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

Pisco begins where the desert meets the grapevines. This five-hour outing from Ica or Huacachina combines South America’s oldest winery with two family-run producers, giving you both polished tastings and old-fashioned cellar traditions. I like the mix of wine, pisco, sparkling wine, and pisco creams, and I like that lunch time is built into the day rather than treated as an afterthought.

The main drawback is the extra admission fee at Tacama, which is not included in the $25 price. Monday departures also need attention because Tacama closes for its weekly break and the visit changes to Hacienda Vista Alegre.

Key points at a glance

• Tacama dates to Peru’s early wine and pisco tradition: The first stop is Hacienda Tacama, described as the oldest winery in South America.
• Three wineries give you different perspectives: You visit Tacama, La Vieja Bodega Lovera, and the artisan Cutur Pisco winery.
• Tastings are central to the day: Expect wines, piscos, sparkling wines, cachinas, and pisco creams.
• Lunch features Ica cooking: You get one hour of free time for regional food, though lunch and drinks cost extra.
• Monday has a useful substitution: Hacienda Vista Alegre replaces Tacama when Tacama is closed.
• Pickup keeps the logistics simple: Transport is included from your hotel in Ica or Huacachina, with return to the same area.

Why this Pisco Route makes sense from Ica

Ica is one of Peru’s key wine and pisco areas, and this tour gives you a practical way to see several producers without arranging separate taxis or trying to judge distances yourself. The route lasts about five hours, including roughly 20 minutes of transport each way, so it fits well into a free morning or afternoon.

I like that the day does not rely on one grand attraction. Instead, you see how the region’s drink-making traditions work at different scales. Tacama offers the best-known historic name. Lovera adds a family story dating to 1867. Cutur Pisco focuses on artisan methods and older cellar spaces.

The tour costs $25 per person, which is a fair starting price for hotel pickup, return transport, a guide in English or Spanish, and tastings. You need to add the Tacama entrance fee of 25 soles, plus another 5 soles on holidays. Lunch and drinks are also separate, so the final cost will be higher than the advertised amount.

That price makes the outing most useful if you want an organized visit to several wineries. It is less appealing if you only want a quick tasting at one producer or if you plan to spend very little beyond the booking fee.

The ride from Ica or Huacachina

Pickup is included from hotels in Ica or Huacachina. The stated pickup time is 15 minutes before departure, and this is a group tour, so be ready early. A van ride of about 20 minutes takes you toward the first winery.

The transport is not the point of the excursion, but it removes a practical problem. You do not need to find each winery, arrange a driver after tasting alcohol, or work out how to get back to your hotel. That matters in a half-day outing with three separate stops.

Bring cash. You may need it for the Tacama admission, lunch, drinks, or other purchases. Comfortable clothes and shoes are sensible because the day includes walking, sightseeing, and time in winery spaces. A charged phone and camera will help with photos, while biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent are recommended.

Hacienda Tacama, the historic first stop

The tour begins at Hacienda Tacama on Av. Camino Real 390 in Ica. The visit lasts about two hours, making it the longest stop of the day. That extra time gives the guide room to explain the winery, show production areas, and lead tastings rather than rushing you from one sample to the next.

Tacama uses selected grapes to produce wines, pisco, and sparkling wines. You can expect the tasting to cover several of the winery’s products, with the exact selection depending on what is being served during your visit. The range is useful because it shows that pisco is not simply another name for wine. It is a separate part of Peru’s grape-based tradition, with its own place on the tasting table.

The site also gives the tour historical weight. You are not just stopping at a shop for a bottle. You are visiting a winery with a long place in South American wine production, then comparing its products with smaller family operations later in the day.

Tacama admission is not included. Budget 25 soles for the regular entrance, or 30 soles on holidays according to the supplied fee information. This is the most important cost detail to understand before booking.

Tacama closes on Mondays. On that day, the itinerary substitutes Hacienda Vista Alegre, described as a winery of the same category. If Tacama is the main reason you want this excursion, avoid Monday or confirm the replacement before you go. If your bigger interest is wine and pisco production in general, the substitution still keeps the basic shape of the day intact.

La Vieja Bodega Lovera and its 1867 family story

The second winery is La Vieja Bodega Lovera, also called Lovera Winery. The stop lasts about one hour and follows the large historic winery with a more personal family setting.

Francisco Lovera and Ursula Moreno founded the bodega in 1867. The fourth generation of the family currently manages it, giving you a direct connection between the older foundation and the present-day business. That family continuity is one of the best reasons to keep this stop on the route.

The main attraction here is the range of piscos, wines, and cachinas. Cachina is a traditional grape drink associated with the Ica area, and tasting it alongside wine and pisco helps you see the wider local drinking culture. If you enjoy comparing styles, this stop may be more interesting than a single branded tasting because the family winery presents a different character from Tacama.

The one-hour limit keeps the visit focused. You should expect a guided explanation and tasting rather than a long independent wander. That suits a half-day schedule, though anyone hoping for a slow lunch or extended shopping stop may find the pace brisk.

Cutur Pisco and the old Spanish cellars

The third stop is the tourist winery Cutur Pisco at Fundo, Hotel El Arrabal. This is described as an artisan winery where the traditional production of wine and pisco has been maintained through the years.

The cellar is the unusual feature. The winery contains authentic Spanish cellars from the 16th and 17th centuries. That detail gives the final stop a stronger sense of place than a standard tasting room. You are seeing old spaces tied to the region’s production story, not only sampling finished bottles.

Piscos, wines, and cachinas again lead the tasting. Repetition is part of the design here. By this point, you have visited three producers and can compare how a major historic winery, a multigenerational family bodega, and an artisan producer present similar products.

The visit is listed as one hour, with an additional hour set aside for lunch. The schedule therefore gives you time to eat at the restaurant at this vineyard. Lunch is not included, and drinks are also extra, so check the menu and prices before ordering if you are keeping to a budget.

Lunch with food from the Ica region

Lunch is a welcome pause after several tastings. The restaurant at the vineyard offers typical dishes from the Ica region, giving you a chance to try local food instead of spending the entire day on liquid samples.

I recommend treating lunch as part of the cultural value of the tour, even though it is not included in the price. Regional dishes can add context to the wines and piscos, and a proper meal is sensible during an activity that involves alcohol.

The schedule allows one hour for lunch and free time. That is enough for a relaxed meal if service is prompt, but it is not an open-ended restaurant visit. You should not expect time for a long meal, an extended walk, and leisurely shopping all at once.

Because the tour includes tastings at several stops, eat sensibly and use the lunch break well. The supplied information does not specify the dishes or drink prices, so bring cash and ask what is available when you arrive.

What the tastings are really worth

The tastings are included, and they are the strongest part of the package. You get to try wines and piscos, with sparkling wine, pisco creams, and cachinas also part of the broader selection described for the wineries.

This variety makes the $25 base cost more useful than a simple transfer service. You are paying for access to several stops, explanations in English or Spanish, and a guided tasting program. The guide helps connect the products to the places where they are made.

Do not treat the tasting as a full bottle-by-bottle master class. The tour has only five hours and includes transport, three winery visits, and lunch. The emphasis is on introduction, comparison, and enjoyment.

If you already know a great deal about Peruvian pisco, you may want more technical detail than a group format can provide. For a first introduction, though, the range should give you a good sense of what to seek out later.

Timing, language, and practical comfort

Live guiding is available in English and Spanish. Some content may appear in its original language, so an English-language tour can still include Spanish names, labels, or explanations. If a particular language is essential, confirm availability when checking the departure time.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible. It is not suitable for people with epilepsy, visual impairment, recent surgeries, or insect allergies. Those restrictions are important, especially because the outing includes winery grounds and outdoor movement. If you have a medical concern not covered here, ask the operator before booking.

Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. Biodegradable sunscreen and insect repellent are recommended, along with a camera and charged smartphone. Do not bring alcohol or drugs, fireworks, or explosive substances.

The tour offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which is useful if your Ica schedule depends on transport or weather. Check the available start times because the exact departure schedule is not fixed in the supplied details.

Who should book this half-day outing

I would recommend this tour to you if you are staying in Ica or Huacachina and want a simple introduction to the region’s wine and pisco culture. It suits people who enjoy guided visits, tastings, historic buildings, and a regional meal without planning every transfer themselves.

It is also a good choice for mixed-interest groups. One person may care about pisco, another about architecture or family history, and someone else about lunch. The three stops offer enough variety to keep the day from becoming one long tasting counter.

You may want a different plan if your priority is a quiet, highly specialized winery visit. The group format and fixed schedule leave less room for lingering. You should also consider the extra Tacama entrance fee and lunch cost before deciding that $25 is your complete budget.

Book with special care on a Monday. Tacama will be replaced by Hacienda Vista Alegre, so the day remains a winery route, but it will not include the oldest winery named in the main plan.

Should you book the Tacama and Ica winery tour?

Book it if you want variety and easy transport in one half-day. The combination of Tacama, the 1867 Lovera family winery, Cutur Pisco, several tastings, and Ica food gives you more depth than a single stop, while the included pickup keeps the day straightforward.

Skip it if Tacama admission, lunch, and drinks push the total beyond your budget, or if you prefer to explore one winery at your own pace. For most first-time visitors based in Ica or Huacachina, though, the route offers a solid introduction to Peru’s pisco country, with enough history and family tradition to make the tastings meaningful.

FAQ

How long does the winery tour last?

The tour lasts five hours, including transport between Ica and the wineries.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup and return are provided at hotels in Ica or Huacachina.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Van transportation is included, with about 20 minutes of travel each way between Ica and the winery route.

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 take the tour on Monday?

Hacienda Tacama closes on Mondays. The tour replaces it with Hacienda Vista Alegre, described as a winery of the same category.

Are wine and pisco tastings included?

Yes. Pisco and wine tastings are included. The winery visits can also include sparkling wine, pisco creams, and cachinas.

Is lunch included?

No. You have one hour for lunch at the restaurant at the vineyard, but the meal and drinks cost extra.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide is available in English and Spanish. Some content may be presented in its original language.

Is the tour wheelchair accessible?

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

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, comfortable clothes, a camera, biodegradable sunscreen, cash, a charged smartphone, and biodegradable insect repellent. Alcohol, drugs, fireworks, and explosive substances are not allowed.