In the early morning of August 2008, two friends and I decided to set out across the Pacific Ocean to the south of Lima in search of the secrets of the Ica region. Two hours later we entered Ica, a remarkable geographical region, home to coastal plains, extensive deserts, strong and persistent winds that create large clouds of sand, and peninsulas formed by geological folds. Half an hour later we arrive in our private transportation at Paracas Bay, which is part of the Paracas National Reserve. It is said that the red and white colors of the Peruvian flag arose from the inspiration of General José de San Martín when he observed the flamingos in the Paracas area where he landed to start the fight for the independence of Peru. The Paracas culture is an important Andean society with extensive knowledge in irrigation and water management and which is also distinguished by its unique and fine textile skills, trepanning and the art of mummifying their dead that you can admire in the Julio C. Tello Museum.

There are different adventure activities that we can do such as kitesurfing, surfing in the San Gayan Islands, motocross, mountain biking, fishing or bird watching. Due to lack of time, we have just visited the Ballestas Islands, a place full of sea lions, Humboldt penguins and coastal birds.

With the arrival of the Spanish in the 16th century, Ica became an important wine and cotton center, as well as the main producer of pisco, a liquor distilled from grapes. The name Pisco comes from the conical ceramic where it was originally aged, and it is also the name of the city where it was originally produced. We visited some of the main wine and pisco producers such as Tabernero, Tacama and Ocucaje that were badly damaged by the 2007 earthquake. The most impressive experience was visiting La Caravedo, a homemade pisco hacienda where you can walk through its grape fields and winery, as well as enjoy a traditional Peruvian lunch accompanied by an exhibition of Peruvian Paso horses and Afro-Peruvian music. The latter was brought by the Africans who arrived with the Spanish and their music is very popular nationwide. After lunch, we went for a walk through the Huacachina Natural Oasis, a small lake located in the middle of a spectacular sand desert, where we tried different regional desserts and enjoyed typical pisco-based drinks. Luckily we ran into a friend who recommended us to take a buggie ride through the desert dunes on a private route located near the local airfield. We also had the opportunity to go sandboarding as part of the experience. Adventure and adrenaline to the fullest!

After a full day of exciting activities, we continue our road trip to Nazca, where we relax in the hotel pool for the rest of the day. The Nazca culture is known for its artistic textiles and ceramics, in which colorful designs and representations of animals and mythological beings prevail over form. These textiles and ceramics, as well as their famous lines and figures, have been the subject of unlikely interpretations. It flourished in an extremely dry area; For this reason, they built wonderful aqueducts that made good use of groundwater, rivers and rain, showing great knowledge of hydraulic engineering that allowed them to cultivate the land. The main attractions of Nazca, in order of importance, are the Nazca Lines, the Antonini Museum, the archaeological site and adobe city of Cahuachi, the Cantayoc Aqueducts and the San Fernando Bay. Hence, we decided to start the next day with an overflight of the enigmatic Nazca Lines. They are located on a large plain dotted with rocks in the Atacama desert. The Nazca people made huge drawings by scraping stones to reveal the lighter soil below. The drawings depict various plants and animals, including a monkey, birds, and geometric shapes. These drawings are so large that they can only be seen from the sky. Scientists believe that the Nazca made these drawings for their gods.

Our next visit was the Antonini Museum, which houses the most interesting pieces from the adobe citadel of Cahuachi. On our way to visit San Fernando Bay, we visit Cahuachi, an important ceremonial center of the Nazca culture. It was apparently a pilgrimage center that grew greatly in population for important ceremonial events. Then we continue our buggy ride to San Fernando Bay, where we admire the incredible landscape of desert dunes and South American camelids and condors. Just before reaching San Fernando, we silently observe the natural beauty of the bay, as well as the sea lions and seabirds that inhabit the area. After a few hours contemplating the environment that surrounded us and a healthy meal, we returned to Nazca and then to Lima.

On our seven-hour trip back to Lima, I couldn’t stop thinking about the rich experiences we accumulated in such a short visit to the Ica region, home of the enigmatic Nazca Lines. On your trip to Machu Picchu, I recommend that you include two days to visit and experience these incredible places that you will not forget!

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