Ica

Population: 710,000
Tourist Attractions: Paracas National Park, Huacachina Oasis, Nazca Lines, Chauchilla Cemetery, Cantalloc Aqueducts, Muesum of Maria Reiche, Pisco Vineyards, Sand Boarding, Sand Dune Buggy’s
Peru Guide – Importance Rating: High

Encapsulated by the Pacific Ocean on the left and the foothills of the Andes Cordillera on the right, this long dry arid region of Peru has a rich and interesting past. Located south of Lima and connected by the Pan-American Highway, Ica has become an important wine making region, and is famous for the many bodegas that produce the Peruvian white brandy – Pisco. Although the Ica region is far from being fully developed for tourists, each year thousands of visitors travel to the area to see the famous geoglyphs etched in the Pampa desert by the pre-Columbian Nazca Culture. Huacachina, just a few miles from the city of Ica is another tourist hot-spot for thrill seekers, where there is the opportunity to surf down massive sand dunes, or jump in a powerful sand buggy and head out to camp in the vast deserts of the region.