When you think of Peru, the first things that come to mind are food, llamas and Machu Picchu, and we can’t blame you, those are the most common and exciting things to find in our country. But what if we tell you that there’s a special place in the driest zone of Peru that will make you spare a couple of days just to explore it?
Ica is one of the most popular regions in southern Peru and though many travelers confuse the region with the Huacachina Oasis alone, there is so much more to know of this beautiful desert and coastside that we had to make a whole segment about it.
In case you’re wondering if traveling to Ica is worth it, here you’ll find the answer. Ica is known for gathering natural wonders such as the Paracas National Reserve, the Ballestas Islands and the only natural oasis of the continent, but also for being the principal producer of Pisco in the entire country.
For that reason, traveling to Ica is a whole experience, where you’ll get to know a part of our history, traditions and nature on just a day trip from the bustling city of Lima. Here we’ll tell you everything about it!
Things to See in Ica
As we mentioned above, the region comprises several natural wonders, historical attractions and some of the oldest wineries in Peru. To help you plan the perfect itinerary, here we have gathered the most important attractions within Ica:
1. Paracas National Reserve
This is one of the first protected areas of the country and holds an otherworldly natural landscape, where the dry desert of Peru harmonically converges with the cold blue waters of the Pacific ocean and its scenic beaches.
The Paracas National Reserve is one of the most sought after attractions near Lima since it offers the perfect setting to practice adventure sports like quad bike rides, cycling and paragliding.
This beautiful spot in Paracas beach town is the first stop for those travelers heading south of the country, and if you love nature as much as we do, you won’t like to miss the opportunity of seeing the humboldt penguins, exotic birds and sea lions that inhabit these lands.
In case you were wondering, you can easily visit this attraction with our Discover Southern Peru travel package or by taking a Paracas National Reserve Tour from Paracas.
2. Ballestas Islands
If you sail across the Paracas Peninsula, you’ll find a group of rock formations and islands home to the largest colony of sea lions in Peru, as well as many endemic and migratory birds, without even forgetting about the shy humboldt penguins.
The Ballestas Islands is another of the natural wonders near Paracas and can be easily visited on a 2-hour boat tour. This group of islands are known as the Peruvian Small Galapagos, thanks to its extensive biodiversity.
There are about 100 animal species that call this place their home and even though you can’t swim in this part of the ocean, you can still experience the maritime fauna from up close.
However, that’s not all this place has to offer since on the way to this natural wonder, you can spot one of the oldest geoglyphs carved on a hill in the Paracas peninsula. The Candelabro is 180 meters long and though it can be mistakenly related to the Nazca Lines, it is significantly older but yet a riddle to be solved.
3. Tambo Colorado
As you read above, Ica also has its mysteries and secrets, but what about the ancient cultures that lived in these lands? Well, as far as we know, there were several civilizations that called this region their home though little is known about them.
Tambo Colorado, for example, is one of those ancient structures lost in time that somehow have withstood man action and seismic activity. It is known that this pre-Columbian construction was built by the Chincha society, which was later incorporated into the Inca Empire.
However, the mixture of both cultures can be easily spotted in this ancient fortress that once served as an administrative and ceremonial center to the Incas. The site is impressively well preserved and you can still see the paintings that once covered its walls, hence the name.
4. Huacachina
This is by far the most popular travel destination south of Lima and if you have noticed, it has gained a lot of popularity among travel bloggers and instagrammers. In case you didn’t get the hint at the beginning of the blog, this is the only natural oasis in South America and comprises a beautiful setting to just relax, disconnect from the world and most importantly, have fun.
Huacachina is located only 15 minutes away from the city of Ica and it’s considered as the perfect getaway from Lima thanks to its isolated location and natural landscapes, where towering sand dunes surround a deep green lagoon.
The most exciting part of visiting Huacachina is taking the dune buggy and sandboarding tour, which will allow you to cruise the desert dunes as if you were on a roller coaster, to later slide down on a sandboard!
5. Pisco Vineyards in Ica
As we mentioned above, Ica is the principal producer of Pisco in Peru, which makes it the perfect destination in case you’re looking to experience another side of our gastronomic expression.
The Peruvian Pisco dates back to the XVI century and has been perfected ever since. There are many wineries in the region, some known for being the oldest in the country and Latin America as well.
One of the most renowned is the Queirolo Vineyard, an italian-owned family business that offers an exquisite taste in its pisco and wine products. Likewise, if you’d like to know more about the traditional and modern distillery processes of Pisco, there’s a tour called Ruta del Pisco that you should definitely join.
The Ruta del Pisco offers another glimpse at our culinary art, allowing you to taste some of the beverages produced in several Pisco wineries, while also sampling some of the most delicious dishes of the country.
6. Nazca Lines
And if you thought that the mysteries and history of Ica lay in Tambo Colorado, let us tell you that there’s a bigger riddle yet to be solved in this arid region. The Nazca Lines are undoubtedly the greatest mysteries of the ancient world and if you have the chance, let yourself experience it.
These ancient geoglyphs have remained a mystery though being studied for over 80 years. However, as new research is carried out on the site, new information has come to surface, allowing us to understand a bit more of this enigmatic archeological site.
The Nazca Lines were allegedly created by the Nazca culture and though there are tons of hypotheses ranging from its use as an astronomical calendar to a landing site of an extraterrestrial spacecraft, the site could have been used for ceremonial purposes.
Currently, the only way to fully appreciate these enormous geoglyphs is by taking a flight over the Nazca lines, which takes about 35 minutes in total but allows you to see the most well-preserved figures from above the clouds.
As you can see, the region of Ica does hold its secrets, which is why it is the perfect spot to stop over if traveling to the south of the country. Regardless of the attractions you choose to visit, you’ll certainly have an authentic experience.
How to get to Ica?
Just in case you have already made up your mind, the only way to visit this region is by land, which is why you’ll have to take several bus rides to get to the different attractions you’d like to visit. However, we know that this can be a hassle, especially if your Spanish is limited.
For that reason we have structured some travel packages including Paracas, Ica, Huacachina or Nazca. Make sure to know everything about them while you’re here!
Peru is widely diverse and we wish to show you the best part of it during your adventure! Here at Viagens Machu Picchu, we care for your comfort and safety, which is why we have prepared the most complete travel guides to help you decide where to go and what to do on your next vacation!