Top Things to do in Ica
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What to do and see in Ica, Peru: The Best Places and Tips
Discover the best top things to do in Ica, Peru including Tacama, Oasis of Huacachina, Laguna de Huacachina, Regional Museum of Ica, El Catador, Canon de los Perdidos, Javier Cabrera Scientific Museum, Plaza de Armas, Bodega Tres Generaciones, Bodegas Vista Alegre.
Restaurants in Ica
1. Tacama
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 640 reviews
Internationally acclaimed for its fine wine and pisco, this vineyards is housed in a 16th-century farm, yet employs modern technology for its wine production.
Reviewed By n8fire - Montreal, Canada
We took a private tour from Paracas to visit Pisco Distilleries and wineries in the Ica region and Tacama was definitely the highlight for us.
We opted for one of the higher end tour so we had a private visit of the estate which was great. Our guide was friendly and knowledgable but since we had not arranged in advance did not speak english which was not a big deal for us given my wife speaks spanish and i understand it well enough.
After the tour, we went into the tasting room which is quite nice and set up like a classroom. The sommelier came in and we spent a good 30min with him discussing and tasting the various wines and piscos. Although the red wines were average at best, we really enjoyed the experience.
After it was all said and done, we had a quiet lunch outside on the Terrace which was surprisingly good and tasty.
Highly recommended if you are in the area.
2. Oasis of Huacachina
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 247 reviews
Reviewed By Solange S
If you go to Ica, you must go to Huacachina. The beautiful view over the desert is amazing. There are some activities that you can do if you go: sanboarding or driving buggies! I´d recommend you to not forget the use of sunscreen!!!
Have a great trip in Ica-Peru
3. Laguna de Huacachina
Overall Ratings
4 based on 588 reviews
Reviewed By Vandy10 - Bengaluru, India
We stayed in Huacachina for a night and I think it was ideal to enjoy this place. Its a beautiful sight - the oasis surrounded by huge sand dunes. Most people come here on tours for the dune buggy and sand boarding, which is fun. One can also climb up the huge sand dunes, its a slow but rewarding experience . I would recommend climbing the sand dunes in the evening as the sand cools down and you can reach the top(if lucky) to watch the sunset. The sunset over the dunes is lovely and we stayed back to see the lights going on around the oasis. Take a light jacket along since it gets a little windy and cool after sunset. ( I visited in November). There are plenty of places around the oasis to stay for the night or grab a bite. Laguna de Huacachina is definitely worth a visit and a stay would be even better!
4. Regional Museum of Ica
Overall Ratings
4 based on 247 reviews
One of Peru’s finest small museums houses mummies, deformed skulls, fossils, ceramics, textiles and artifacts from the Inca and other significant civilizations.
5. El Catador
Overall Ratings
4 based on 288 reviews
Take a free tour and taste the Pisco & wines of the area at this winery & Distillery, which also has a Very Old Lagar to stomp the grapes,a very old Falca for Pisco Distillation (150 Years Old ) Traditional Restaurant and Tasting Room with a Cave full of Wine.
Reviewed By Tim P
We visited both Tacama and El Catador during our trip. If you have limited time, go for Tacama. It is a much nicer place. The guides take more time to explain everything and in our opinion, the Tacama wine/pisco is much better.
El Catador feels much more touristy an busy.
6. Canon de los Perdidos
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 66 reviews
Reviewed By Gtirman - Brisbane
It is closer to Ica than Nazca however i couldnt get anybody to share the transport so i did it from Nazca at great expense.... i could not miss this place. My taxi driver got lost in the desert trying to find it....probably 100klms off the main hwy.
Cheapest way is to get to the village of Occuje and then hire a collectivo from there.
For best photos get there at noon before the shadows come accross the canyon.
7. Javier Cabrera Scientific Museum
Overall Ratings
4 based on 79 reviews
Dr. Javier Cabrera Darquea, surgeon, founder professor of the University of Ica and international patent holder of a copper metallurgy was the Peruvian scientist who studied and decoded the message of the 11,000 engraved stones of Ica that has the Scientific Museum Javier Cabrera. The stones were engraved by Gliptolitics men who came from a planet in the constellation of the Pleiades, were beings from another dimension, a more advanced civilization that ours. In the stones of the Museum you can see the first maps of the earth, scenes of men with extinct animals such as dinosaurs and highly advanced surgical operations, among other great revelations. They are the oldest archaeological remains of the earth, with more than 65 million years at least. To get a reservation send an email request, it is mandatory to make the respective bank deposit in our current account in SCOTIABANK to confirm a reservation.
Reviewed By OneWeirdGlobe - Krabi Town, Thailand
As someone who makes it a point to get off the beaten path and discover bizarre places, I was really looking forward to this museum. The stories, the mysteries, whatever. Ica itself is easy enough to reach. We knew (and waited) for the place to open, even as the staff takes a three-hour break in the middle of the day.
Strike 1 was the price. Asking for $10 USD is above and beyond most any other place requests for entrance in Peru.
Strike 2 was how we were rebuffed at the entrance. My wife contacted them via e-mail before our visit, but were asked for our reservation. Like this is the sort of place that gets so many visitors it has to require a reservation. We didn't have whatever she was asking for, and refused to let us in. Instead, she got on the phone with someone, who spoke with my wife. Nothing could be done, apparently, without this person.
Strike 3 is the no photos rule (look for at least the big red sign in the first room). I don't just *like* taking pictures, I *love* taking pictures. If concerned about preserving the exhibits, plenty of museums across the world have adopted a 'no flash, no tripods' policy for the genuine artifacts they carry. Non-flash photos can't damage the exhibits, and even flash does less damage than the naked fluorescent bulbs hanging from the ceiling.
8. Plaza de Armas
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 263 reviews
Reviewed By uclastarr - Cusco, Peru
Nothing too special about the plaza de armas, not too many benches, and not much shade! There is a really good ice cream spot on the corner though!
9. Bodega Tres Generaciones
Overall Ratings
4 based on 21 reviews
Reviewed By Brun066 - Florence, Italy
This "bodega" offers a guided tour in several languages (we have followed the Spanish tour but there is certainly at least that in English) through some of the company's traditional facilities: the big and old wooden press to squeeze the grapes; the stores for terracotta jars where the wine is preserved, recalling those of the ancient Romans and used here instead of the vats.
The tour ends at a shop where a free tasting of wine and "Pisco" is offered. But almost always (it happened to us) the visitor feels enticed to buy some bottles.
The guided tour is very basic, but the staff is polite. You can do it.
10. Bodegas Vista Alegre
Overall Ratings
3.5 based on 54 reviews
Most well-known for its production of pisco, Peru’s national drink, this winery is one of the biggest and oldest in the country.
Reviewed By Cherylb1228 - Boise, Idaho
Our hotel recommended this bodega, so we grabbed a taxi and arrived in late morning. We were visiting in early January, which was low season.
There was an English speaking guide, and we started the tour right away, but we were rushed throughout the entire tour. He talked fast, didn't ask if we had any questions, and when we did, he gave short answers. He clearly gave the image of someone who could totally care less about his job.
At one point, we asked a question about how many bottles of pisco were exported and he curtly told us, I only give the tours, you'll have to ask administration about that. We never saw anyone from administration or even a door to the administrators office, so our questions went unanswered.
The Guide did one more more thing that was annoying and invalidating. I made a comment that I was amazed that some people could taste so many things in a wine or pisco, such as blackberry, coffee, cherry, grass, etc. He looked at me and said, "You can't?" I thought he was joking but he was totally serious. I found him to be very off-putting.
What the guide should have done was:
1). Look interested instead of bored
2). Given us an overview and context for the visit, instead of immediately launching into the tour to get it over with
3). Found out the answers to our questions instead of brushing us off
4). Shown a little humor
Also, we had to pay 5 soles each for the tour but were told that we could take that fee off any products we purchased. We bought a bottle of pisco and a bottle of wine, and were charged the whole price. We had to remind the woman that she needed to reduce the price by ten soles.
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