Ica Desert

Ica Desert

The Ica desert was once a shallow ocean basin before tectonic movements millions of years ago thrust it upward. Today, it is a dry, arid, starkly beautiful desert known for adventure travel. Popular Ica Desert sports include sandboarding and dune buggy trips.

The area is known to scientists as a hot spot for finding marine fossils. Many fascinating marine animals lived in the area that would become the Ica desert, including Carcharocles megalodon, an enormous shark that may have measured fifty feet in length. At approximately 25 tons, it was one of the largest predators ever. It ate whales.

Fortunately for today's visitor, there are no more Carcharocles megalodons in the Ica desert, but if you're lucky, you may see some fossils.

Tours to the Ica desert are available in the town of Ica. They range from day trip for dune buggy riding and sandboarding to weeklong outback adventure camping.

Location:
Ica, Peru

Adventure Tour

Open Hours from:Select one

Travel Skills: None

By Christopher Minster

I am a writer and editor at V!VA Travel guides here in Quito, where I specialize in adding quality content to the site and also in spooky things like...

Created: 25 Aug 2005

Updated: 13 Feb 2006

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