From Ica or Huacachina: Tour to Tacama Vineyard and Artisanal Winery.

Pisco country begins with a cellar door. This five-hour outing from Ica or Huacachina connects three traditional wineries, from South America’s oldest winery to a family-run artisan producer, with plenty of wine, pisco, and pisco cream to sample. I like the mix of polished touring and old-fashioned production, and I like that English and Spanish guides make the visit easy to follow. The main catch is that lunch and Tacama’s entry fee cost extra, so the $25 price is not the final bill.

You get hotel pickup and return, a short van ride between stops, and roughly four hours at the wineries and restaurant. I especially like the family story at La Vieja Bodega Lovera, founded in 1867, and the chance to eat typical Ica food at the final stop. Keep some cash handy, because tastings do not cover everything and Tacama charges 25 soles for admission, plus 5 soles on holidays.

Key points to know before you book

• Tacama is the headline stop: Visit the winery described as the oldest in South America, with tastings of wine, pisco, and sparkling wine.
• Monday plans change: Tacama closes for a weekly break on Mondays, so the tour visits Hacienda Vista Alegre instead.
• Lovera is a family winery: La Vieja Bodega Lovera dates to 1867 and is now run by the fourth generation.
• The final stop includes lunch time: Cutur Pisco at Fundo Hotel El Arrabal offers a restaurant break, but lunch and drinks are not included.
• The tour lasts five hours: Allow about 20 minutes each way for transport from Ica, plus guided visits and tasting time.
• The fee needs a closer look: The $25 price includes hotel transport and tastings, but not Tacama admission or lunch.

Why this Ica wine tour is worth your afternoon

Ica’s wineries give you a different side of Peru. The region is known for pisco, Peru’s grape spirit, but the local tradition also includes table wine, sweet pisco creams, sparkling wine, and cachina, a young grape drink linked to regional production.

This tour works well because it places several styles of winery in one half-day. Tacama gives you the major historic name. Lovera brings in a smaller family business. Cutur Pisco focuses on artisan methods and adds a meal break. You do not have to arrange separate taxis or compare opening hours, which is useful if you are staying in Huacachina and want an easy way to reach the countryside around Ica.

The schedule is brisk but sensible. Pickup begins 15 minutes before the stated activity time, and the drive from Ica takes about 20 minutes. The return trip takes another 20 minutes. That leaves close to four hours for winery visits, tastings, sightseeing, and lunch time.

Because this is a group tour, you should expect a shared van and a fixed pace. That is a fair trade for the low price, but it is not the right choice if you want a private guide, long tasting sessions, or the freedom to linger at one property.

Starting at Tacama, South America’s oldest winery

Tacama is the major draw. The property is described as the oldest winery in South America, and its production centers on fine grapes used for wine, pisco, and sparkling wine. The visit lasts about two hours, making it the longest stop of the day.

You begin with a guided visit and time for photos. The tour then introduces the winery’s production and offers tastings of several products. That range matters. If you only know pisco as a strong clear spirit, this is a chance to compare it with wine, sparkling wine, and pisco creams.

Tacama is also the stop that gives the outing its broadest sense of scale and tradition. You are not visiting only to drink. You are seeing a working wine property with a long place in Ica’s grape-growing culture. The guide speaks English or Spanish, so confirm your preferred language when booking if that matters to you.

There is one important cost issue. Entry to Bodega Tacama is not included in the $25 tour price. The stated admission is 25 soles, with an additional 5 soles charged on holidays. The tour information also says you can skip the ticket line, but that does not mean the admission is free. Think of the skip-line feature as a time saver, not a discount.

Tacama closes for a break on Mondays. On that day, the visit changes to Hacienda Vista Alegre, described as a winery of the same category. If Tacama is the main reason you want to book, avoid Monday. If you mainly want a winery visit and tastings, the replacement keeps the general plan intact.

Meeting four generations at La Vieja Bodega Lovera

The second stop lasts about one hour and shifts the mood from major historic winery to family-run artisan producer. La Vieja Bodega Lovera is the mother winery of Lovera de Ica. Francisco Lovera and Ursula Moreno founded it in 1867, and the fourth generation now manages the business.

That family connection gives the stop a clear human focus. You get a look at a producer that has continued through several generations, rather than only hearing broad facts about Peruvian wine. The main attractions are pisco, wine, and cachina, so this is a useful place to compare products made in different styles.

The tasting is the center of the visit, but the guide-led walk gives the stop more shape. You can expect time for photos, sightseeing, and an explanation of the winery’s work. The one-hour limit keeps the tour moving, though it may feel short if you want to ask many questions or carefully compare every sample.

I would approach this stop with curiosity rather than a plan to find a single favorite bottle. The value is in seeing how a family winery fits into Ica’s long grape and pisco tradition. You also get a second tasting setting, which helps you notice differences in presentation and production between the larger Tacama visit and a more personal artisan operation.

Lunch and old cellars at Cutur Pisco

The final winery visit takes place at Fundo Hotel El Arrabal, where the tour includes the tourist winery Cutur Pisco. This is another artisan producer, with a focus on keeping traditional wine and pisco methods alive.

The unusual feature here is the cellars. The property contains authentic Spanish cellars dating from the 16th and 17th centuries. That detail gives the stop a strong sense of place, especially after the polished introduction at Tacama. You get a look at a much older kind of storage and production setting, though the supplied information does not specify exactly which cellar areas are open during the visit.

Pisco, wine, and cachina remain the main tasting subjects. The stop also gives you one hour for lunch and free time at the restaurant. Typical dishes from the Ica Region are available, but lunch and drinks are not part of the tour price. Ask about the meal cost before ordering, and keep cash with you as recommended in the tour information.

This lunch break is practical as well as pleasant. Without it, a five-hour wine tour could feel like one long sequence of tastings. Food gives you time to pause, and it is a chance to try local cooking rather than simply drinking products from the region.

The drawback is that one hour must cover both the winery visit and lunch time. If you want an unhurried meal, you may need to keep an eye on the clock. If you prefer a quick regional lunch before returning to your hotel, the schedule should work well.

What the $25 price really includes

At $25 per person, the tour offers good value for a half-day outing, especially if you are staying in Ica or Huacachina and would otherwise need to arrange transport to several wineries. Hotel pickup and return are included, along with pisco and wine tastings.

The price does not include everything. Add Tacama’s 25 soles admission, plus 5 soles on holidays. Lunch and drinks are also extra. The final amount will depend on what you order at the restaurant, so treat $25 as the base tour cost rather than the total cost of the day.

The value is strongest for someone who wants variety. You receive transport, a guide, three winery settings, and tastings across several local products. A private vehicle or custom winery route would likely cost more, but it would give you more control over timing.

The price is less appealing if you only want Tacama. In that case, paying for a group tour, a separate entry ticket, and lunch may not suit your plans. The best reason to book is the full Pisco Route experience, not one winery alone.

Transport, timing, and the group-tour rhythm

Pickup is included from your hotel in Ica or Huacachina. The van ride is listed at about 20 minutes each way, and the driver returns you to your hotel in Ica after the final stop. Pickup takes place 15 minutes before the activity time, so be ready early.

The tour lasts five hours, but the timetable is divided into clear blocks:

• About 20 minutes from Ica to the first winery
• Two hours at Tacama, or Hacienda Vista Alegre on Monday
• One hour at La Vieja Bodega Lovera
• One hour at Cutur Pisco and the restaurant
• About 20 minutes back to Ica

The transport arrangement makes this a simple add-on to an Ica or Huacachina stay. You do not need to find each winery yourself, and the shared vehicle keeps the route affordable.

A group tour also means you should be ready to move when the guide calls the group together. The tasting stops are scheduled, and the final lunch period is not open-ended. For a slower visit, choose a private option if one is available, but for a first look at Ica’s wine country, the group format is efficient.

What to bring for a comfortable visit

Wear comfortable shoes and light, comfortable clothes. You will be walking around winery properties and standing during guided visits, so practical footwear matters more than dressing up.

Bring a camera and a charged smartphone for photos, contact with your hotel, and any booking details. Biodegradable sunscreen and biodegradable insect repellent are recommended, along with cash for the Tacama fee, lunch, and drinks.

The tour notes that alcohol and drugs, fireworks, and explosive substances are not allowed. That is obvious advice for a winery visit, but it is worth remembering that the tastings are part of a planned activity, not an invitation to bring your own alcohol.

The tour is listed as wheelchair accessible. At the same time, it is not suitable for people with epilepsy, visual impairments, recent surgeries, or insect allergies. If any of those conditions apply, contact the provider before paying, since the suitability information is more specific than the general accessibility label.

English guides, Monday changes, and booking flexibility

Guided visits are offered in English and Spanish. Since the tour includes explanations at three different winery settings, language can make a real difference. Choose the language you understand best so the production details and tasting notes do not get lost.

The provider is Ica Discovery Tours. You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Ica plans are still shifting. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund.

Check the starting time when you book, since availability determines the exact departure. Also check the day of the week. Monday is the one day with a clear itinerary change, because Hacienda Tacama is replaced by Hacienda Vista Alegre.

Some activity content may appear in its original language. That is not necessarily a problem, but it is another reason to confirm the guide language and ask questions during the visits.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want a convenient introduction to Ica’s pisco culture without spending a full day arranging transport. It suits first-time visitors, couples, small groups, and anyone staying in Huacachina who wants more than dune views and a short desert outing.

It is also a good match if you enjoy comparing places. Tacama offers the major historic name, Lovera provides a family-run setting, and Cutur Pisco adds artisan production, old cellars, and a restaurant stop.

You may want to skip it if you do not drink alcohol, dislike scheduled group tours, or want a long, slow lunch. You should also think twice if Tacama is essential and your only available day is Monday. The Vista Alegre replacement keeps the tour going, but it is not the same winery.

Should you book the Tacama and Lovera tour?

Book it if you want strong variety for a modest base price. The combination of historic Tacama, fourth-generation Lovera, artisan Cutur Pisco, regional food, and hotel transport gives you a useful look at Ica’s wine and pisco culture in five hours.

Before booking, budget for Tacama’s admission, lunch, and drinks. Avoid Monday if you specifically want Tacama, and arrive ready for a group schedule. With those details clear, this is a practical and worthwhile way to spend an afternoon in Ica.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup is available from your hotel in Ica or Huacachina. The tour information states that pickup takes place 15 minutes before the activity time.

How long does the tour last?

The full experience lasts five hours, including transport, winery visits, tastings, and lunch time.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Pickup and return to your hotel in Huacachina or Ica are included. The van ride is listed as about 20 minutes each way.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch and drinks are not included. You have free time to eat at the restaurant at Fundo Hotel El Arrabal.

Is entry to Tacama included?

No. Entry to Bodega Tacama costs 25 soles, with an additional 5 soles on holidays.

What happens if I visit on a Monday?

Hacienda Tacama takes a break on Mondays. The tour replaces it with Hacienda Vista Alegre, described as being in the same category as Tacama.

Which languages are available?

The live tour guide is available in English or Spanish.

What will I taste?

The tastings include wine and pisco. The winery visits also feature pisco creams, sparkling wines, and cachina.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. It is not suitable for people with epilepsy, visual impairments, recent surgeries, or insect allergies.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The tour also offers a reserve-now-and-pay-later option.