Marcona, the hidden destination in Ica

Good morning to each and every one of you!

I hope you are having a good time this summer. Ica is one of those destinations that doesn't stop having more than one interesting part to visit; it has so many things that leave everyone surprised! On the one hand, there are its wonderful deserts, along with its islands with sea lions as well... but Ica is much more than that, and in this article we are going to be able to realise that the adventure in Ica is not over yet and that there are countless things to discover and have fun with. This post is dedicated to one of these places called Marcona.

Marcona the hidden destination of Ica

Among the coasts of the region of Ica lies one of the most beautiful areas of Peru, known as Marcona. The silence and tranquility of its waves that snake their way along the coast are part of the scenic beauty of this marine destination.

Location of Marcona

This destination is located about 530 kilometers south of Lima, in the province of Nazca in the far zone of the region of Ica, reaching almost the border of Arequipa.

San Juan de Marcona is located south of Ica about an hour from the city of Nazca, also known for having an iron mine. Marcona is nestled in a peaceful place bathed by a magical coast.

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To visit the coast of Marcona is to visit different coves like, for example, Punta blanca, where fish are caught and you can see a great quantity of animals like the well-known octopuses and shellfish. The people who live in this area carry out their fishing in a responsible way, since they have a minimum size of octopuses and fish to be allowed to take them from the sea. Different water sports, such as scuba diving, are also available here proving that in Marcona, you can enjoy an entire experience both inside and outside the sea.

Rocks that trigger the imagination

The great wealth of fish on the coasts of Peru's Pacific Ocean has made it possible to discover delicious ingredients to make different marine dishes with in Marcona, such as the traditional Ceviche. The best thing you can do in Marcona is to drive around in a 4x4 car and get lost on beaches like "Tres Hermanas". "Valdivia", "Los Leons", "Los Pingüinos" and the Valdivia Fairy's Viewpoint. In reality, there are countless options and everything is very close to Marcona so that you can enjoy the untouched landscape and intact nature that can be found here.

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In Marcona you can appreciate a large quantity of birds that fly in flock across the water on the beaches. On the other hand, in Marcona they have been able to find more than 60 stone figures that have been created by the randomness of nature like the mammoth, the turtle and other animals. Some of them are islets, which leads us to ask the question of how these jewels of nature could have been formed with the help of the wind, the sand and the Pacific Ocean.

The wind and water erosion has generated a park of figures in the open; one of the best natural wonders is the elephant who looks as if he were drinking the water from the sea of Marcona. From one of the high parts, there is a viewpoint where more and more figures can be seen, only a good sense of imagination is needed to be able to enjoy the nature here in all its splendor.

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In Marcona you can also appreciate figures of other animals, like the head of a gorilla for example, to contemplate the nature of Marcona is to fill yourself to the brim with good vibes, and to feel free and calm in this wide coast where there aren't very many visitors. Every little bit of the Marcona coast is a real natural phenomenon that you should come to visit!

There are many stone forests in the Andean zone of Peru, but the peculiar thing about Marcona is that it is in the middle of the sea, being in strong competition with other stone forests like, for example, those that are in the region of Lima and Pasco, this area of South America is full of surprises that can be discovered little by little.

The city of Marcona

Visiting the city of Marcona, you have to go through a quiet part that has a modern municipal building. A city that was founded more than half a century ago by the development of mining that was created near its territory. Today, Marcona is known for mining and fishing, however Marcona is blessed to be able to compete with the already well-known Paracas, which is the second most visited destination in Peru after Machu Picchu. I think of all that can be developed here, and the large influx of tourists that the Marcona area could receive once it becomes more well-known, there is no doubt about it that there is so much potential here.

It is not only the tourist destination that makes the place what it is, but also the people, and here in Marcona one can find great simplicity in the hospitality of the people through their attention to their authentic restaurants with regional flavour. One of the things you should try are their tasty tamales.

Punta San Juan

A state-protected area very close to San Juan, located only 10 minutes from the city of Marcona is a favorite place for Guano birds, Humboldt penguins, and pelicans.

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A sea lion can weigh up to 300 kilos, a real sea giant - the male is always surrounded by many females. In this area protected by the Peruvian State, you can find a lot of animals that are freely wandering here. Respect for nature and their habitat here is a natural environment where people make studies of this marine fauna.

The Humboldt penguins are other relatives of those in Antarctica, perhaps when they are walking around there it doesn't seem to be many of them, but if you look into the water and they are swimming there, you can find up to almost 3, 500 penguins.

Typical food in Marcona

The food in Marcona will get you ready to lick your fingers! Filled with care and attention by the people and the products from the sea, you will find a lot of typical dishes, one of the main ones of Marcona is the traditional picante with cochallullo which you can find in the restaurant Sabor. This dish is full of seaweed, made with a stew and rice. It is one of those dishes that will leave you surprised and it is because of this that Peru is one of the best gastronomic destinations in the world.

Beautiful beach

This is a place that you can visit, it is very close to the city of Marcona, it is a beautiful beach where people arrive by bicycle and others with their own cars, a destinations mainly for locals.

Marcona is a natural blessing and is an ideal place to disconnect from the city, from traffic and from crowds of people that can absorb our energy sometimes, here in Marcona you can recharge your energy to get back onto the right foot.

San Fernando

You can only get here by truck through the northern area of Marcona, this place is called San Fernando which used to be an old fishermen's cove. On the way, you can also find the Marcona Mine, the journey also includes an entry into the desert to enter into the national reserve of San Fernando, one of the areas protected by the state. It is a bay that will take your breath away when you see its desert coast and its blue sea surrounded by birds... it is a paradise. There are almost 154, 000 hectares of wonderful biodiversity cared for by the state due to the fact that here there is a desert area, dry forests and the marine part as well.

There is a phenomenon of an entirely active food chain here, since the natural production of plankton occurs here, which is first in line of the chain of life on the coast of Peru. Thanks to this, we have loads of animals such as sea lions, birds and more. How perfect does nature look when human beings do not interfere in it? San Fernando is the perfect place to get to know the daily life of San Fernando. San Fernando has existed as a reserve since 2011, and today it is open to sustainable tourism and fishing, so do not hesitate to come and visit this marine treasure when you come to the Ica region. Come further south to discover more nature, more destinations similarly little known, like San Fernando.

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San Fernando is part of a landscape reserve that must be protected for people who decide to come and for the next generations. The most spectacular thing is that here, you can camp between the sections of water.

One of the other marvellous things in San Fernando is that during the afternoon, you can cind the Condor of the Andes that flies through this territory. This bird is considered to be the largest in the world, it is also found in other Andean countries but it flies to this area to find food. When the sea lions die, the condors feed on their remains, which is why they come to visit here - because they form part of an entire food chain that has been maintained here for many centuries.

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The nature in this part of Peru is perfect for a camping trip and enjoying sunsets that are like a gift from Mother Nature. Spending a night here with a tent and watching the sunrise may be a little cold at first, but there's nothing else like it.

San Fernando has many more things to offer, such as touring the sand dunes. The area of Puerto Caballa has some virgin beaches that haven't been visited by many people yet. The reserve of San Fernando is the main attraction of San Marcona, but remember that the best thing you can do here is to come with a tour guide, because otherwise it will be very difficult to visit the best bits. The wind in some areas of this place is spectacularly strong, especially in the area of Puerto Caballa - which is a long bay with a beautiful large sea. In this inhospitable area, you can find fishermen who come from neighbouring areas such as Palpa and come here to find fish like anchovies and monkish. This place is only for visiting, since the wind is very strong.

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Nearby to the city of Nazca, after passing San Fernando, there is another destination with farm houses and man-made buildings called Changuillo, a quiet place with its parade ground made by farmers. This place is related to the history of Peru since it is said that this area was where one of the first wars between Patriotic and Realist troops was fought during the War of Independence in Peru.

Marcona is one of those destinations that is surprisingly infrequently visited by people and that holds a lot of different areas around the city, like the reserve of San Fernando and forests that are in front of the sea, its beaches, winds, and the flora and fauna that is here for us to discover and enjoy to the fullest.

Come and get to know this little bit of the Peruvian coast!

Thank you for reading this post, enjoy travelling! Marcona has islands made up of not only real animals, but also of animals created by the rocks of Mother Nature. It is a wonderful gift to be able to visit them and to realise that life has developed for thousands of years. It is always worth venturing to the places that are a bit more unknown, to have the pleasure of visiting places that are still virgin for the conventional traveller.

Thanks a million for reading this post, I hope it will be useful and I wish you a wonderful day, as always.

Goodbye!

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