OasisHuacachina Oasis
A natural oasis surrounded by giant dunes, with a lagoon at its center. The most iconic spot in Ica, ideal at sunset.
In the middle of the southern coastal desert, Ica is a land of golden dunes, vineyards and the famous Huacachina oasis. The cradle of pisco and a gateway to the Paracas Reserve and the Ballestas Islands, it combines adventure, great drinks and otherworldly landscapes. We'll tell you what to see, when to go, how to get there and the best tours.
Huacachina
Sandboarding Huacachina
Arch of desire
Huacachina Oasis
The Paracas CandelabraIca is the capital of the region of the same name, on the southern coast of Peru, a fertile valley surrounded by desert. Founded in the 16th century, it is famous for its vineyards and for being the cradle of pisco, the country's flagship spirit, with traditional wineries you can visit and where you taste wine, pisco and pisco sour.
Its great icon is the Huacachina oasis, a lagoon surrounded by giant dunes on the outskirts of the city, where people ride buggies and go sandboarding, especially at sunset. The sunny climate almost year-round and its desert landscapes make Ica a very photogenic adventure destination.
Ica is also a base to explore the Paracas National Reserve and the Ballestas Islands, very close by. It is usually visited on a trip along the southern coast that starts in Lima, combining nature, adrenaline and winemaking tradition.
OasisA natural oasis surrounded by giant dunes, with a lagoon at its center. The most iconic spot in Ica, ideal at sunset.
AdventureThe huge desert dunes are the setting for high-speed buggy rides and sandboarding, the star adventure of the area.
Pisco and wineWineries where Peruvian pisco and wine are made, with tours and tastings of pisco, wine and pisco sour.
NatureA reserve where the desert meets the sea, with beaches, cliffs and abundant marine wildlife.
Marine wildlifeIslands off Paracas, home to sea lions, Humboldt penguins and guano birds, with the Candelabro geoglyph.
MuseumThe city's main museum, with mummies, funerary bundles and pieces from the pre-Inca cultures that inhabited the Ica desert.
Ica can be visited year-round thanks to its desert climate, sunny and with very little rain. Summer (December to March) is hotter, ideal for the dunes and Huacachina; the rest of the year temperatures are pleasant and there are fewer people.
Ica is about 4 hours by road south of Lima, along the Panamericana Sur, and is usually combined with Paracas on the way.
Our team builds the perfect south coast getaway for you, combining Paracas, the Ballestas Islands and Huacachina, with the option to add Nasca further south, according to your days and budget.
