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Location:
Central Coast 
Area: 21 305 km2.
Capital: Ica (406 masl)
Altitude: Minimum: 2 masl (Paracas)
Maximum: 3796 masl (San Pedro de Huacarpana)
Ica is known as an area of sand, sea, oases and valleys,
the cradle of Peru's Creole culture, saints and medicine
men, where the best pisco brandy is distilled and where
religious fervor is strong in the worship of the Señor
de Luren or the Yauca shrine. The sandy wastes of this
area gave rise to major pre-Colombian civilizations,
leaving traces that have survived the ravages of time
and wind erosion.
Founded
in 1563 by Luis Jerónimo de Cabrera, the city
of Ica, capital of the department of Ica, still features
superb colonial constructions such as the Cathedral
and centuries-old mansions.
The
road to Ica provides the traveler with a variety of
attractions. First stop along the way is Chincha, a
balmy valley that combines festivals and tradition and
which is the heart of a culture forged by the descendants
of African slaves brought to work the cotton plantations.
A few kilometers further on lies the Paracas National
Reserve, the only protected area in Peru that includes
a marine eco-system. From the pier at Paracas one can
take boatrides out to the Ballestas islands, where one
can spot sea lions, Humboldt penguins, flamingos and
sea birds.
South
of the city of Ica lie s
the Huacachina Oasis, and a few kilometers ahead, the
Nazca Lines, an extraordinary legacy bequeathed by the
ancient people of the Nazca culture. The Lines, an enormous
network of lines and drawings of plants and animals
that cover an area of some 350 square km, provide an
unforgettable experience for those who fly over them.
Ica
celebrates three major events: the Wine Festival (Ica
is index.htm to many vineyards which produce excellent
wines and pisco) and the festivals of the Señor
de Luren and the Virgen del Carmen of Chincha. This
is a good time to try typical Ica dishes and sweets,
as well as to visit the town of Cachiche, famous for
its folk healers who are said to be able to cure all
kinds of ills.
info@peruexpediciones.com
 perutour@hotmail.com
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