Ica, also known as the city of the eternal sun, is located approximately 300 kilometers south of the capital. It is a must for every traveler staying in Lima. In the following blog, we recommend what you can do on a full day in Ica.
The adventure begins after enjoying a delicious buffet breakfast at any of our Tierra Viva hotels in Miraflores. First, you will head on a 3-hour trip to the bay of Paracas, in Pisco. Upon arrival, you will board a speedboat to visit the Ballestas Islands, where you will be able to see the Paracas peninsula and the famous “Candelabro” geoglyph.
Later, you will arrive at the Ballestas Islands, where you will enjoy its beautiful view and different species that live there, such as sea lions, penguins, and birds. The boat will approach as close as possible so you can take photos and videos of this amazing place. Finally, you will head back to the bay to enjoy a snack and buy souvenirs made by its residents.
The journey continues south to the city of Ica, where you will visit two of the most important vineyards. First, you will visit the Tacama vineyard, built in the XVI century, where wine and our national drink, Pisco, is produced. You will have a guided tour to learn the preparation process. Then, you will head to the second vineyard: El Catador; an artisan winery, where you will learn about the process and have a tasting of wine and pisco.
Once the vineyard tour is over, you will head to the oasis of Huacachina, the only natural oasis in South America. Here you can enjoy an unforgettable adventure for approximately 1 hour through the dunes on a sand buggy. During the tour, you will make different stops to enjoy the view and to practice sandboarding and sliding down the dunes. We recommend you to make this tour during the sunset in order to enjoy the breathtaking landscape and take amazing photos.
After a day, full of adventure, you will return to Lima to take a shower, rest, and enjoy our facilities at your Tierra Viva hotels.