Editing Department of Ica (section)

==Points of interest==
[[File:Nazca-lineas-arana-c01.jpg|thumb|200px|Nazca Lines: figure of the Spider.]]
[[File:San Nicolas Marcona.jpg|thumb|200px|Bay and harbor of San Nicolás in [[San Juan de Marcona|Marcona]].]]
[[File:Islas Ballestas.jpg|thumb|200px|Sea Lions on the Ballestas Islands.]]
[[File:plaza armas ica noche.jpg|thumb|200px|Plaza de Armas in Ica, the oldest part of the capital of the department.]]

===City of Ica===
Capital of the Ica Department. A very modern clean city that has Peruvian street markets, many old churches and landmarks, modern malls, hotels, coffee shops, theatres, and hotels as well.

=== Huacachina===
Located on the west side of the city of Ica, capital of the Ica Department. One of the most popular places to visit in Ica is La [[Huacachina]]. The desert oasis is located {{cvt|5|km}} from Ica. It is a small lake with medicinal water, lying in the middle of a spectacular sand desert.

===Pisco===
[[Pisco, Peru|Pisco]] is the most important port in Ica and a litoral province. The most important attractions within this province are likely [[Paracas (municipality)|Paracas]], [[Paracas Bay]] and the [[Paracas National Reserve]]. Pisco was home of an ancient pre-Hispanic culture, [[Paracas culture|Paracas]], who are known for their exquisite textiles.

===Paracas===
[[Paracas (municipality)|Paracas]] (a municipality within the [[Paracas District]]) is a small town catering to tourism. It serves as the jumping point for tours to [[Islas Ballestas]] and to [[Paracas National Reservation]]. [[Paracas Bay]], protected by [[Paracas Peninsula]], gives these shallow, warmer waters break from ocean waves permitting life to flourish, particularly near its south western edge encompassed within [[Paracas National Reservation|Paracas National Reserve]]. The [[Paracas Museum]], also found just near the south western edge of [[Paracas Bay]], provides excellent information about [[Paracas culture]] and the many unique species, in particular, the [[Paracas Birds|birds of Paracas]].

===Nazca===
The [[Ica-Nazca culture]] flourished along the southern coast of Peru from around 200 BC to 600 AD. This area is extremely dry. The Nazca developed extensive irrigation systems, including underground canals, that allowed them to farm the land. The Nazca are known for their textiles and pottery which feature images of animals and mythological beings.

They are even better known, however, for a unique set of creations known as the [[Nazca Lines]], which are [[geoglyph]]s and geometric line clearings in the [[Atacama]] desert, in the district of [[Nazca]]. 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. These drawings are so huge, however, that they can be seen only from the sky. Scientists believe that the Nazca made these drawings for their gods. The area of the Nazca lines is called the Pampa Colorada (red plain).

===Cachiche===
A small village near Ica, [[Cachiche]] is well known for its history of witches. Doña Julia, Cachiche's first witch, was known to practice "good magic," curing and helping villagers with her spells. Near the entrance to the town, a carving from a single huarango tree <ref>[http://www.qoyllur-tours.com/peru-tours/peru-tours-nazca-paracas-ica-tour.php Peru Tours information]</ref> depicts this first "bruja de Cachiche" (witch of Cachiche).