Peru - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 765

9 ICA AND HUACACHINA TOURS

Most hostels in Huacachina rent out sandboards and run dune-buggy tours . Those looking
to cut costs may want to rent a board and go it alone, but bear in mind that it soon gets very
tiring dragging a board up a sand dune in the scorching sun.
TOUR OPERATORS
Irresponsible dune-buggy drivers are known to drive
quite recklessly, so it's best to book your trip with a
responsible agency such as the following:
Desert Adventures Hostal Desert Nights T 056 228
458, W desertadventure.net. An established Huacachina-
based tour company, offering the standard half-day
dune-buggy tours of the dunes (S40), with sandboarding
included (with the option of using professional boards

for a S10 surcharge), as well as 1hr quad-biking tours
(S140). Also runs vineyard tours (S40) and two-day trips
with a night spent camping in the desert (S140).
Curasi Balneario de Huacachina 197 T 056 216 989,
W huacachinacurasi.com. A reliable outfit running
sandboarding and dune-buggy tours (S35 plus S3.65
entry tax payable as you enter the dunes), bodega
tours (S30), one-night camping trips in the desert
(S110), as well as tours to the Ballestas Islands (S60).

destroyed, including almost one entire
side of the Plaza de Armas. In the city
itself, the Museo Regional warrants a visit,
and the surrounding area offers vineyard
tours with plenty of wine-tasting
opportunities. Note that it's better to stay
in nearby Huacachina (see below).

commonly visit one or more of the
following vineyards: Bodega Ocucaje
( W ocucaje.com), Bodega Vista Alegre
( W vistaalegre.com.pe), Bodega Tacama
( W tacama.com), Bodega Lazo
( W bodegalazo.com) and Bodega El
Catador ( T 056 403 427), where the
visitors are allowed to join in the stomping
of the grapes in February and March.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO
Ica's busy streets do not lend themselves
to leisurely strolls; however, it is easy to
get around using the numerous tico taxis
that will take you anywhere in the city
for around S4.

ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
By bus Most bus companies have their own terminals in
the unsavoury area along Manzanilla and Lambayeque;
there are numerous departures in both directions along the
Panamericana during the day. Recommended companies
include Cial, Av Fernando León de Vivero 110 ( T 056 207
6900); Ormeño, Lambayeque 180 ( T 056 215 600); Cruz
del Sur, Fray Roman Rojas ( T 056 223 333), and Oltursa,
Av Ayabaca 974 ( T 056 211 960); if travelling with Soyuz
(Av Manzanilla 130 T 056 224 138), watch your belongings.
Destinations Arequipa (several daily; 10-12hr); Lima (12
daily; 4hr 30min); Nazca (6 daily; 2hr 30min); Paracas
(5 daily; 1hr 15min).
By mototaxi A mototaxi to Huacachina will set you back S4.

Museo Regional de Ica
Located in an Ica suburb, the superb
Museo Regional (Jr. Ayabaca, block 8;
Mon-Fri 8am-7pm & Sat-Sun
8.30am-6.30pm; S10) is one of the
best in Peru, housing important Nazca,
Ica and Paracas cultural artefacts. The
exhibits range from mummies (including
those of children and parrots), trophy
heads and trepanned skulls to examples
of Nazca pottery and Paracas weavings;
a scale model of the Nazca lines is out
back. To get there, take a mototaxi from
the centre of Ica (S3).

HUACACHINA
Since Ica itself is not terribly attractive,
it's preferable to base yourself at the
nearby village of HUACACHINA , as it's
just as easy to do bodega tours from here.
This once peaceful oasis, nestled among
huge sand dunes and boasting a lake
with curative properties, has recently
been overrun with travellers, eager
for adrenaline-packed adventures
(in particular sandboarding and
dune-buggying) and all-night parties

Bodega and vineyard tours
Ica's main tourist attraction and principal
industry is the many bodegas and vineyards
nearby, which can be visited on organized
tours, both from the city and from
Huacachina, and usually involve a look
around the vineyard followed by wine
tasting and the chance to buy. Tours most