Getting in Ica

There are frequent buses from Lima to Ica (4 hr.), which drop passengers in the center of town. Frequent service also connects Ica to Nasca (2 hr.) and Pisco (45 min.). Cruz del Sur, Avenida Paseo de la Republica, Lima (tel. 01/225-6163), and Ormeno, Av. Carlos Zavala 177, Lima (tel. 01/472-5000), travel between Lima, Pisco, Nasca, and Arequipa.

Soyuz-Peru Bus, Av. Carlos Zavala 221, Lima (tel. 01/428-6252), connects Ica with Lima and Pisco, and is the fastest and best (with the most frequent departures) from either city. Bus terminals in Ica are located in the center of town on or just off Lambayeque, a couple of blocks west of the Plaza de Armas.

No Wine Until It’s Time–Ica celebrates a wine-harvest festival (Festival Internacional de la Vendimia) during early March. The second Friday of the month is a major holiday throughout the Ica department. Many activities take place in the vineyards, although around town there are concerts, handicraft fairs, Peruvian caballos de paso (step horses) shows, beauty pageants, and cockfighting. (Don’t these last two always go together?) It’s a great time to get your fill of pisco. The lovely maiden chosen as the Queen of the Festival gets to doff her shoes and squish grapes in a huge wine vat, to the titillation of all.

Another date to remember: July 25 is the Dia Internacional del Pisco across Peru, and everybody gets drunk on a national scale.

Visitor Information

Direccion de Turismo (MITINCI), Av. Jeronimo de Cabrera 426, Urbanizacion Luren (tel. 056/227-287), is the main administrative office of the tourism ministry in Ica department, but it’s a hike from the Plaza de Armas. Pay a visit only if you’re in serious need of assistance.

Fast Facts

Banco de Credito, Av. Grau 109 at the corner of Callao (tel. 056/233-711), has an ATM. You’ll also find money exchangers on the Plaza de Armas.

For medical attention, go to Hospital Felix Torrealva Gutierrez, Bolivar 1065 (tel. 056/234-450), or Hospital de Apoyo, Camino a Huacachina s/n (tel. 056/235-231, or 056/235-101 for emergencies). If you need the police, its headquarters are located at Lambayeque, block 1 (tel. 056/224-553).

You’ll find a post office at Plaza de Armas (Libertad 119); it’s open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm. There’s a Telefonica del Peru office at Jr. Huanuco 289 (tel. 056/217-247); it’s open daily.