Ica

The gateway to the Nazca Lines and Paracas, this colonial city is known for its wine production, museums, and proximity to the Ica Desert. It offers cultural attractions and serves as a practical hub for South Coast exploration.

Things to do

• Museo Regional de Ica — This museum houses the world's largest collection of Nazca textiles, ceramics, and the famous elongated skulls (Paracas culture artifacts) that draw archaeologists and curious visitors.
• Bodega Tacama Wine Tour — One of Peru's oldest wineries (founded 1540), offering vineyard tours and tastings of pisco and wine produced in the region's desert terroir.
• Laguna de Huacachina — An oasis lagoon surrounded by sand dunes 5 km from Ica's center, popular for sandboarding, dune buggies, and sunset views over the desert.
• Nazca Lines Day Trip — Ica serves as the main hub for flights over the Nazca Lines, the UNESCO geoglyphs visible only from the air, located 150 km south.
• Museo Cabrera — A controversial private museum displaying thousands of engraved stones (piedras grabadas) depicting pre-Columbian surgical techniques and astronomical knowledge.
• Plaza de Armas — Ica's colonial heart featuring the Cathedral and surrounded by cafés and shops, ideal for observing local life and architecture.

Food to try

• Espesado — A thick, hearty stew made with beef, potatoes, squash, and dried peppers, served as a warming comfort dish especially popular in cooler months.
• Anguilla a la Icana — Eel prepared with local spices and served with rice or potatoes, reflecting the region's agricultural traditions and coastal proximity.
• Pisco Sour — The signature cocktail made from Ica's famous pisco brandy, lime juice, egg white, and bitters—a must-try when visiting local bodegas.
• Causa Limeña — A chilled layered dish of mashed yellow potato, avocado, and fresh fish or chicken, served as an appetizer or light lunch throughout the region.
• Tejas de Ica — A traditional sweet candy made from pecans, caramel, and chocolate, sold at local markets and street stalls as a popular souvenir.

Local customs & good to know

• Desert Respect and Sun Protection — The Ica Desert is intense; locals and guides emphasize high-SPF sunscreen, hat, and water regardless of season, as dehydration and sunburn happen quickly at altitude.
• Pisco Tradition — Pisco production is a point of regional pride in Ica; tastings are social rituals and discussing the quality and vintage of local brands is common conversation.
• Afternoon Siesta Practice — Many shops and offices close between 1 and 4 PM for lunch and rest; plan major errands or visits to museums in morning or late afternoon hours.