Department of Ica

Some isolated formations located at the southern part created the Marcona complex, with the biggest deposits of iron in the Pacific coast.

The first settlers are from 10,000 years ago, from which the Wari, Chincha, Nazca, Ica and Paracas cultures developed, the latter being the most important.

The Nazca culture, on the contrary, well known for its artistic pottery, in which colorful designs and representations excel over the form, the same as their lines and figures that have undergone implausible interpretations.

They have left us their wonderful aqueducts that made good use of underground water, of rivers and rain, showing a great knowledge of hydraulic engineering.

The Nazca developed extensive irrigation systems, including underground canals, that allowed them to farm the land.

On a large, rock-strewn plain, the Nazca made huge drawings by scraping away stones to reveal the lighter soil underneath.

The drawings depict various plants and animals, including humans, a monkey, birds, and other creatures, as well as lines and geometric shapes.

Doña Julia, Cachiche's first witch, was known to practice "good magic," curing and helping villagers with her spells.

Ica has significant wine and pisco industries, annual fiestas, a museum and historic colonial churches.

[2] As of 2020, the Peruvian desert, around the Huacachina Oasis, has gotten significantly popular among tourists for sandboarding and sand buggy tours.

There is also a Regional Museum, which exhibits prehistoric artefacts as well as paintings and furniture that date back to the Spanish Colonial era.

Map of the Ica region showing its provinces
Nazca Lines: figure of the Spider.
Bay and harbor of San Nicolás in Marcona .
Sea Lions on the Ballestas Islands.
Plaza de Armas in Ica, the oldest part of the capital of the department.