The archaeological remains suggest that there were human settlements in Santo Domingo de Paracas, about 8,800 years ago. Fossils of gourds, passion fruit, tubercles and fruit, as well as remains of clothes made out of cactus fiber and samples of camelidae skin were discovered on that territory, along with fossils which belong to the tertiary and quaternary eras, as this region is composed of the country´s oldest geological stratum. With the discovery of Santo Domingo´s archaeological site, one can assert that the continent´s first cultivator settled here, as a small “quena” (native flute) of only 5 centimeters was found among his remains.

It is an eminently coastal department, although it also contains part of the cordillera. To the North, it borders with Lima; to the South, with Arequipa; to the East, with the departments of Huancavelica and Ayacucho and to the West, with Grau´s Sea. Given its strategic location, it is an open gate to the coast, for the production of the departments of Ayacucho, Cusco and Huancavelica.

• Surface: 21,327.83 km²
• Latitude South: 12º57´42”
• Longitude West: Between the meridians 75º36´43” and 76º23´48”
• Demographic density: 31.2 inhabitants/km²
• Total population: 665,592 inhabitants.

Ica has a hot desert-like dry subtropical climate, with average temperatures around 22ºC. In contrast with the central coastline, like in Ancash and Lima, Ica´s climate is dry and sunny even during the winter months, although we must warn that winter nights are colder and temperatures can fall to 7 or 8ºC. Summers are hotter and dry than on Peru´s central coast and temperatures can reach up to 36ºC, especially in the city of Ica which is located more inland. The presence of strong winds (paracas) is very common during the summer months.

The Ballestas Islands

The Ballestas Islands are a group of small islands near the city of Pisco, In Peru. They are composed of rock formations in which dwells an important marine fauna with marine birds like the guanay, piquero and zarcillo. The North, Center and South Ballestas Islands mainly stand out; each one of them with an estimated surface of 0.12 km².

One can also appreciate there the presence of endangered species of Peruvian penguins. Furthermore, the Ballestas Islands are the refuge of two varieties of seals (fine and rustic seals), as well as other mammals.
These seals love to get close to tourist boats and jump around them, in a show that in itself, fully justifies the visit.

It also is of special interest to listen to the herds of seals, as one gets close to these islands, as it gives the impression to be surrounded to 360 degrees by these animals and the sound show is particularly singular and unmatchable. Besides, these seals are inoffensive.

One can go to these islands from the Paracas Resort, near Pisco, on a boat circuit, which allows the safe observation of these species in their natural habitat. The complete circuit lasts between four and five hours.
On the way to the Ballestas Islands, one can appreciate The Trident or Candlestick which is a gigantic design carved on the mountainside and serves as an indicator for navigators, as it is related to the Nazca and Pampas de Jumana Lines.

Although the visit to the Ballestas Islands is, from the eco-tourism point of view, the best known excursion on the Peruvian coast, since a few years, the Palomino Islands in El Callao, have turned into an alternative for visitors who, for different reasons, cannot go to Paracas.

Nazca Lines

The Nazca Lines, as they are best known, are located in the Pampas de Jumana, in the Nazca Desert, between the localities of Nazca and Palpa, in Peru. They were carved by the Nazca culture and are composed of several hundreds of designs from simple lines to complex plant-shape, zoomorphic and geometrical figures that appear carved on the ground surface.
What is astonishing is that these lines can only be fully observed from the air, flying over the desert, which has given rise to great questions on their authors´ intentions and skills.
It is considered that these designs carved on the ground were elaborated by inhabitants of the Nazca culture who lived in that region, between 200 b.C. and 700 a.C. Given the superposition of designs, it is believed that they might have been carved in two different stages: First the figures and then, the lines. However, given the soil´s characteristics, it is very hard to put a relatively accurate date on the time period during which they were carved, especially due to the difficulty in the application of the Carbon 14 dating system which didn´t give convincing results. Therefore, scientists had to use other methods, such as the comparison of the figures carved on the ground, with designs found on pottery of the Nazca culture.

Since 1994, the UNESCO´S Committee has registered the Nazca and Pampas de Jumana Lines and figures, as Humanity´s Patrimony.