Ica.- It is the capital of the region. The city is located on the banks of the Ica River. Its people are dedicated to cultivating grapes, asparagus, date palms, and cotton, among many other agricultural export products.
Where is Ica?
Location: South of Lima
Capital: City of Ica
Distance: 303 km from Lima
Altitude: 406 m above sea level
Population: 665,592 inhabitants
Climate: The city of Ica has a sunny climate almost all year round, with an average annual maximum temperature of 32°C (89°F) and a minimum of 9°C (49°F).
How do I get to Ica?
By Land: Lima-Ica: 303 km via the Pan-American Highway South (4 hours by bus).
By Air: There are no regular flights. Air taxi service is available from Lima.
Ica Airport. Pan-American Highway South km 299
Nazca Aerodrome. Pan-American Highway South km 447
What activities can be done?
Paracas National Reserve
With 335,000 hectares, this place is a refuge for sea lions, Humboldt penguins, flamingos, and many other birds. Various visits can be made within the reserve, as it boasts numerous natural and archaeological attractions. One of these is the Candelabro, a geoglyph over 120 meters long that is best viewed from the sea. Another place to visit is La Catedral (The Cathedral), a large rock formation eroded by the wind and sea, inside which you can find marine otters, an endangered species, as well as some seabirds.
Nazca Lines
Just two hours from Ica, 50 km of desert were covered, hundreds of years ago, by monumental drawings: enormous figures representing mammals, insects, and gods. The Nazca Lines, so named since their discovery in 1927, are the most incredible vestige ever left by a culture that flourished 300 years before the Christian era. The result of their complex designs and lines, some nearly 300 meters long, can only be seen from the air, at an altitude of 1,500 feet. Many theories have arisen surrounding these mysterious engravings, from those suggesting landing strips for extraterrestrial beings to those that see the lines as a gigantic seismograph. The natural gypsum found in the region is believed to have contributed to fixing, over thousands of years, the now-famous images: the hummingbird, the spider, the condor, the monkey, and more than thirty other representations inscribed there.
Where to Stay?
There is accommodation for all budgets, from US$12 per night per person to US$20 to US$40 per night for a couple in more central locations. Generally, all accommodations are located in the same city. Reference prices not valid for peak seasons.