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Ica

Ica, a great place to visit! The flight over the Nasca Lines will surely be delightful during your journey to the region known as the “Near South” of Lima. But, in addition to the Nasca Lines, other wonders are in store, including the Paracas wildlife sanctuary and the home of Peru signature alcoholic beverage – pisco.

Paracas, 150 miles south of Lima, is home to Peru´s largest coastal wildlife sanctuary. Within it are the Ballestas Islands, home to thousands of resident and migratory sea birds, including pelicans, boobies, cormorants, terns and penguins that share their habitat with herds of sea lions and fur seals. In the summer, condors and flamingoes are also frequent visitors to the bay shore.

Just one hour drive along the Pan American highway takes the visitor south to Ica, a verdant oasis and home of Peru´s famous pisco grape brandy. Ica is an esoteric land, one of profound religious faith, sand dunes, valleys, and sun, is an agricultural zone where you see interspersed among the extensive desert area fields of cotton, butter beans, asparagus, citrus tree orchards, as well as vineyards.

You can visit these vineyards, where they produce excellent piscos and wines, the Huacachina Lake, a beautiful oasis situated among the sand dunes just a few minutes away from Ica, and Chincha, the valley which gave birth to the Afro-Peruvian music.

Further south lies Nasca, site of the world famous Nasca Lines. These giant animals and geometric figures were etched on the desert sands by Nasca people 1,500 years ago. While they can be seen from ground towers, the Nasca Linesare best viewed from the air. Airstrips in both Ica and Nasca permit aerial viewing of the Nasca Lines on short, comfortable flights.

Before leaving Nasca, the traveler may wish to opt for a half-day tour of the Cantalloc hacienda and its famous underground aqueducts.

Altitude
Capital: Ica (406 masl / 1332 fasl )
Altitude: Lowest point: 2 masl / 7 fasl (Paracas)
Highest point: 3796 masl / 12.454 fasl (San Pedro de Huacarpana)

Weather
The department of Ica features a varied terrain with extensive plains, deserts, and some valleys. The city of Ica has a sunny climate almost all year long with an annual average maximum temperature of 32ºC (89ºF) and a minimum of 9ºC (49ºF).

Atractions
Ballestas Islands Ballestas Islands

They are located outside the reserve area. They constitute the habitat of a great variety of birds and sea lions, which you can approach by motor boat. This excursion is one of the most regular ones from Paracas. The Ballestas Islands are sometimes described as Peru´s answer to the Galapagos Islands and although they don´t match the splendour or variety of their northern cousins, they are quite spectacular in their own right. The islands have been eroded to form countless natural caves and arches. In fact, this is where the islands´ name comes from - the word Ballesta means ´bow´ (as in archery). There are colonies of thousands of seabirds such as pelicans and penguins, and you will also see hundreds of sealions and often schools of dolphins.


Cantalloc Aqueducts Cantalloc Aqueducts

4 km / 2 miles from Nasca (15 minutes)
It is an aqueduct built by the Nasca culture which still works today. Flagstones and acacia trunks were used to build it and they have resisted the march of time.


Cathedral of Ica Cathedral of Ica

Main Square. Visiting hours: Mon. - Sun. during mass times

The original construction dates from the eighteenth century, but it was remodeled in 1814. The outside of the church is of neoclassical style, and inside the Baroque style prevails as seen in the pulpit and altars.


Chincha and the Afro-Peruvian Culture Chincha and the Afro-Peruvian Culture

Another good place to visit if you fancy tasting more of the criollo (Creole) cuisine is Chincha, an hour up the road towards Lima. Chincha was one of the few places in Peru where African slave labour was widely used and today it is at the heart of black Peruvian culture. There are some interesting places to visit, such as the colonial mansion of the Hacienda de San Jose but it´s particularly worth visiting Chincha during some of the area´s festivals, such as the fiesta of the Virgin of El Carmen in December, when you get to hear some of the best in Afro-Peruvian music.


Huacachina Lake Huacachina Lake

/ 3 miles southwest of Ica (5 minutes)

It is a traditional relaxation spot for the people of Ica. The lake looks like an oasis in the middle of a desert, forming a splendid landscape of dunes, palm trees, and acacias. Some people believe the water to have medicinal properties.


Lord of Luren Sanctuary Lord of Luren Sanctuary

Calle Ayacucho, block 10. Visiting hours: Mon. – Sun. during mass times

A Neoclassical church. The Lord of Luren is considered the patron saint of the city. During the Holy Week and the third week of October, thousands of believers gather to follow his statue in a procession.


Nasca Lines Nasca Lines

Pampas of San Jose. 25 km / 16 miles from Nasca (15 minutes). Kilometer marker 149 of the Pan-American Highway South

It is a vast network of lines and drawings of animals and plants credited to the Nasca culture covering an area of approximately 350 km2 / 135 miles2. Some of the best drawn figures are the hummingbird, the dog, the monkey, and the long-tailed mockingbird. The German, Maria Reiche, devoted 50 years of her life to studying and researching the area and came to the conclusion that it was an astronomical calendar. From a 12 meter / 39 feet lookout, you can partially observe the shapes of the hand and the tree. However, in order to appreciate the drawings fully, it is recommended to fly over the area in a small airplane. The Nasca Lines were placed on the World Cultural Heritage List in 1994.


Paracas National Reserve Paracas National Reserve

/ 155 miles south of Lima (3 hours by car)

The reserve’s 335.000 hectares is a refuge for fur seals, Humboldt penguins, flamingos (parihuanas), and many other birds. You can visit many different natural and archeological attractions in the reserve. One of them is the El Candelabro (The Candelabra), a geoglyph of more than 120 meters / 394 feet long, better appreciated from the ocean. Another place to visit is La Catedral (The Cathedral), a vast rocky formation eroded by the wind and the ocean that shelters marine otters or chingungos, a species on the verge of extinction, and other marine birds.


Paredones Ruins Paredones Ruins

Kilometer marker 1 of the Nasca-Puquio Highway (5 minutes from Nasca)
It is an archaeological site that probably was an Inca administrative center. Formed by numerous rooms, terraces, and patios, its buildings have stone foundations and adobe walls.


Tambo Colorado Ruins Tambo Colorado Ruins

Kilometer marker 45 of the Libertadores Highway
It is a very well preserved Inca urban center, possibly built during the time of the Inca Pachacutec as a lodge for soldiers and high-level authorities.

 


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