Region Ica: travel guide, sights and activities
Ica is part of Southern Peru.
Other regions:
Best time to visit the Ica region
The Ica region is climatically shaped by the Pacific coast — the main season coincides with the dry season.
Recommended: Jan–Apr, Dec
Pacific coast
Main climate zone
Best time: Jan–Apr, Dec
Typical destinations: Líneas y Geoglifos de Nasca y Palpa, Cachiche, Museo Adolfo Bermúdez Jenkins, Acueducto de Cantayo
Note: warm and sunny summer; May to November garúa season with cool overcast
Safety
Risk level: moderat
Sources: DATACRIM (INEI), Auswärtiges Amt
Disease risk
| Disease | Cases / 100k | Risk | YoY trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dengue | 2.806,2 | very high | ↑ +80.0% |
| Leptospirosis | 3,3 | low | ↓ -64.0% |
| Malaria (P. vivax) | 0,1 | low | — |
| Yellow fever | — | low | Vaccination not required. |
Heritage & UNESCO
🌍 UNESCO World Heritage (1)
- Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa (1994 inscribed · Cultural)
Notable sites
- 1 UNESCO World Heritage
- 168 Designated Immovable Cultural Heritage
- 152 Pre-Hispanic Archaeological Monument
- 10 Archaeological Cultural Landscape
- 2 Intangible Cultural Heritage
Sources: UNESCO data.unesco.org/whc001 + patrimoniomundial.cultura.pe + peru_cultura_schutzrang (13 tiers)
Historical Epochs
Dominant cultures: Nasca (47) Paracas (28) Chincha (19) Inca (14) Nazca (5) Wari (4) Huari (3) Lima (2)
Period distribution
- 141 No Defined Period
- 60 Early Intermediate (200 BCE-600 CE, Moche/Nasca/Paracas)
- 25 Republican Era (1821-present)
- 19 Not Applicable (natural landscape/non-historical)
- 13 Late Intermediate (1100-1470 CE, Chimú/Chachapoyas)
- 8 Multiple Periods (site with layers of various periods)
- 7 Inca Empire (1470-1532 CE)
- 6 Colonial Period (1532-1821)
- 2 Middle Horizon (600-1100 CE, Wari/Tiwanaku)
Notable sites
- Tambo Colorado — Inca Empire (1470-1532 CE) (Inca,Incaico)
- Aswa Yanina — Inca Empire (1470-1532 CE) (Inca)
- Recursos Turisticos Pueblo De Huáncano Código: 7771 Departamento: Ica Provincia: — Inca Empire (1470-1532 CE) (Inca)
- Recursos Turisticos Zona Arqueológica De Tacaraca Código: 7772 Departamento: Ica — Inca Empire (1470-1532 CE) (Inca)
- Recursos Turisticos Puente Colgante Inca Código: 8617 Departamento: Ica Provinci — Inca Empire (1470-1532 CE) (Inca)
- Palmera de Siete Cabezas — Inca Empire (1470-1532 CE) (Inca)
- Sirena de Huacachina — Inca Empire (1470-1532 CE) (Inca)
- Huaca la Centinela — Multiple Periods (site with layers of various periods) (Chincha,Inca)
Source: peru_cultura_epoche (11-tier canon, auto-classified)
Hotels via Agoda
Healthcare access
Active facilities
with admission (hospitals)
Total beds
with telemedicine
operational ambulances
Main hospitals
-
HOSPITAL REGIONAL DE ICA
(II-2)
ICA · 216 Total beds · Tel. 056-580390 -
HOSPITAL SAN JOSE DE CHINCHA
(II-1)
CHINCHA ALTA · 154 Total beds · Tel. 056-261232 -
HOSPITAL IV AUGUSTO HERNANDEZ MENDOZA
(II-2)
ICA · 123 Total beds · Tel. 056-223533
How to reach Ica
Recommended length of stay
2–4 days (Medium stay)
∅ 2.5 nights per visit (Hotel data 2019)
Overnight stays: BCRP
Top tours in the Ica region
Algorithmically selected: Viator tours with most attractions matches in this region.
208975P10
🌐 UNESCO×1 ★ J3×4
12713P36
🌐 UNESCO×1 ★ J3×4
159308P6
🌐 UNESCO×1 ★ J3×4
173033P6
🌐 UNESCO×1 ★ J3×4
180851P46
🌐 UNESCO×1 ★ J3×4
303639P15
🌐 UNESCO×1 ★ J3×3
303639P16
🌐 UNESCO×1 ★ J3×4
303639P23
🌐 UNESCO×1 ★ J3×1
320728P2790
🌐 UNESCO×1 ★ J3×1
5592379P9
🌐 UNESCO×1 ★ J3×4
We earn affiliate commission on bookings.
✈ Airport connections
Official MINCETUR list of airports in the region.
-
Airport CAPITÁN FAP RENÁN ELÍAS OLIVERA
-
Airfield AERÓDROMO MARÍA REICHE NEUMAN
Nature & protected areas
Reserva Nacional de Paracas
National Reserve
335.000 hectares
Reserva Nacional San Fernando
National Reserve
154.716 hectares
Regional Bosque Nublado Amaru-Huachocolpa-Chihuana
Regional
5.024 hectares
Source: SERNANP (sernanp.gob.pe)
Data & sources
Show data sources used
- SENAMHI Climate data, seasons, UV index, frost (1981-2020 climate normals + daily forecasts)
- MINCETUR / PromPerú Tourism infrastructure: hotels, restaurants, agencies, artisans, attractions
- INEI / SIRTOD Statistics: population, GDP, crime, traffic accidents (department and province level)
- SERNANP Protected areas: national parks, reserves, sanctuaries, protection forests
- INGEMMET Geological hazards: landslides, debris flows, floods, volcanic activity
- MTC Road network and traffic notices (closures, detours, press releases)
- Ministerio de Cultura Cultural heritage: archaeological sites, UNESCO World Heritage, Qhapaq Ñan, museums
- DATACRIM (INEI) Crime and homicide reports 2017-2024 (public ArcGIS REST API)
- OpenStreetMap Open geospatial data: roads, POIs, administrative boundaries
Retrieved: 2026-06