Peru

Walking for hours in a sea of sand, resting at the edge of a lagoon with green waters, celebrating the harvest of dates, admiring the Paracas mummies of the Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins museum … A short stay in the city of Ica will put images in your eyes! With 300 000 inhabitants, Ica is the capital of the Peruvian province of the same name. There is nothing like this desert and wild land to live a life-size adventure in the south of Peru. The attractiveness of the city is due to its shores, to its beautiful radiant sun and to its immense desert which attracts the amateurs of sandboard. Ica is also the region producing pisco, the emblematic drink of the country that reminds us of Captain Haddock of the Adventures of Tintin.

History

The legend tells that once the Inca emperor Pachacutec fell in love with a virgin in the valley of Ica. As the girl refused to give in to his advances, the emperor decided to offer her a farewell gift. He mobilized 40,000 men for 45 days to dig the main Achirana canal and bring water to the village of his beloved. Today, this canal continues to irrigate the valley, which became a true flowery oasis not to be missed at the time of your trip to Peru.

At the beginning of the colonization, the valley of Ica was exploited by the Spanish monks for wine growing. The old wine-producing monasteries** at the time have been transformed into modern wineries and prestigious hotels.

Ica, its pisco and the stones of Ica

Ica is one of the 12 largest cities in Peru** with 290,000 inhabitants. Thanks to the fertility of the soil and to an efficient irrigation, the valley has rich agricultural fields. You will be delighted to cross fields of asparagus, tomatoes and cottons as far as the eye can see and streets lined with avocado and date palms. The mild climate is an important asset for development, both in terms of agriculture and tourism. With temperatures ranging between 12 and 32°C, the territory of Ica is favorable for fruit crops such as citrus fruits, mangoes and grapes.

In addition to its agricultural vocation, Ica is known for its pisco, the national drink of Peru which is essentially produced in the region. Pisco is made from the distillation of grapes, shortly after the harvest, and has between 30 and 45 degrees of alcohol. Unlike brandy and cognac, it is marketed immediately without aging in wooden barrels. The preparation requires egg white, crushed ice, cane syrup, without forgetting the lime juice. This rather special drink will delight your taste buds.

Although Ica is inseparable from pisco, the mysterious stones of Ica also contribute to the fame of the city. Updated around the year 1960, these stones are beautiful works gathering 15,000 engraved andesite pebbles . You will notice there engravings representing fantastic animals and dinosaurs cohabiting with the humans.

What to see in Ica ?

The Cathedral of the city of Ica

The first site to see is the famous cathedral of the city built in the 18th century. This beautiful colonial building combines two particular styles: the baroque that characterizes its pulpit and altars and the neoclassical that is predominant on the exterior.

The Adolfo Bermudez Jenkins Regional Museum

For a cultural tour in Ica, the Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins Regional Museum is a good place to visit. Opened to the public in 1947, the establishment houses two sections: anthropology and bioanthropology. Discover a unique collection of pieces related to the Ica, Inca, Paracas, Nasca and Huar cultures. The second section contains human skeletons with deformed or trepaned skulls and strange hairstyles. It is said that the peoples of Ica made a rite of cranial surgery as a sign of tribal distinction. The museum also has many colonial furniture, ceramics, different paintings and republican objects. Notice to archaeology lovers!

The artisanal cellars

The valley of Ica counts no less than 85 artisanal cellars**. Discover the installations of stills from the colonial era, learn the process of making pisco, from the harvesting of the grapes to the placing in barrels, through fermentation and distillation, and finish with a tasting session… The atmosphere is guaranteed! The most famous wineries in the region are Lazo, Catador, Sotelo, Álvarezn, Mendoza and Acuache.

Oasis of Huacachina, a must-see in Ica

The lagoon of Huacachina, surrounded by curves of dunes, palm groves and acacias, appears as a true oasis in the middle of the desert. Discovered by archaeologists around 1940, the village is pleasing for its lagoon and is invaded by restaurants, vacation villas and luxury hotels. The Huacachina Oasis is the perfect place to rest and laze in the shade of the ficus and poplar trees. A haven of relaxation 5 km from downtown Ica.

Other tourist places await you in Ica. We will only mention the main palace of Ica, the sanctuary of the Se ňor of Luren, the Casona Bolivar and the Casona of the Marquis of Torre Hermoza .

What to do in Ica?

Have a different kind of fun in the tourist resort of Ica, where sand dunes replace high waves for surfing and mountain snow for skiing.

Sandboarding on the sand dunes

Experience new sensations by sandboarding on the sand dunes of Ica**, especially near the oasis of Huacachina. You can stand up, sit down or lie down depending on your inspiration. This activity is usually included in the price of renting a buggy to ride the sand dunes. Let yourself be tempted.

Buggy ride in the desert

This ride in the desert will do you a world of good. Just to forget the asphalt of the big cities. This immense sea of sand promises a real change of scenery. You can choose between private or group buggies. Expect the driver to give you a good scare on the high sand dunes.

True gastronomic journey during the festivals of Ica

The harvest festival is celebrated from February 23 to mid-March. The bodegas and surrounding towns will honor the crowning of the Queen of the Grape Harvest. There will be pisco and wine tastings.

Don't miss the Tourist Week of Ica between the end of November and the beginning of December. This festival includes a variety of cultural activities such as the gastronomic festival "Ica Puro Sabor", marinera competitions, wine tasting, cockfights and the election of the queen of the region.

Climate

Ica has a desert climate that is particularly suitable for adventure vacations. Most tourists come to Ica for the lagoon and desert hiking. It is fundamental to know the climatic conditions to enjoy a stay without false note. You can visit the city at any time of the year . The annual temperature is between 25 and 28°C. The city of Ica receives very little rainfall, an average of 199 mm. If your goal is to challenge the sand dunes, plan your trip for the winter, between May and November . This will spare you from the mercilessly hot desert sun. On the other hand, for a leisure trip, where you want to stay on the lagoon and party, the best time is summer . From December to March, you will enjoy a warm and pleasant climate (23 o C on average).

How to get there?

You can take a flight to the airport in Lima. From there, you can take a bus or a rental car to Ica in a 4-hour drive.