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

Old cellars, bold pisco, and desert-grown grapes. This five-hour outing gives you a useful introduction to Ica’s wine country, starting at South America’s oldest winery and continuing to two family and artisan producers. I like the mix of Tacama’s polished tour and the more personal feel of Lovera and Cutur Pisco. I also like that pickup and return are included from Ica or Huacachina. The main catch is practical: the tour costs $25 per person, but Tacama’s entry fee and lunch are extra.

You’ll taste wines, piscos, cachinas, pisco creams, and sparkling wines while guides work in English or Spanish. I appreciate the range, but this is a group tour with several stops packed into five hours, so you should expect a brisk introduction rather than a long, leisurely winery stay.

Key points at a glance

• Tacama is the headline stop: Visit the oldest winery in South America, with a guided tour and tastings of wine, pisco, and sparkling wine.
• Lovera is family-run: La Vieja Bodega Lovera was founded in 1867 and is now managed by the fourth generation.
• Cutur preserves old wine-making traditions: The artisan winery includes Spanish cellars dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.
• Lunch is your own expense: You get about one hour for regional food at the vineyard restaurant, but the meal and drinks are not included.
• Pickup keeps the day simple: Transport from your hotel in Ica or Huacachina is included, with pickup about 15 minutes before departure.
• Monday changes the plan: Tacama is closed on Mondays, so the visit is replaced by Hacienda Vista Alegre.

Why this wine tour works well in Ica

Ica is one of Peru’s main wine and pisco regions, and this tour gives you three different ways to understand that tradition. You begin with a major historic winery, move to a family operation, then finish at an artisan producer where older production methods remain part of the visit.

That variety matters. A tour that visits only one large winery can feel polished but limited. A tour that visits only tiny producers may lack context. Here, you get both sides: a formal winery experience at Tacama and a closer look at family and artisan production at Lovera and Cutur.

The tastings are another strong point. You are not limited to one glass of wine. The program includes wines, pisco, pisco creams, cachinas, and sparkling wines. That gives you a better sense of how Ica’s grape products differ in strength, sweetness, texture, and use.

I would not book this as a specialist wine course. The focus is sightseeing, tasting, and local tradition. You’ll learn through the guide’s explanations and the places themselves, but the short schedule means the information is likely to stay at an accessible level.

The tour costs $25 per person, which is reasonable for hotel pickup, return transport, a guide, and tastings at several wineries. Still, you need to budget for Tacama’s entrance fee, listed as 25 soles, plus an additional 5 soles on holidays. Lunch and drinks are also separate. The real price is therefore higher than the advertised tour amount, though the included transport adds useful value.

Starting from Ica or Huacachina

Pickup is included from your hotel in Ica or Huacachina. The van ride to the first stop takes about 20 minutes, and the operator asks you to be ready around 15 minutes before the activity begins.

That early pickup matters because this is a group outing. The van may collect other people, and the day follows a fixed route. You gain convenience, but you lose some freedom to linger or change the order of stops.

For most people staying in Huacachina, this is an easy way to reach the wineries without arranging a private taxi. You also avoid the bother of finding each bodega yourself. Bring cash for the entry fee, lunch, and any bottles or other purchases you may want.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the supplied information does not explain the surfaces, cellar access, or bathroom arrangements at each winery. If you use a wheelchair, confirm the details before booking, especially for the older cellar areas.

Tacama: the grand opening stop

Your first winery visit is Hacienda Tacama on Avenida Camino Real in Ica. It is described as the oldest winery in South America, making it the natural centerpiece of the day.

Tacama uses fine grapes to make wine, pisco, and sparkling wine. The guided visit lasts about two hours, so this is the longest stop on the route. You’ll have time for photos, a tour, sightseeing, and tastings.

This stop should suit you if you want a clear introduction to the scale and range of Ica’s wine industry. The setting provides a sense of place, while the tasting helps explain why pisco is more than simply a strong spirit. You can compare it with wine and pisco creams, then decide which styles appeal to you.

The entry fee is not included. Plan on 25 soles, with another 5 soles added on holidays. The tour includes tastings, but the separate entrance cost is easy to miss when you first see the $25 price. I would set aside the money before departure so you are not caught short.

Tacama closes for its weekly break on Mondays. On that day, the tour visits Hacienda Vista Alegre instead. The replacement is described as being in the same category as Tacama, but the actual visit will not be identical. If Tacama is your main reason for booking, avoid Monday or confirm the exact arrangement before you reserve.

La Vieja Bodega Lovera and four generations of family work

The second stop is La Vieja Bodega Lovera, also called Lovera Winery. This family winery was founded by Francisco Lovera and Ursula Moreno in 1867, and the fourth generation now runs it.

The visit lasts about one hour. Compared with Tacama’s larger operation, Lovera gives the route a more family-based character. The main attraction is the production of piscos, wines, and cachinas, a traditional Ica drink made from grape juice.

This is a useful stop for anyone who wants to connect the bottle with the people who keep the tradition going. The family story is not just a date on a sign. Four generations suggest a working continuity that helps explain why Ica’s pisco culture remains so important.

The tasting here adds another layer to the day. By this point, you have already tried products at Tacama, so pay attention to differences rather than treating each sample as just another drink. If you are driving, pregnant, taking medication, or simply do not drink alcohol, ask the guide about tasting portions. The supplied details confirm tastings but do not specify serving sizes or nonalcoholic alternatives.

Cutur Pisco and the old Spanish cellars

The final winery visit takes place at Fundo Hotel El Arrabal, where you visit the tourist winery Cutur Pisco. It is an artisan producer that keeps traditional wine and pisco methods alive.

The most unusual feature here is the presence of authentic Spanish cellars from the 16th and 17th centuries. That gives the stop a stronger sense of age than a standard tasting room. You are not only sampling piscos, wines, and cachinas. You are also seeing old spaces connected with the region’s wine-making past.

The visit itself takes about one hour, followed by another hour set aside for lunch. The schedule makes Cutur both a winery stop and the day’s meal break.

I like this arrangement because you can taste first, then sit down for typical dishes from the Ica Region. Lunch is not included, and drinks are also extra, so check the menu and prices before ordering. The restaurant setting is convenient, but this is not a free meal bundled into the tour.

The phrase free time is important here. You should expect time to eat and look around, but not necessarily a full restaurant experience with an open-ended schedule. Keep an eye on the meeting time so the van can return everyone to Ica on schedule.

What the five-hour timing feels like

The published schedule adds up to roughly five hours:

• About 20 minutes of transport to the wine route
• Two hours at Tacama
• One hour at Lovera
• One hour at Cutur
• One hour for lunch
• About 20 minutes returning to Ica

The timing is efficient, but it is also full. You’ll make three winery visits, taste several products, take photos, and eat lunch within a half-day. I would choose this tour if you want a broad introduction without giving up an entire day.

You may find the pace too quick if you prefer long tastings, detailed producer conversations, or plenty of shopping time. The group format means the guide must keep everyone moving. On the other hand, the fixed route helps you see more than you likely would on your own in the same period.

The tour includes a guide in English or Spanish. When booking, select the language that works best for you and confirm availability for your date. Some content may be presented in its original language, so you may occasionally hear names or local terms without a full translation.

Tastings, lunch, and what to bring

The tastings are included in the tour, covering wine and pisco. The stops also feature pisco creams, cachinas, and sparkling wines, although the exact order and number of samples can vary.

Because alcohol is central to the day, eat carefully and pace yourself. Lunch comes after the winery visits, not before, according to the schedule. A light meal before pickup may help if you are sensitive to tastings on an empty stomach.

At Cutur, you can order typical food from the Ica Region. The meal is your own expense, and the same applies to drinks. Cash is worth carrying because it can cover entry, lunch, and small purchases without relying on a card machine.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Bring a camera, charged smartphone, biodegradable sunscreen, and biodegradable insect repellent. Cash is also listed as an important item. The advice is simple but useful for a day split between outdoor paths, winery buildings, and older cellar spaces.

Do not bring alcohol or drugs for consumption on the tour. Fireworks and explosive substances are also prohibited. That sounds obvious, but clear rules are helpful on a group outing involving alcohol tastings.

Who should book this experience

I would recommend this tour to you if you:

• Want to visit several Ica wineries in one half-day
• Prefer included hotel transport
• Enjoy tasting both wine and pisco
• Like a mix of major, family-run, and artisan producers
• Want time for regional food without arranging lunch separately
• Need an English or Spanish-speaking guide
• Are staying in Ica or Huacachina

It is less suitable if you want a private tour, a slow food-and-wine day, or a specialist lesson about grape varieties and production methods. The group format and fixed timetable favor convenience over flexibility.

The operator lists the activity as unsuitable for people with epilepsy, visual impairments, recent surgeries, or insect allergies. That advice should be taken seriously. The route may include winery grounds and older cellar areas, but the available details do not explain every physical condition at each stop.

Booking value and practical details

The $25 price is a fair starting point for a five-hour group tour with hotel pickup, return transport, a live guide, and tastings. It is not the final amount you should plan to spend.

Add Tacama’s 25-sol entrance fee, plus 5 soles on holidays, unless the Monday replacement applies. Then add lunch, drinks, and any purchases. The total remains sensible for a half-day route, but the extra charges should be part of your decision.

You can reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Ica schedule may change. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. Availability and starting times should be checked for your date.

The tour includes skip-the-ticket-line access, although you still need to pay Tacama’s separate entrance charge. Pickup is normally 15 minutes before the activity time, and return transport takes you back to Ica at the end.

Should you book the Tacama and Lovera wine route?

Book it if you want an easy, well-packed introduction to Ica’s wine and pisco culture. The strongest reasons are the two-hour Tacama visit, Lovera’s four-generation family connection, and Cutur’s old Spanish cellars. The variety makes the $25 base price worthwhile, especially if you are staying in Huacachina without your own transport.

Think twice if you dislike group schedules or want an unhurried tasting. Also avoid Monday if seeing Tacama itself is essential, since Hacienda Vista Alegre replaces it. Bring cash, budget separately for the entrance fee and lunch, and you’ll have a much clearer idea of the day’s real cost.

FAQ

How long does the Tacama and artisanal winery tour last?

The tour lasts about five hours, including transport, winery visits, tastings, and a lunch break.

Where does the tour depart from?

Pickup is available from your hotel in Ica or Huacachina. You should be ready about 15 minutes before the scheduled activity time.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Pickup and return to your hotel in Ica or Huacachina are included.

Is the Tacama entrance fee 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 its weekly break on Mondays. The tour replaces that stop with Hacienda Vista Alegre, which is described as being in the same category as Tacama.

Are wine and pisco tastings included?

Yes. Pisco and wine tastings are included. The winery visits also feature products such as pisco creams, cachinas, and sparkling wines.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. You receive about one hour of free time for lunch at the vineyard restaurant, but food and drinks are not included.

Are English-speaking guides available?

Yes. Guided tours are available in English and Spanish.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.