Ica’s pisco route moves fast, in a good way. I like that this tour keeps things hands-on with tastings at multiple producers, including the oldest winery in South America at Tacama. I also like the size: with a maximum of 12 travelers, your guide can actually answer questions instead of rushing past you. One catch to plan for: the Tacama entrance ticket costs PEN 25 per person and is not included.

On the practical side, it’s built around a clear 5 to 6 hour window, with round-trip transport from Ica or Huacachina hotels (and bus-station pickup). You’ll also find tour times that fit your day, and you get some breathing room for lunch during the stop at El Arrabal.

Key highlights to know before you go

• Tacama is the anchor stop: billed as the oldest winery in South America, with wines, pisco, and sparkling wines.
• Small group size (max 12): more time to talk with the guide and ask about what you’re tasting.
• Two artisanal wineries plus Tacama: you’ll visit El Arrabal and Bodega Nietto, not just one factory stop.
• La Vieja Bodega Lovera includes a historic cellar: the visit includes the Spanish cava from the 16th and 17th centuries.
• Lunch is built in: you get free time to eat at the restaurant at El Arrabal.
• Monday schedule swap: Tacama closes on Mondays, so you’ll go to Hacienda Vista Alegre instead.

The basic deal: what you’re paying for ($30.77) and what you get

At about $30.77 per person for a 5 to 6 hour tour, this sits in the mid-range for Ica. The best value piece is that your money isn’t going only to transport. You’re paying for guided visits to multiple wineries/distilleries with tastings, plus round-trip pickup so you don’t have to figure out rides on your own.

Here’s the part to read carefully: Tacama’s entrance ticket is not included and runs PEN 25 per person. Everything else on the route is set up so you can focus on the experience—tastings, walking through the sites, and asking questions—without constant side quests for tickets.

Also, average booking time is around 15 days in advance, which is a hint to book early if you’re traveling around busy dates. This one also runs with a maximum of 12 travelers, so it’s not a giant bus-factory situation.

Getting there without stress: pickup options and timing

This is the kind of tour that respects your time. You’ll get reception at the bus station or pickup from your hotel in Ica or Huacachina. On holidays, pickup is at Plaza de Armas and Huacachina, and then drop-off happens at the Ica office or Plaza de Armas in Ica.

That matters because Ica can be spread out. If you’re coming in by bus, you don’t want to gamble with directions right at arrival. If you’re staying in Huacachina, you’ll be glad the route is planned around that too.

It also helps that you can choose from several start times. So if you’re the type who hates losing your whole day, you can usually work this into a schedule after breakfast or before dinner plans.

Tacama: the oldest winery stop (and the PEN 25 ticket you must budget)

Tacama is the “big” opening act. The stop is presented as the oldest winery in South America, currently operating under the name Hacienda Tacama. You’re visiting because it’s a serious production site, using fine grapes to produce wines, pisco, and sparkling wines.

What to expect here is straightforward: you’ll tour the industrial-style winery and then join tastings of their products. This is a good place to get oriented. If pisco is new to you, Tacama gives you a baseline of style and production scale before you head into the more artisanal stops later.

The key practical detail: Tacama entrance is PEN 25 per person and is not included in your tour price. Bring cash or be ready to pay by card if they accept it. This is the one extra cost that can surprise you if you assume everything is fully covered.

Monday note: Tacama is closed, so the tour swaps locations

If your tour lands on a Monday, Tacama is closed. In that case, you’ll visit Hacienda Vista Alegre instead. It’s described as the same category as Tacama, so the overall feel stays similar even though the name changes.

El Arrabal: an artisanal winery walk plus real lunch time

After Tacama, the tour shifts gears into more artisanal territory at Fundo El Arrabal. This part of the day focuses on continuing the pisco route by visiting well-known wineries, starting with El Arrabal as an artisanal producer where tradition has been preserved.

You’ll take a walk through the site and then have that important perk: free time to have lunch at the vineyard restaurant. This is one of those “small” inclusions that really changes the experience. You aren’t forced to eat something rushed off a vending tray between stops. You get to sit down and refuel, which matters because Ica wine and pisco tastings can sneak up on you.

Admission for this stop is included, so unlike Tacama, you shouldn’t have another hidden payment layer here.

La Vieja Bodega Lovera: the Spanish cellar moment

Right after El Arrabal, the tour includes a visit to an artisanal winery called La Vieja Bodega Lovera. Even though the tastings and piscos are the main event, the standout detail is the historic cellar setup: the winery keeps an authentic Spanish cava from the 16th and 17th centuries.

This is where the tour can feel more atmospheric. You’re not just drinking and moving on. You’re seeing how storage and aging fit into the story of the place. If you enjoy the physical side of wine—barrels, space, and how old production spaces were built—this stop adds texture.

Also, the tour keeps enough time in the schedule for you to take it in without feeling like you’re sprinting. That balance is part of what makes the small-group format worthwhile.

Bodega Nietto: a family operation dating to 1857

The final winery stop is Pisco Nietto, visited as Bodega Nietto. This isn’t just a random name on the itinerary. It’s presented as a mother winery originally founded by the Gonzalez Misa family in 1857, and it’s now in the hands of the 4th generation.

Again, this is one of the days where the “why” matters. When you’re tasting pisco and wine at a family operation with long continuity, you can often connect what you taste to the people and the tradition behind it. Even if you’re not a super deep wine person, it gives context.

The tastings here focus on piscos, wines, and cachinas. After the visit, you’re transferred back to your hotel in Ica.

Tastings and value: why this tour feels worth it

Here’s my take on the tastings: the best way to get value out of a winery tour is to use tastings as a comparison tool, not a race. Tacama gives you a sense of how a larger, long-established operation approaches grapes and production. Then El Arrabal and La Vieja Bodega Lovera bring in the artisanal feel, and Nietto finishes the day with family legacy and its set of signature products.

Because you’re visiting three main stops (Tacama, El Arrabal area including La Vieja Bodega Lovera, and Bodega Nietto), you get more chances to learn the difference between styles. If your group includes one person who wants to chat about history and another who just wants to taste and enjoy, the structure still works.

Also, the tour includes round-trip transport and free time for lunch during the El Arrabal stop. That’s a real value boost versus DIY. In Ica, transportation time can quietly eat the day. This tour handles that for you.

Group size and guide attention: what max 12 really changes

Max 12 travelers doesn’t sound dramatic, but on the ground it makes the difference between feeling like a number and feeling like you can ask stuff. You’ll get more time for questions about what you’re tasting, and you won’t spend as much of the day waiting while people line up for photos.

It also helps that guides in this program have been described as very communicative and knowledgeable. Names like William and Raúl have come up as examples of guides who explain pisco and help keep the day running smoothly, including when you have a second tour scheduled after.

If you like a tour that feels less scripted and more like hanging out with someone who knows the region, this small-group setup is part of the appeal.

Weather and schedule reality: plan like a local, not like a robot

This is an outdoor-or-at-least-grounded kind of tour, so good weather is required. If it’s canceled because of poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund. That’s how you want it to work.

Also, keep in mind the schedule swap on Mondays, as mentioned earlier. If Tacama is a must for you, pick your day carefully.

Who should book this Pisco and winery route

You’ll probably love this if:

• You want a guided path through Ica without juggling taxis between wineries.
• You enjoy tastings and want more than one producer to compare.
• You’re okay with a structured day that still includes lunch time.

You might not love it as much if:

• You prefer one long, slow visit over multiple stops. This route is active and moves through three wineries.
• You’re the type who hates any extra fees. Remember that Tacama’s PEN 25 ticket is separate.

If you’re in Ica or Huacachina for just a short stay, this is a strong way to see the pisco scene without burning your whole trip on logistics.

Should you book it: my honest call

I’d book this tour if you’re spending time in Ica or Huacachina and you want a well-paced intro to the region’s wine-and-pisco world. The combination of small group size, multiple stops, and tastings is what makes it feel like real value.

Just budget for Tacama’s PEN 25 entrance ticket, and double-check your day of the week if you’re aiming for the Tacama visit specifically. If you can do those two things, you’re set up for a memorable afternoon and a better understanding of what you’re tasting at each stop.