Evening in Ica settles early, and the centre fills with people eating, drinking and talking long after the heat of the day has gone. Pisco sours are poured in bars and restaurants across the city, and on Friday and Saturday nights the dancing continues well past midnight.
Ica's nightlife is built around drinking and dancing rather than a long list of venues. It suits visitors who want a straightforward evening: a meal, a pisco-based drink, and a club that fills up with a mixed local crowd of younger and middle-aged people. If you are looking for a wide choice of bars or a late-night street scene, set your expectations accordingly.
Where to go out in Ica
1. The city's discotecas
Dancing is the main form of nightlife in Ica. The Who is the most popular discoteca in the city, and on Friday and Saturday nights it draws a crowd of young and middle-aged people who dance and drink into the small hours.
This suits you if you want a proper night out rather than a quiet drink. If you are planning a Friday or Saturday, expect the venue to be at its fullest then.
2. Bars and restaurants serving pisco
Pisco Sour, the Peruvian cocktail, is sold at numerous locations in Ica, so you can find it without seeking out a specialist bar. Pisco itself, the fermented grape liqueur, is also available, though most visitors find it too potent to drink neat.
This is the easiest kind of evening to arrange: a drink with or after dinner, no fixed plan required.
3. Anywhere serving cachina
Cachina is a sweet, wine-like drink that is the precursor to pisco, and it is sold in Ica alongside the better-known pisco drinks. It is a gentler option if you find pisco too strong.
Try it if you want to drink something local without committing to a full night of spirits.
How a night out unfolds
The sources do not describe mealtimes or typical going-out hours in Ica. What is clear is that Friday and Saturday are the nights when the city's discotecas fill with people dancing and drinking, so those are the evenings to plan around if dancing is what you are after.
Festivals and events worth timing a trip around
- Battle of Angamos — 8 October
- All Saints' Day — 1 November
- All Souls' Day — 2 November
- Feast of the Immaculate Conception — 8 December
- Battle of Ayacucho — 9 December
- Christmas Eve — 24 December
- Christmas Day — 25 December
- New Year's Eve — 31 December
- New Year's Day — 1 January
- The Three Wise Men Day — 6 January
- Maundy Thursday — March (date varies)
- Good Friday — March (date varies)
Frequently asked questions
What is the main kind of nightlife in Ica?
Dancing. The city's discotecas are the centre of a night out, with The Who described as by far the most popular of them.
Which nights are busiest?
Friday and Saturday nights, when the most popular discoteca is full of young and middle-aged people dancing and drinking.
What should I drink in Ica?
Pisco Sour is sold at numerous locations in the city. Pisco itself is also available, though most visitors find it too potent to drink pure, and cachina, a sweet wine-like precursor to pisco, is another option.
Should I plan around a festival?
If your trip falls near All Saints' Day, All Souls' Day, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, Christmas, New Year or the March observances of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, expect those dates to shape the mood of the city.
Decide whether your evening is for dancing or for a slow pisco sour, pick your night accordingly, and plan around the weekend if the discotecas are what you came for.