Your stay — Brabant
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The Property — Brabant
The Brabant is a straightforward 3-star in central Ica: polished concrete floors, dark wood furniture, and a small courtyard pool that catches the desert heat. It’s no-frills but clean, with air-conditioning that actually works against the afternoon sun. Best for independent travellers or couples who want a reliable base near the Plaza de Armas without paying resort prices. Standing in the lobby, you smell chlorine and coffee — a sensible, no-surprises kind of place.
Chronicles of Ica
Ica was founded in 1563 by Spanish conquistador Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera as Villa de Valverde, later moved to its current site after earthquake damage. Its historic centre still shows colonial arcades and the red-brick Cathedral of Ica, built in the 18th century but heavily restored after the 2007 earthquake. The city is the capital of Peru’s pisco-producing region, and its cultural identity revolves around wine, pisco, and the nearby Huacachina oasis — a party spot for sandboarding and sunset buggy rides. Modern Ica feels like a dusty, lively market town where agriculture (cotton, grapes, asparagus) drives the economy, and tourism is a secondary but growing business.
Best Time to Visit
Full Ica guide →Best months
August to October: mild temperatures (24-28°C), clear skies, and fewer tourists than July. The Huacachina dunes are pleasant for walking without the midday meltdown.
Peak / festival surge
July: winter school holidays across Peru spike domestic tourism. Hotel prices at the Brabant can double from 50 to 100 soles. Events include the Fiesta de la Vendimia in March (wine harvest) is actually bigger, but July brings rush for Huacachina and the nearby Nazca Lines.
Budget shoulder season
May and November: still warm (22-26°C), hotels like Brabant often drop rates by 15-20%, and Huacachina crowds thin out. Good for avoiding the July crush without the December humidity.
Weather & packing
Ica gets almost no rain — it’s a coastal desert — so don’t pack an umbrella. But the temperature can drop to 12°C at night even in summer; bring a fleece or light jacket.
Live City Briefing — Ica
- The Ica–Huacachina road was repaved in late 2025, cutting travel time to 15 minutes by tuk-tuk; still chaotic around the terminal, but smoother on the asphalt.
- A new craft brewery, Cerveza de la Isla, opened on Avenida Grau in March 2026, offering tasting flights and a rooftop view of the cathedral.
- The Regional Museum of Ica closed for renovation until September 2026; temporary exhibits are held at the Casa del Cabildo cultural centre on the plaza.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Brabant, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the upper floors (third or fourth) at the back of the building, away from Juan Matta. These rooms get less street noise and better light, and the lift makes upper floors easy to access.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid any room on the ground floor (especially near reception or the street side) as foot traffic and lobby noise carry. Also steer clear of rooms directly above the hotel entrance or any ground-floor common area.
Best views
Ask for a room on the fourth floor at the front for a view over Juan Matta and the rooftops of Ica. If you prefer quieter, the back rooms overlook neighbouring patios or the courtyard.
Quietest floors
Third and fourth floors are quietest, provided they face the interior courtyard or the side opposite the street.
🔊 Noise notes
Juan Matta is a secondary road in Ica, so traffic is moderate but constant, with some mototaxis and buses passing. Ground-floor rooms may also pick up noise from the lobby and any bar or restaurant area. Weekend nights can be louder.
Insider tips
1. The hotel has no dedicated parking—ask at booking if they have an arrangement with a nearby lot, or park on the street (safe during daytime but watch your valuables). 2. Check-in can be slow if busy, so request a late check-out if you need extra time; they often accommodate at a small fee.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Brabant
Free Wi-Fi for up to 4 devices per room, speeds around 15 Mbps; login via room number and last name, no time limit.
One small lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections.
Complimentary digital newspaper via PressReader at the lobby computer; no physical papers. The building is a converted 1940s townhouse with original courtyard tiles.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed from 09:00 at reception; late check-out until 14:00 costs 40 PEN, subject to availability.
Free storage in locked luggage room during your stay; no cost for same-day drop after check-out.
Step-free access via ramp at side entrance; lift to all floors; no grab bars in standard bathrooms; one ground-floor accessible room available on request.
On-site parking: 20 PEN per night (6 spaces, first-come-first-served). Nearest public car park is Estacionamiento Juan Matta, 200 metres north, 15 PEN per day. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: Tourist tax is 3.00 PEN per person per night, collected at check-in; only applies to foreign guests.
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required for booking within 30 days of arrival; at check-in, a refundable incidental hold of 100 PEN is placed on credit or debit card.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Venerada Virgen de Guadalupe (432 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Iglesia Matriz de Nasca (445 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: Parroquia Santiago Apostol de Nasca (490 m · ~6 min walk)
- Church: La Iglesia de Jesucristo de los Santos de los Últimos Días (825 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Plaza Bolognesi — 242 m · ~3 min walk
Museo Didactico Antonini — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 99 m · ~1 min walk
Mini Market Elisa — 761 m · ~10 min walk
Colectivos a Chala — 683 m · ~9 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Use ATMs in the centre of Ica for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at the airport or tourist hotels, which mark up badly.
Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in supermarkets, nicer restaurants, and hotels, but many small shops and street stalls are cash-only. Contactless is rare outside chain stores.
In restaurants, 10% is common if service is good (not automatically added); taxis don't expect a tip but rounding up helps; hotel staff: a few soles for porters, 5–10 soles for maids per day.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A basic espresso or coffee from a street stall or bakery is around 3–5 soles.
Menú del día at a local eatery: soup, main, and drink for 10–15 soles.
A simple main course (e.g. pollo a la brasa with sides) costs about 12–18 soles.
Plaza de Armas and the market area have numerous stalls for anticuchos, empanadas, and fresh juices from 5–8 soles.
Plaza Vea and Metro are the main budget supermarket chains in this area.
The central market and street stalls around Avenida Grau offer cheap, basic clothing.
Local combis (minibuses) cost 1–2 soles per ride; from Ica airport, take a shared taxi (colectivo) into town for about 10–15 soles per person.
Eat lunch at menú del día places instead of dinner; buy bottled water and snacks at supermarkets not tourist shops; for sandboarding trips, book direct with local drivers rather than agencies.
Good to know — Ica
Type A/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ PEN 3.4 · PEN
Emergency Contacts
IcaFor general assistance in Ica, call the tourism police at (056) 222-831. The local hospital is Hospital Regional de Ica, Av. Abelardo Quiñones s/n, phone (056) 231-145.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Ica, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Brabant
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 99 m · ~1 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) → Ica bus terminal
💡 Book the 'VIP' seat for extra legroom. The bus drops you at Ica terminal, then take a colectivo (10 soles) to Hotel Hacienda Cantayo.
Ica bus terminal → Hotel Hacienda Cantayo Spa & Resort
💡 Bolt is cheaper than Uber in Ica—typically 18–22 soles. Catch one from the terminal exit, not the main road where drivers overcharge. Cash works best.
Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) → Hotel Hacienda Cantayo Spa & Resort, Ica
💡 Agencies at arrivals quote 300–350 soles. Haggle hard and confirm the price includes tolls and waiting time. Official green taxis are safer than unmarked cars.
Ica city centre (Av. Grau) → Hotel Hacienda Cantayo Spa & Resort
💡 Colectivos run along Av. Grau towards Huacachina. Hail one with 'Cantayo' written on the windscreen. They fill fast—expect to stand if it's busy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Brabant?
Request a room on the upper floors (third or fourth) at the back of the building, away from Juan Matta. These rooms get less street noise and better light, and the lift makes upper floors easy to access.
Which rooms should I avoid at Brabant?
Avoid any room on the ground floor (especially near reception or the street side) as foot traffic and lobby noise carry. Also steer clear of rooms directly above the hotel entrance or any ground-floor common area.
Is Brabant noisy?
Juan Matta is a secondary road in Ica, so traffic is moderate but constant, with some mototaxis and buses passing. Ground-floor rooms may also pick up noise from the lobby and any bar or restaurant area. Weekend nights can be louder.
Which rooms have the best views at Brabant?
Ask for a room on the fourth floor at the front for a view over Juan Matta and the rooftops of Ica. If you prefer quieter, the back rooms overlook neighbouring patios or the courtyard.
What are insider tips for staying at Brabant?
1. The hotel has no dedicated parking—ask at booking if they have an arrangement with a nearby lot, or park on the street (safe during daytime but watch your valuables). 2. Check-in can be slow if busy, so request a late check-out if you need extra time; they often accommodate at a small fee.
What time is check-in at Brabant?
Check-in at Brabant is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Brabant have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for up to 4 devices per room, speeds around 15 Mbps; login via room number and last name, no time limit.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Brabant?
Tourist tax is 3.00 PEN per person per night, collected at check-in; only applies to foreign guests.
Where can I eat cheaply near Brabant?
Menú del día at a local eatery: soup, main, and drink for 10–15 soles.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Brabant?
Local combis (minibuses) cost 1–2 soles per ride; from Ica airport, take a shared taxi (colectivo) into town for about 10–15 soles per person.
When is the best time to visit Ica?
August to October: mild temperatures (24-28°C), clear skies, and fewer tourists than July. The Huacachina dunes are pleasant for walking without the midday meltdown.
Top Attractions in Ica
💡 Grab a ceviche from one of the stalls on the side streets for about 10 soles. Avoid the overpriced churros from touts near the cathedral. Best visited late afternoon when the heat drops and people start gathering.
💡 Bring swimwear if you want to paddle; the water is murky but locals swim. Avoid the boat rental—overpriced and the pond is tiny. Best at dawn when the tour groups haven't arrived yet.
💡 Skip the overpriced cafes near the car park. Walk around to the far side for quieter spots and better photo angles. Go early in the morning or just before sunset for cooler sand and fewer people.
💡 Entrance costs about 8 soles (roughly £1.60). Bring a phrasebook or a translation app as there are no English labels. Allow 45 minutes to an hour; it's not huge. Closed on Mondays.
💡 The basic tour costs 15 soles and includes three samples. Go for the 'Premium' tour (25 soles) if you want to taste their older piscos—it's worth it, but book ahead. They sell good-value bottles at the shop, much cheaper than in restaurants.