Ica is best known as Peru’s wine making capital. Most people visit Ica to tour the vineyards and sample wine. There are over a hundred wineries and distilleries in Ica, supplied by more than 300 grape growers.

With less than an inch of rain per year, you’re guaranteed hot sunny days and beautiful sunsets. Water for grapes and people is drawn from aquifers. The air is often hazy in the afternoon with dust that blows off the nearby sand dunes. The best way to see the dunes is an evening trip to the Huacachina oasis and you can add on a picnic to make it extra special (below).

The location makes Ica a great base from which to explore Paracas, Nazca, Chincha, and Pisco. Ica’s city center isn’t touristy and most tourists stay at one of the wineries or distilleries that have hotels.