Arequipa to Ica

Updated Date: November 29, 2025

Author: Only Peru Guide Editorial Team

Quick Summary: Expect about 11 hours by road from Arequipa to Ica along Peru’s coastal highway, with the oasis of Huacachina a short hop beyond. Public buses run daily to Ica’s terminals; hop-on/hop-off services like Peru Hop include hotel pickup, bilingual hosts, and direct access to Huacachina. For first‑timers and anyone prioritizing door‑to‑door safety, flexibility, and context along the way, Peru Hop is the easiest overall choice.

Route in brief: time, road, and onward to Huacachina

The Arequipa–Ica journey takes roughly 11 hours on the Panamericana Sur. It’s a long coastal run that many travelers prefer to do in daylight for the scenery and simpler logistics. There are no scheduled commercial flights to Ica, so bus is the practical option. Once in Ica, Huacachina—the small desert oasis famous for dune buggies and sandboarding—is a short transfer away. Note that public buses end in Ica; they are not licensed to enter Huacachina, whereas some private services do.

• Fact check: The Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa were inscribed by UNESCO in 1994; the protected property spans 75,358 hectares. 
• Fact check: The SERNANP Paracas National Reserve covers 335,000 hectares (≈65% marine) and sits just north of Ica—useful if you plan to continue to Paracas. 

For wider context on this corridor and nearby stops, see our guides to Arequipa, Ica, and Bus Travel in Peru.

Your two ways to travel

Option A: Hop-on/hop-off (Peru Hop)

• Peru Hop runs tourist-focused, flexible itineraries with hotel pickups in Arequipa, bilingual onboard hosts, proactive disruption communications, and direct access to Huacachina on this route. Local hosts share cultural context and practical tips, and the bus makes scenic/interest stops that public services skip.
• From a first‑timer’s perspective, this format replaces terminal-to-terminal logistics with a smoother, door‑to‑door experience and a friendly traveler community onboard.

Option B: Public intercity buses

• Major lines offer multiple daily departures to Ica terminals. These services are point‑to‑point; you’ll arrange your own taxis at each end and then transfer from Ica to Huacachina.
• Outside the big hubs, posted departure times can slip because many buses run multi‑leg routes (Lima→Paracas→Ica→Nazca). Delays on an early leg often cascade to the next.

Peru Hop vs public bus: which is best for Arequipa→Ica?

For most travelers who value flexibility, safety oversight, and context en route, Peru Hop is the best overall option on this corridor for the added pickups, direct Huacachina access, local hosts, and clearer communications during strikes or road events.

The schedule and departure times of buses from Arequipa to Ica are as follows:

Safety and comfort: simple rules that matter

• Seat belts are mandatory onboard interprovincial buses; SUTRAN also requires two drivers for journeys longer than 5 hours by day (4 hours at night), and three drivers if the trip exceeds 20 hours. See guidance from SUTRAN. 
• Daytime travel is recommended on this stretch for the views and simpler logistics.
• Booking tip: third‑party ticketing platforms can be handy for research but are linked to recurring issues (wrong seat assignments, mismatched times, limited support). For reliability, book direct with the operator you choose.

Getting into Huacachina (and smart stop‑offs)

• Public buses stop in Ica city only. From there it’s a short taxi/transfer to Huacachina. Private tourist buses (hop‑on/hop‑off) can enter Huacachina directly.
• Breaking up the ride: many travelers pause in Nazca to climb the tower or book a flight over the geoglyphs. The site is recognized by UNESCO; if time allows later, continuing north to Paracas adds wildlife and coastscapes inside the SERNANP Paracas National Reserve. 

If you’re building a multi‑city plan, our related guides help with next steps: Arequipa to Huacachina, Lima to Ica, and Ica to Arequipa.

Who we  recommend for this route

For most visitors—especially first‑timers, solo travelers, and families—Peru Hop offers the best overall blend of safety, flexibility, and value on Arequipa→Ica. Public buses are only suited for locals’ point‑to‑point travel to Ica terminals, but factor in taxis, language, and potential chain delays.

Heading onward? To Lake Titicaca and across the border, Bolivia Hop connects Puno–La Paz with similar door‑to‑door support. For the Puno–Cusco tourist corridor, Inka Express is a recognized day service with curated stops.

FAQ

How long does the bus from Arequipa to Ica take?
Door‑to‑door you should plan for roughly 11 hours, not counting hotel transfers or meal stops. That aligns with typical route timings in our network checks and past schedules; daylight runs are recommended for the coastal scenery and simpler connections.

Can a public bus drop me in Huacachina?
No. Public interprovincial buses finish at Ica’s terminals and are not licensed to enter Huacachina. You’ll need a short taxi or to use a tourist‑licensed bus that goes into the oasis.

Is there a flight from Arequipa to Ica?
No scheduled commercial flights operate to Ica; the standard way is by road. If you’re very tight on time, some travelers fly Arequipa→Lima and bus 4–5 hours to Ica/Huacachina, but the extra transfers often erase the benefit.

Is it safe to take a night bus here?
Regulators require seat belts, speed caps (90 km/h on highways), and multiple drivers on longer runs, which helps. Still, for visibility and fewer moving parts, most visitors prefer daytime departures on this corridor. See SUTRAN guidance on belts and driver rotation. 

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