Set in a green valley surrounded by mountains, Nazca would be just like any other anonymous desert oasis (the sun blazes for much of the year by day and the nights are crisp) were it not for the discovery of a series of strange lines etched on the plains to the north. Tourists in their thousands now flock to the town to fly over the famous Nazca Lines, whose precise purpose still remains a mystery. Overlooking the town, 10km southeast, is Cerro Blanco (2078 m), the highest sand dune in the world; its popular for sandboarding and paragliding.
There is no central bus station in Nazca, but offices are at the western end of town, close to the Panamericana Sur after it has crossed the Río Tierras Blancas. Most of the hotels are on Jirón Lima and around the Plaza de Armas, within easy walking distance of the bus stations. A taxi to the airport for sightseeing flights costs US$1.35; bus US$0.10. Do not pay attention to people selling tours or hotel rooms on the street, especially near bus stations; head straight to a hotel and find an official agency to handle your flights and tours. Taxi drivers usually act as guides, but most speak only Spanish. It is not dangerous to visit the outlying sites with a trustworthy person but do not take just any taxi on the plaza, as they are unreliable and can lead to robbery. Taxis will charge from US$4-6 per hour to wait for you at the sites and bring you back to the city.
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