside all the time.  

Jere in the waste of desert around the cemetery of Chauchilla.

people have visited virtual Nazca.

This page last updated on 10/25/99.