Apart from the Nazca Lines, there is much to see in and around Nazca. Probably the most interesting sight apart from the lines themselves is the Cemetery at Chauchilla. The cemetery is fascinating, with many tombs on display. The dry desert climate has preserved the skeletons incredibly well, and their hair has often been conserved. The practice of trepanation and deformation can be seen on many of the skulls. Grave robbers have attacked the cemetery and left remains scattered over the desert. This gives the place an eerie atmosphere, especially as you pick your way among the bones and skulls strewn about. You may also find pottery shards or fragments of textile, which are not to be removed, although guides have a very lax attitude to preservation, so you have to guide yourself in this. The cemetery is 30km south of Nazca, and a taxi can be hired to reach it or any of the agencies will organise a tour to the cemetery. A tour to the cemetery also tends to include an interesting visit to a pottery workshop, where the techniques of the ancient Nazca people are reproduced, as well as a trip to a gold refinery, showing how locals extract gold dust from rocks.
Cahuachi is a religious complex west of the lines and is the most important archaeological site in the area. It was abandoned by the Nazca people, probably around 550AD when there was a long drought in the region. There are a number of pyramids at Cahuachi, although the site is not in great condition and there is not much that can be seen. Near Cahuachi is Estaquería, where there are some wooden posts, which used to be a solar clock. A tour to Cahuachi and Estaquería takes about 5 hours. As this is not a usual tour, it will have to be privately contracted. However, all agencies will be able to arrange a trip.
The underground aqueducts are a fascinating sight, and were created to bring water for irrigation from the underground rivers in the area, and are still in use today. The most visited are those at Cantalloc, which are in good condition. Although these can be visited independently, a tour is recommended, as a guide is essential to understand the workings of the aqueducts. Take insect repellent.
The site of Los Paredones was an administrative centre for the Nazca people, and later for the Incas. The walls built by the Incas on top of the Nazca centre can clearly be seen. El Telar - The Loom ? is a figure in the desert, similar to those seen when flying over the Nazca Lines. It represents a needle pulling a thread, as weaving was an important part of life for the Nazca people. A tour to the aqueducts, Los Paredones and El Telar takes about two hours.
In addition to the Nazca Lines, the Nazca people etched shapes into to desert for many miles to the north. Near the town of Palpa are a number of shapes, known as the Palpa Lines, although these are not as extensive as the Nazca Lines. In 2001, Aerocondor started flying from Nazca over the lines.
The Museo Antonini (Av. Cultura 600) has a good collection of Nazca pottery and textiles, as well as an aqueduct and good reproductions of Nazca tombs. A guided tour is included in the entry price, and there are guides in Spanish and Italian, and plans for English.
The municipalidad has a good collection of ceramics and other remains, but unfortunately the Museo Municipal was destroyed in the earthquake, and a new museum has yet to be built.
The Maria Reiche museum is about 30-minutes drive from Nazca, at km 416 of the Pan American Highway. This is past the Mirador, a 12m viewing tower from which two of the Nazca Lines can be seen. A combi going to Ica can be taken to either of the sites, or alternately agencies arrange tours taking in both the museum and the mirador.
There is a Vicuña reserve at Caleras in the highlands close to Nazca. However, this is rather difficult to get to. Agencies will organise trips there, although these are rather expensive.
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