Cidade Turismo
Peru
Paracas, Ica and Nazca

Ica · Peru

Paracas, Ica and Nazca

The desert south of Lima: the Reserva Nacional de Paracas and the sea lions of the Ilhas Ballestas, the oasis of Huacachina among dunes, the pisco valley in Ica and the Linhas de Nazca seen from above.

Lima e Centro

In the photo: Reserva Nacional de Paracas.

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

South of Lima, Peru's coast becomes a desert of sand and rock between the Pacific and the Andes, cut by river valleys that descend from the range. In that strip, along the Panamericana Sur road, are three stops many travelers visit in sequence, by bus or car, between Lima and Arequipa: Paracas, Ica and Nazca, all in the department of Ica.

Paracas, about 250 km from Lima, is a fishing village with hotels along the bay, at the entrance to the Reserva Nacional de Paracas, which protects a desert peninsula of cliffs and reddish-sand beaches and a sea rich in fish and birds. Boats depart from there to the Ilhas Ballestas, with colonies of sea lions, Humboldt penguins and seabirds, passing the Candelabro, a geoglyph carved on the slope. The Paracas culture, which lived there more than 2,000 years ago, left embroidered mantles that are among the best-known textiles of ancient America.

Ica, 75 km from Paracas, is the departmental capital and the center of the valley where Peruvian pisco and wine are produced, in bodegas that welcome visitors. Five km from the center lies Huacachina, an oasis with a lagoon surrounded by high dunes, where buggy rides and sandboarding are popular. The Museo Regional de Ica houses pieces of the Paracas and Nazca cultures.

Nazca, about 145 km from Ica, is the base for the Linhas de Nazca, giant figures carved into the desert about 2,000 years ago and a UNESCO World Heritage site, seen from small planes or from viewpoints beside the road. Nearby are the Cemitério de Chauchilla and the aqueducts of Cantalloc.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Paracas, Ica, Nazca.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Paracas, Ica and Nazca is
ParacasIcaNazca

Contornos: Natural Earth (domínio público). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Paracas, Ica and Nazca

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional Capitán FAP Renán Elías Olivera (PIO), in Pisco · 20 km to Paracas

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez (LIM), in Callao · 260 km to Paracas

Check before you buy. The arrival airport is Lima. From there, buses run along the Panamericana Sur: about 4 hours to Paracas, 5 to Ica and 7 to Nazca. By car the road is paved and straight, with tolls.

Suggested arrival point: Paracas

The local experience

Things to do in Paracas, Ica and Nazca

Huacachina
Ica · Ica · Oasis

Huacachina

Oasis with a lagoon surrounded by palm trees and dunes over 100 m high, 5 km from the center of Ica, from where buggy and sandboard tours into the desert depart, with the sunset from the top of the dunes.

Islas Ballestas
Paracas · Ica · Island

Islas Ballestas

Rocky islands about 20 km from the pier of Paracas, with arches and caves, colonies of sea lions, Humboldt penguins and thousands of seabirds, seen from the boat. On the way, the geoglyph of the Candelabro.

Líneas y Geoglifos de Nasca
Nazca · Ica · Archaeological site

Líneas y Geoglifos de Nasca

Hundreds of figures and lines engraved in the desert floor by the Nazca culture around 2,000 years ago, such as the hummingbird, the monkey and the whale, visible from the overflight or the Panamericana viewpoint. World Heritage Site since 1994.

Cementerio de Chauchilla
Nazca · Ica · Archaeological site

Cementerio de Chauchilla

Pre-Hispanic cemetery in the desert, about 30 km south of Nazca, with open tombs where seated mummies can be seen, wrapped in textiles and with hair preserved by the dry climate.

See 3 more places in Paracas, Ica and Nazca
Ica · Ica · Museum

Museo Regional de Ica Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins

The regional museum of Ica, with textiles and trepanned skulls from the Paracas culture, polychrome Nazca pottery, mummies and a model of the Nazca Lines, administered by the Ministry of Culture.

Reserva Nacional de Paracas
Paracas · Ica · Natural area

Reserva Nacional de Paracas

Desert peninsula protected since 1975, with cliffs over the Pacific, red-sand beaches, the fishing village of Lagunillas, flamingos in the bay and the museum of the Paracas culture.

Acueductos de Cantalloc
Nazca · Ica · Archaeological site

Acueductos de Cantalloc

Subterranean aqueducts of the Nazca culture, about 4 km from town, with spiral stone entrances, the ojos, that lead to the water which still flows and irrigates the valley fields.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

It hardly ever rains. From December to April it's usually sunny and warm, stronger in Ica and Nazca inland. From June to October the coastal sky in Paracas often stays gray in the morning with fine drizzle, and the afternoon wind is stronger; in Ica and Nazca the sun appears most days.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days: one in Paracas, with the Ilhas Ballestas in the morning and the reserve in the afternoon; one in Ica, with Huacachina and a bodega; and one in Nazca, with a flight over the Linhas and Chauchilla. If time is short, people do Paracas and Huacachina in two days from Lima.

Which city to stay in

In Paracas, hotels are in the village of El Chaco, near the boat pier, and along the bay toward the reserve. In Ica there are hotels downtown and along the valley route, and guesthouses and hostels around the Huacachina lagoon. In Nazca hotels are downtown, near the Plaza de Armas and Bolognesi Street, and some are on the road to the aerodrome.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Paracas, Ica and Nazca

Can Paracas be done as a day trip from Lima?

Yes — with day tours that depart Lima at dawn and include the Ilhas Ballestas and the reserve — but it's about 4 hours of road each way. Staying one night in Paracas makes the trip more relaxed.

How do you see the Linhas de Nazca?

From above, on a small-plane flight that departs the Nazca aerodrome and lasts about 30 minutes, or from the viewpoints along the Panamericana Sur, where some figures can be seen. Flights depend on the weather and may be postponed.

Do I need a car in that region?

No. Buses on the Panamericana Sur link Lima, Paracas, Ica and Nazca several times a day, and agency tours include transport to the islands, the reserve, Huacachina and the Nazca sites. A car gives freedom to stop at bodegas and viewpoints.

Do Paracas, Ica and Nazca pair well with Arequipa?

Yes. Many itineraries go from Nazca to Arequipa by bus in a trip of about 9 to 10 hours, usually overnight, and continue on to Colca, Puno and Cusco.

What's the best time to go?

Year‑round, because it hardly ever rains. From December to April there is usually more sun on the coast. From June to October, Paracas often has gray skies in the morning and the sea can be rough for boats.

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