10 Best Things To Do in Ica

10 Best Things To Do in Ica Peru

The City of Ica is also called the region of sand and sea, of oasis and valleys. It’s located on the south central coast of the Peruvian coastline, 267 km from Lima and has an altitude of 406 m.a.s.l.

According to history, Ica was considered the center where the important Nazca and Paracas pre-Inca civilizations developed.

Según la historia, Ica fue considerada el centro donde se desarrollaron las importantes civilizaciones pre incas Nazca y Paracas.

This wonderful city is one of the main favorite destinations for visitors. Therefore, we leave you a list of the best things to do in Ica and some places where you can go.

1. Visit the Huacachina Oasis

One of the most curious Ica things to do, and that makes it an attraction for visitors is the Huacachina Oasis, which is located right in the middle of the desert.

It’s also a good option to spend the night, because it is one of the camping sites in Ica, or you can choose some of the nearby hotels.

2. Flight Over the Nazca Lines

The Nazca Lines re atypical geoglyphs that have been captured with enormous dimensions that can be seen throughout the Nazca desert. and are located 463 km from Lima, in Ica and is a fertile hill surrounded by several of the most protective deserts in the world.

In this desert, the geoglyphs of the hummingbird, the monkey with nine fingers, and a strange figure known as the owl man that some people identify with the silhouette of an astronaut are striking.

In 1994, UNESCO declared the Nazca Lines and geoglyphs a World Heritage Site.

3. Do a Tour in El Cañón de los Perdidos (Canyon of the Lost)

The Cañón de los Perdidos (Canyon of the Lost) is a natural formation 5 kilometers long, located in the Gamonal pampas, almost 80 kilometers from the city of Ica.

It’s an ideal place to adventure in trekking, among its deep gorges and caves, preferably for services contracted in travel agencies in Ica.

4. Meet the Paracas National Reserve

The Paracas National Reserve is considered one of the natural attractions of Ica. It is the only protected area in Peru that has a marine ecosystem. You can access the reserve and navigate its sea to learn about the diversity of species that inhabit it.

By boat, you can visit the Ballestas and San Gallán Islands that are part of this attraction. Among the fauna present here, the sea lion, the traditional otter, the Humboldt penguin, the flamingos and thousands of migratory birds stand out.

5. Visit the Catedral of Ica

This is one of the monuments of the Society of Jesus (Sociedad de Jesús). The original building dates back to the mid-18th century, but was modernized in 1814.

Its surface is of neoclassical design, while the outstanding design inside is Baroque, mainly the gallery and the altars.

6. Travel to Cachiche “The Town of Witches”

Cachiche is a village that is among the places to visit in Ica during the day. It is located south of the homonymous department and is known as the Town of Witches, because according to its inhabitants it was the meeting place for women who possessed supernatural powers.

Here in Cachiche, the mysticism that surrounds this park includes spells, legends, curses, which are part of the popular beliefs of this town.

It’s located 4 km from the Plaza de Armas of Ica.

7. Watch the Palm of the Seven Heads

This is one of the natural attractions of Ica linked to mystical beliefs. Only 6 heads are observed, since the seventh is cut off by its inhabitants, for fear that the prophecy that announces the collapse of the city will come true if the seventh comes out.

The prophecy was fulfilled in 1998 when the residents did not cut down the seventh palm tree and a natural phenomenon occurred that left the town submerged under water.

8. Go to Pisco and The Harvest Festival

It is one of the biggest attractions of the province of Ica. Currently, there is a variety of pisco and drinks in general, derived from pisco, for all tastes.

The Harvest Festival (Fiesta de la Vendimia) takes place in the month of March. In this celebration, there are fairs, contests, float parades, music festivals, parties where the Afro-Peruvian celebration is danced and the celebrated election of Miss Vendimia and adventure sports.

9. Meet The Hacienda Tacama, the First Vineyard in Peru

Tacama is the first vineyard in Peru, as well as the oldest wine estate in South America. Located at kilometer 296 of the Panamericana Sur, crossing the Ica river, along Camino Real avenue, La Tinguiña district.

The foundation of Tacama dates back to the 1540s by Francisco de Carabantes, a Spanish pioneer and initiator who planted the first vines in the hot Ica Valley at that time. You can meet the Hacienda Tacama in our Pisco Route.

Bodega Tacama is not only a brand that offers wines, pisco and sparkling wines, but also history, culture, passion and modernity.

10. Visit the Pisco Craft Cellars (Bodegas Artesanales de Pisco)

These wineries are located in the hamlet of Camino de Reyes. The story tells that this classic Ica winery dates back to peruvian colonial times.

This is one of the first wine and pisco wineries, of course, which was established in Peru with the arrival of the Spanish between the 16th and 17th centuries.

That is why it also has a museum where you can find trophy heads in a state of mummification, beautiful goldsmith work, ceramics, funerary bundles from the Paracas culture, weapons from pre-Hispanic cultures and other items with great archaeological and historical value. Don’t forget to visit the vineyards in Ica with our Pisco Route.