Central Coast, 406 meters above sea level (1,332ft)
Population: 321,000
Founded June 17, 1563 by Gerónimo Luis de Cabrera as Villa de Valverde
Located 200mi (325Km) from Lima and 435mi (701km) from Arequipa, Ica is the heart of the Ica region of the coastal desert; a region which is also home to PIsco, Nazca and Paracas. Not only will you find the best pisco and wine being made here( the Spanish planted grapes originally from the Canary Islands), but Ica is also home to the Museo Regional, one of the finest museums in Peru.
Because of its continually sunny climate, it is also a thriving center of agriculture, growing crops such as grapes, cotton, asparagus, olives and more. Its unique liquor, Pisco, made from grapes, is a source of pride for all Peruvians. While riding in one of the dune buggies in the region, it may surpise you to see so much agriculture in the middle of this desert oasis. Several farms are laid out in the middle of the dune areas with irrigation brought in through an aquifer.
Here you will also find Huacachina Oasis, the last of what once were four lagoons in the area. A bright spot for enjoying the water, while relaxing at one of the nearby restaurants, sipping the national drink, a Pisco Sour, is the perfect respite during any vacation.
Huacachina Oasis
Serving as a relaxing and beautiful resort area for families in the area, Huacachina is a delightful oasis in the middle of the desert. Huacachina is a Quechua name which means, 'The Crying Lady,' according to the legend. Long ago a woman was admiring herself in her mirror when she spotted a hunter watching her. Surprised by the distant admirer, she dropped the pieces and the mirror shattered, creating the lake. As she ran, her veil, dragging along the ground, created the dunes. To this day, people say they hear a woman crying and at least one person drowns each year, which is considered to be the princess taking a sacrifice so as not to be lonely. Surrounded on the shore by small restaurants and hotels and all around by the steep, sandy dunes, Huacachina is the ideal spot to spend an afternoon, finishing up the day with an adventurous dune buggy ride, as the sun sets.
Museo Regional de Ica
Calle Jr. Ayabaca, Block 8 s/n
Housing one of the largest collections of archaeological finds in Peru, this museum is a 'must see' if passing through the area. Ceramics and other finds from the areas of Nazca and Paracas are found alongside mummies and medical artifacts, displaying a high practice of surgery in this area by ancient Peruvian cultures. You will also find several artifacts from the colonial, independence and early republican eras as well as a large scale model of the Nazca Lines behind the museum.
Wine and Pisco Bodegas
Famous for its namesake Pisco liquor, Ica is the perfect area to take in a tour of the local bodegas and wineries. Among the more popular in the region, you can visit Vista Alegre, Tacama, Ocucaje as well as some of the smaller, more artisan style wineries. Not only will you learn about the process of making these fine wines and liquor, you will also have a chance to sample the end result.
La Vendimia (The Wine Festival)
During the second week of March, this festival is a celebration of the wealth of grapes and wine in the region of Ica. The festival includes fairs, competitions, parades, musical acts and parties where guests dance the Afro-Peruvian festejo. You will also find the Queen of the Wine Festival and her maidens tramping the grapes in a vat of the old tradition. And as any festival in Peru is not complete without its special dishes and desserts, here you can try the tasty tejas, made from pecans; or candied fruits, filled with caramel and covered with sugar icing, following it with a taste of the famous pisco – straight or as the delicious pisco sour.
Las Dunas Resort
In this area and at this resort, the sun always shines providing a setting and a special atmosphere for everything you are about to experience. Las Dunas offers you the opportunity of being very active and restful at the same time, being able to enjoy the contact with nature while you stimulate your taste buds. An unforgettable experience in the desert, sun and oasis await you.
Villa Jazmin
A beautifully located eco-hotel in Ica, surrounded by sand dunes and consequently the hotel offers marvelous views. Villa Jazmin offers 20 rooms, each of them with a very ample bathroom and the perfect place to rest a little while enjoying the sun before moving on to Arequipa or Lima. Equally it is the ideal point from which to set out on a visit of the Nazca lines, the Ballestas Islands, the Paracas Reserve or for a visit of one of the many Peruvian vineyards.
Drinking only bottled water is a good idea. There are two types of water you can buy: sin gas meaning un-carbonated, "normal" water, and con gas which is carbonated. Make sure to eat in good restaurants and buy fruits from quality supermarkets. If you buy fruit from a street market, take extra care to wash it very thoroughly before eating it. Important note: Peruvian tap water is not potable. It is fine to use for teeth-brushing and cooking (provided it is boiled) but should not be ingested directly from the tap.
PE +51-84-225183 
