Now You Can Easily Tour Ica & Nazca en route from Lima to Cusco or Arequipa
Plan on flying over the Nazca Lines, watching the penguins of the Ballestas Islands, or sandboarding along the giant dunes surrounding Huacachina Oasis? The new Pisco airport is already being amplified, giving travelers the option of doing in hours what used to take days....
Published on 16-10-2014, por Inca World
The presence of the Pisco airport this past two years has been revolutionary. Travelers now have the option of doing in an hour or two what used to take two days: traveling to and from Nazca, and flying over the Nazca Lines while there. Currently, the Pisco airport is only being used for flying over the Nazca Lines and for air force practice flights, but a large renovation is underway to provide direct flights to Cusco or Arequipa as well.
Travelers who are in Pisco to visit the Ballestas Islands can fly directly to either of these cities or to Lima. Travelers in Lima who want to travel to Cusco or Arequipa without missing the Nazca Lines simply change to a smaller plane at the Pisco airport for a flyover of the Nazca Lines, then continue their route. The whole trip, with the tour included, takes only a few hours. Just two years ago, travelers took 12hr bus trips to arrive at Nazca, budgeting a couple of days of their trip for what is essentially a half-hour flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines.
Evans Avendaño, the executive director of the concessionaire Airports of Peru has "We want Pisco to be the gateway to the south and the point of departure for tourists to visit the Nazca Lines, the Ballestas Islands, and the other attractions of the zone."
Along with the new Chincha-Ica road that is currently under construction, and the new port, the Pisco airport is doing its part to open up the Department of Ica for travelers.
Ica is bordered by Lima to the north and Cusco to the south. It is mainly subtropical and desert coast. Now, you can enjoy its attractions with less effort and less time invested:
- Tour the city of Ica, visiting its museums and pisco vineyards
- Visit the Paracas National Reserve and watch the penguins of the Ballestas Islands
- Sandboard along the giant dunes surrounding Huacachina Oasis
- Fly over the Nazca Lines
- Visit Chauchillas Cemetery
- Tour the Aqueducts of Cantayoc
- Sandboard down the massive White Hill sand dune
- Tour the adobe city of Cahuachi and Usaca Oasis by sandbuggy, with a sandboarding stop
Plan on flying over the Nazca Lines, watching the penguins of the Ballestas Islands, or sandboarding along the giant dunes surrounding Huacachina Oasis? The new Pisco airport is already being amplified, giving travelers the option of doing in hours what used to take days....
Published on 16-10-2014, por Inca World
The presence of the Pisco airport this past two years has been revolutionary. Travelers now have the option of doing in an hour or two what used to take two days: traveling to and from Nazca, and flying over the Nazca Lines while there. Currently, the Pisco airport is only being used for flying over the Nazca Lines and for air force practice flights, but a large renovation is underway to provide direct flights to Cusco or Arequipa as well.
Travelers who are in Pisco to visit the Ballestas Islands can fly directly to either of these cities or to Lima. Travelers in Lima who want to travel to Cusco or Arequipa without missing the Nazca Lines simply change to a smaller plane at the Pisco airport for a flyover of the Nazca Lines, then continue their route. The whole trip, with the tour included, takes only a few hours. Just two years ago, travelers took 12hr bus trips to arrive at Nazca, budgeting a couple of days of their trip for what is essentially a half-hour flight over the mysterious Nazca Lines.
Evans Avendaño, the executive director of the concessionaire Airports of Peru has "We want Pisco to be the gateway to the south and the point of departure for tourists to visit the Nazca Lines, the Ballestas Islands, and the other attractions of the zone."
Along with the new Chincha-Ica road that is currently under construction, and the new port, the Pisco airport is doing its part to open up the Department of Ica for travelers.
Ica is bordered by Lima to the north and Cusco to the south. It is mainly subtropical and desert coast. Now, you can enjoy its attractions with less effort and less time invested:
- Tour the city of Ica, visiting its museums and pisco vineyards
- Visit the Paracas National Reserve and watch the penguins of the Ballestas Islands
- Sandboard along the giant dunes surrounding Huacachina Oasis
- Fly over the Nazca Lines
- Visit Chauchillas Cemetery
- Tour the Aqueducts of Cantayoc
- Sandboard down the massive White Hill sand dune
- Tour the adobe city of Cahuachi and Usaca Oasis by sandbuggy, with a sandboarding stop
News, routes, and expert tips
Explore the latest from our Cusco travel blog. Get practical guides, Machu Picchu updates, and fresh trekking and culture recommendations. Everything you need to travel Cusco safely and stylishly in 2026. Your next Andean story starts here!
Lima's greatest devotion also walks through Cusco, departing from San Francisco Square. October dyes Peruvian streets purple with robes, incense, and fervor. We tell you how to follow the official 2026 processions in Lima and experience the Cusco replica from the Andes with practical details.
tags: lord of miracles, cusco, lima, peru processions, religious tourism, purple month
Just 11 kilometers from the Plaza de Armas, the historic district of San Jerónimo celebrates its patron saint every late September: 5 days of processions, 26+ dance troupes, a food fair, and a 16th-century church built on an Inca huaca. In 2016, it was declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation. Most tourists don't know it exists; many young locals don't either. This year it starts on Monday, September 28, with the main day on Wednesday 30.
Third Sunday of September. 9 a.m. The pututos sound and 1,500 students from the National School of Sciences of Cusco set off in procession from their school to the Sacsayhuamán esplanade. They are going to compete — for real — in speed, strength, and endurance tests that replicate those the Tahuantinsuyo used to determine who was ready for adulthood. It is not a choreography. It is the Warachicuy, and in 2025 it was declared a Cultural Interest.
Are you planning to visit
Machu Picchu in 2026?
We would like to inform our travelers that availability for Circuit 1 and 2 for the months of November, December and January is at 85% of capacity. We recommend booking at least 3 months in advance.
New Circuits and Routes
The Ministry of Culture has consolidated the three main tours. As of 2026, Tour 2 (The Royal Route) remains the only one that allows visitors to take the classic photo from the Guardian’s House. We have adapted all our packages to ensure this access.
Digital Check-In and Biometric Verification
Say goodbye to long check-in lines! Starting this season, entry is faster thanks to the new digital check-in system. Our packages include full management of your personalized tickets to prevent errors on the state platform.
| Circuit | Ideal for... | Clasic photo | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circuit 1 (Panoramic) | High views and photo posts | Yes | Low |
| Circuit 2 (Andean) | Complete circuit through the ruins | Yes | Medium |
| Circuit 3 (Reality) | Persons or reduced movement | No | Very low |
Ask about our Machu Picchu packages
Explore the best of our land
Explore the breathtaking diversity of the Central Andes. From ancient archaeological wonders and surreal high-altitude landscapes to world-class gastronomy and Amazonian adventures, our updated 2026 guides showcase the very best of this premier global destination.
