24.05 Ica

After a last breakfast in our amazing hotel, we are cruising down the Pan American Highway, with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean on the right and a dry stone dessert on the right. Frequently we see droves of large chicken coops – I guess supplying a city of 8 million people with chicken doesn’t work with traditional methods anywhere. 

By the time we arrived in Ica, the stone dessert had changed to a sand dessert. Wine yards have been frequently decorating the view on both sides of the road – this is Peru’s wine country. 

 In the evening we visit what is my biggest surprise thus far – we visit the Huacachina Lagoon, a desert Oasis that makes you feel like you are in the middle of the Sahara desert. I climb up the sand dune to see the sunset, and get a whole new appreciation for people that have to walk through the desert.

The next morning we visit a winery where they also produce Pisca, Peru’s national drink. It comes in a “softer” version and in a hard-liquor version. It’s a small family business, and Sophia (I guess the daughter of the owners) gives us a tour of the place and explains the production process. After tasting their products we buy a few bottles and get on our way.