Updated Date:
Author: Nazca Lines Tour Editorial Team
Quick Summary: The flight + Chauchilla combo is the most popular way to see Nazca’s two biggest highlights in about 4–6 hours: a 30–35 minute flight over the Lines in the morning, then a guided visit to the desert cemetery around 30 km south of town. Expect to pay roughly US$130–200 per person all in, including about S/77 in cash fees at the airport. It’s worth it for most first-timers who have one day in Nazca, but skip it if you’re very prone to motion sickness or you’re arriving on an overnight bus with no sleep.
Most combo tours bundle two things that are awkward to arrange separately: a seat on a Nazca Lines overflight from María Reiche Aerodrome and a guided trip out to Chauchilla Cemetery. The flight shows you the geoglyphs at full scale. Chauchilla shows you the people behind that culture, with mummified remains still sitting in their original open tombs.
A typical combo includes:
What is usually not included: the airport tax, the Nazca Lines tourist ticket, Chauchilla’s entrance fee, lunch, and tips. Always check the “not included” line before you pay, because this is where most price confusion comes from.
Prices vary by operator, season, and whether you book a shared or private service. Here’s a realistic breakdown for 2026.
| Cost item | Typical price | Paid how |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Nazca Lines flight (30–35 min) | US$85–110 | Usually prepaid when booking |
| Airport tax at María Reiche Aerodrome | S/30 | Cash at the airport |
| Nazca Lines tourist ticket | S/47 | Cash at the airport |
| Chauchilla Cemetery entrance | Around S/8 for adults | Cash at the gate |
| Shared Chauchilla tour (transport + guide) | US$20–40 | Prepaid or in Nazca |
| Packaged combo listings online | From about US$159 | Prepaid |
Put together, most travelers spend about US$130–200 per person for the whole combo once the local fees are added. Online listings for a Nazca Lines flight and Chauchilla Cemetery combo on Tripadvisor start from around US$159, while booking the two pieces separately in Nazca can come out a little cheaper if you’re comfortable arranging transport yourself.
What to watch for: the S/30 airport tax and S/47 tourist ticket are separate from the flight price at almost every operator. Bring around S/80–90 in cash per person just for the airport, plus small notes for Chauchilla.
The combo works best in one direction: fly first, cemetery second. Morning flights tend to be smoother, and Chauchilla is commonly listed as open around 8:00 to 16:00, so a mid-day cemetery visit fits neatly.
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 7:00–8:30 | Pickup and transfer to María Reiche Aerodrome |
| 8:30–10:00 | Check-in, passport check, weigh-in, briefing, wait for your slot |
| 10:00–10:40 | Nazca Lines flight (30–35 minutes in the air) |
| 10:45–11:30 | Transfer south toward Chauchilla |
| 11:30–13:00 | Guided visit at Chauchilla Cemetery |
| 13:30–14:00 | Back in Nazca for lunch, or straight to your bus |
You need to know that flight slots are assigned at the aerodrome, so waiting time can stretch on busy days or when winds pick up. Operators sometimes flip the order and do Chauchilla first if your flight slot is late. Either way, give yourself at least five to six hours before any onward bus.
The planes bank hard left and right so both sides of the cabin see each figure. If you feel queasy after landing, a 40-minute drive on a bumpy desert track straight afterward isn’t ideal. Eat a light breakfast, skip greasy food before the flight, and ask the guide for a short water break before the dirt road if you need it.
For most first-time visitors, yes. The flight answers “what are the Nazca Lines?” and Chauchilla answers “who were the Nazca people?” Doing only one leaves half the story untold. Some travelers even rate the cemetery above the flight:
“In my view, this was more interesting to visit than the Nazca Lines.” — RiiiShaaa, London, United Kingdom, June 6, 2025
There’s no single “right” way to book this combo. It depends on how much planning you want to do yourself.
| Option | Best for | Price level | Pickup & logistics | Language support | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nazca Lines Tour | First-timers who want a clear, organized plan | Mid-range | Flight planning and timing explained before you arrive | English-friendly information | Less room to haggle on the spot |
| Booking directly in Nazca | Flexible travelers already in town | Can be cheapest | You arrange transfers and timing yourself | Mostly Spanish | Risk of full flights in high season |
| Private tour | Families, couples, tight schedules | Highest | Door-to-door, custom timing | Usually bilingual guide | Cost |
| DIY flight + taxi to Chauchilla | Confident Spanish speakers on a budget | Low to mid | Agree taxi waiting time and price upfront | Spanish needed | No guide at the cemetery unless you hire one |
If you book through our Nazca Lines Tour information page, you’ll see the flight operators we recommend and what to expect at the aerodrome, which makes adding Chauchilla afterward much simpler. Booking directly in Nazca works fine in shoulder season, but during July–August and late December the better flight slots can go early.
A taxi from Nazca’s Plaza de Armas to Chauchilla commonly costs around S/25–30 each way, and the drive takes about 30–40 minutes. The catch is the return: there’s no taxi rank at the cemetery. Agree on a round-trip price with waiting time before you get in. And there’s very little on-site signage, so without a guide the tombs can feel repetitive. Reviewers such as Geoff J (February 25, 2024) say you really need a guide, both to reach the site and to understand what you’re looking at.
Small-plane safety is the biggest concern people raise about this combo, and it deserves a straight answer.
On August 1, 2026, an Aerodiana aircraft carrying tourists on a Nazca Lines overflight crashed near Nazca, killing all 13 people on board. The plane had taken off from Pisco, not from Nazca’s aerodrome. Peru’s civil aviation authority suspended Aerodiana’s operations as a preventive measure, and the accident investigation commission (CIAA) is still determining the cause. Peru’s MTC said it was too early to draw conclusions while the investigation remains in its early stages. Until an official report is published, the investigation is pending, and we’re not making any claims about the cause or about Aerodiana’s return to service.
What this means for you in practice:
You can’t fly commercially from Lima to Nazca for this tour. You need to reach Nazca by land first.
Our honest advice: sleep in Nazca the night before. A rested flight is a better flight, and you’ll have a calmer buffer if your slot moves. We compare both approaches in Nazca Lines 1-day vs 2-day tours.
How long does the Nazca Lines flight + Chauchilla combo take?
Plan for about 4–6 hours from pickup to drop-off. The flight itself is only 30–35 minutes, but check-in, weigh-in, and waiting for your assigned slot at María Reiche Aerodrome can take an hour or more. The Chauchilla portion, including the drive and the guided visit, usually runs about 2–2.5 hours. If you have an onward bus, leave a generous buffer rather than booking the earliest departure after your tour.
Are the airport fees included in combo prices?
Usually not. Most operators list the S/30 airport tax and the S/47 Nazca Lines tourist ticket as separate charges paid in cash at the aerodrome. Chauchilla’s entrance, commonly around S/8 for adults, is also often paid at the gate. Read the “not included” section of any booking carefully, and carry enough soles so you’re not hunting for an ATM on the morning of your flight.
Can I do Chauchilla first and fly in the afternoon?
Yes, and some operators will arrange it that way if the only flight slots left are later in the day. The downside is that afternoon winds can make flights bumpier and delays more likely. Chauchilla is also commonly listed as closing around 16:00, so if you start late it can get tight. If you have a choice, a morning flight followed by a mid-day cemetery visit is the smoother version.
Is Chauchilla Cemetery suitable for children?
The walk is flat and easy, so physically it’s fine for most ages. The question is whether your children are comfortable seeing real mummified human remains, including skulls and hair. Many families find it fascinating and educational when a guide explains the burial customs. If you’re unsure, talk to your kids beforehand about what they’ll see, and remember that flight age rules vary by operator, so confirm those separately.
Is it safe to fly over the Nazca Lines after the August 2026 crash?
Flights from Nazca’s aerodrome continue to run, and many travelers still take them, but the August 2026 Aerodiana accident is under official investigation and its cause has not been determined. The sensible approach is to choose an established operator, accept weather delays without pushing for an earlier slot, and check the latest news before booking. If you’d rather skip flying altogether, the viewing tower and Chauchilla together still make a meaningful ground-based day.
Prices, fees, and opening hours in this guide reflect what operators and sources were listing in 2026, and they change often, especially the local cash fees at the aerodrome and Chauchilla’s entrance and hours. Flight schedules depend on weather and control-tower slot assignments, so delays are normal. The Aerodiana investigation is ongoing, and operator status can change; check recent news and confirm your operator’s current standing before you pay. When in doubt, reconfirm inclusions in writing with your operator a day or two before you travel.