NASCA DAILY TOURS

TOUR	LENGTH	DEPART.
Paredones ruins, Cantalloc aqueduct and Antonini Museum	2 hours	Daily
Chauchilla necropolis	3 hours	Daily
Cahuachi ruins	3 hours	Daily
Chicchitara petroglyphs and Huayuri lost city	5 hours	Daily
Aguada de Lomas	Full Day	Daily
Pampas Galeras Nacional Reserve	6 hours
Flight over the Pampa of Nasca    -  Lima – Pampa de Nasca – Lima    -  Ica – Pampa de Nasca – Ica    -  Local flight	7.30 hours 1.20 hours 40 minutes	Daily Daily Daily

PAREDONES RUINS, CANTALLOC AQUEDUCT AND ANTONINI MUSEUM

After a brief visit to the main streets of the city, the main square and the market, we continue to the ruins of The Paredones, partly destroyed by the construction of the road from Nasca to Cusco. It was meant to be an Inca administrative center in which the transit of travelers and their cargoes going to or returning from the Andes were controlled. Near this place on a small plateau, the Dibujos de El Telar (drawings of the loom) can be seen. These represent the woof of a loom with its ball and needle.
On the left of the Tierra Blanca River there is the Cantalloc Aqueduct. It consists of 150 meters of open canal and 300 meters of an underground aqueduct forming two streams. The buried part used to clean the canal, something which is still done once a year.
The underground aqueduct is 70 cm high and 50 wide. The materials used are gravel and flagstones. The water is collected in an old cocha (reservoir), now conditioned with cement. The constant droughts and creativeness of the ancient Nascas led them to construct 35 aqueducts in the whole valley.
Finally, the Antonini Museum will be visited, which exposes an interesting repertoire of the cultures of this region.

CHAUCHILLA NECROPOLIS
This necropolis situated 30 Km south of Nasca on an arid plain, next to the Trancas River was used in the Late Nasca Period first by the Huaris and then by the Incas. Mummies, human

bones, remains of ceramics and textiles, have been all left in the open by the “huaqueros” (tomb defilers).

CAHUACHI RUINS
Approximately 34 Km west of Nasca, after a journey along an uneven dirt road, is Cahuachi (from “qahuachi” or “jahuachi” which means nosey or to meddle). It is a vast ceremonial center presently under being studied by the Italian Pre-Columbian Study Center directed by Prof. Giuseppe Orefici. This enormous pilgrimage center was occupied by the first phases of the Nasca culture but was suddenly abandoned for no apparent reason. It has a series of adobe pyramids with the typical characteristics of the region: vast courtyards, chambers, corridors, silos for grain and water and on the exterior of the enormous wall which protected the whole complex, and vast area of cemeteries.

CHICCHITARA PETROGLYPHS AND HUAYURI LOST CITY
Approximately 40 Km north of Nasca, in the fertile Palpa valley (slight distortion of the term “palca” which means forking in reference to its topography), two narrow valleys meet each with its own river: Viscas and Palpa. On their slopes there are tens of engraved stones with zoomorphic, anthropomorphic and geometric figures. Many engravings are similar to the designs of the Pampa of Jumana, such as the spirals, of symbolic and religious nature.
Ten kilometers north of Palpa, on the other side of a mountain range in the Santa Cruz Gorge is the Lost City of Huayuri (its name could derive from “huaylluy” which means to love with tenderness or idyllic love. As this plain lies between Palpa and Ica, the toponymy would be “love plain”). The name of “lost city” is due to its strategic position nestled in an arid gorge, amongst high hills and with only one access, which offered it safety and protection. There are hundreds of rooms and shrines, courtyards and silos for grain and water. The abundance of llama bones leads us to believe it was a resting place between the ocean and the Andes.

AGUADA DE LOMAS
Located between the 527 and 540 kms. of the Panamericana South Highway. The Lomas are in a lower level from Chavina Bridge (km 552) to Port (km 527). This entire region was under the sea 10 million years ago. Around 4 million years ago, the product of a great cataclysm, it emerged from the sea, forming a great lagoon, catching several species. Later, the lagoon was dried and the Aeolian force created capricious forms in this marine bed. The fossilized specimens found are:
- Sperm whales (Bala enopteridae) with an age of 3.8 million years. Pliocene inferior or Miocene (tertiary age)
- Carcharodon Megalodon (up to 50 meters)
- Ktiosaurio (aquatic reptile)
- Shells of clams and others.

PAMPAS GALERAS NATIONAL RESERVE
“BARBARA D’ACHILLE NATURAL RESERVE”
In only 2 hours, along paved road, which goes from Nasca to Cusco we reach Pampa Galeras, vast plateau at 4200 masl. This vast plain, covered by ichu (thick grass which grows in freezing temperatures over 4000 meters and on which vicuñas) is the main and greatest Vicuña breeding area of Peru. These animals are organized in family groups, made up by a male and a number of females. They have fine wool, appreciated and highly valued in world markets (approx. US$ 950 per kilo).
The guards will explain the different aspects of those animals and their incredible customs. A cold lunch will be served during the excursion.
With the recovery of the vicuña, a one time endangered species; the ancient festival of the Chakku (June 24th) has revived. This pre-Hispanic ceremony, presided by the Inca in ancient times, consists in gathering the animals in special pens to shear them collectively.
This ceremony is preceded by the “pagapa” or payment to the “Pachamama” (mother earth). Peasants from different communities and owners of the flocks, waving poles with multicolored ribbons, scare the animals from the mountains into the pens, shouting “Chakku, Chakku!” In the guards headquarters one can watch folklore dances and enjoy typical Andean dishes.

FLIGHT OVER THE PAMPA OF NASCA
The place where the famous designs and lines, attributed to the Nasca Culture, are located is a stony desert located 20 Km. northeast of the city of Nasca. In this arid area with no topographic elevation and over a surface of hundreds of kilometers stretch out a series of lines (some over 8 Km long) which form triangles, trapezes, squares, spirals, flowers, figures of birds, reptiles, whales, monkeys and spiders. The drawing is very simple: the desert has a base of grayish-white sand, completely covered by small darker gravel. This was caused by the fragmentation of rocks of greater size, over a period of millions of years, as a consequence of the extreme temperatures between night and day. To trace a line or a determined geometrical area, it was only necessary to clear the area of gravel, clean the underlying surface and outline the border with the gravel, which was cleared. What is difficult to comprehend is how they managed to calculate the scales for such a major endeavor. The flights over the Pampa of Jumana are carried out in small 3 to 5 seat passenger airplanes.

FLIGHT LIMA – PAMPA DE NASCA – LIMA
At 9:30 in the morning small private airplanes with 12/15 seats take off to Ica (approx 50 min. flying time) where a smaller 3/5 seat aircraft is boarded to fly over the Nasca lines (approx. 1.20 hours). This visit includes the Regional Museum of Ica and lunch in a restaurant. Transport to and from hotels in Lima must be added.

FLIGHT ICA – PAMPA DE NASCA – ICA
This flight is combined with the previously mentioned excursion. However transport from and to hotels in Lima, lunch and the visit to the museum are not included.

LOCAL FLIGHT OVER PAMPA DI NASCA
If weather conditions are favorable the local flight can take place from 7 in the morning until 4:30 or 5 in the afternoon. Due to the closeness to Nasca this excursion enables a better observation of the figures and lines than in the flight from Paracas or Ica.

PARACAS DAILY TOURS

TOUR	LENGTH	DEPART.
Ballestas islands	2 hours	08.00am and 10.00am

BALLESTAS ISLANDS
The Ballestas Islands are located 30 minutes by boat from the hotel quay and are part of this important National Reserve. Soon after departure one passes the Port of Punta Pejerrey and before reaching open sea, we sail 2 Km parallel to the coastline from where we can see the famous Candelabro (Chandelier) a strange figure traced on the slopes of a sandy hill, which is similar to a tree or chandelier. This island has an abundance of wildlife mainly Sea Lions in their two varieties: “mongrel sea lion” (Otaria byronia) and “full bred” (Arctocephalus australis), Sea Cats (Lutra felina) and Humboldt Penguins (Spheniscus humboldt). There are also thousands of marine birds such as the Pelican (Pelicanus thagus), Rayador (Rynchops nigra cinerascens), Piquero Comun (Sula Veriagata), Guanay (Phalacrocorax boungainvillii) and many others.