Your stay — Sol y Arena
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The Property — Sol y Arena
Sol y Arena is a functional three-star hotel a short walk from Ica’s Plaza de Armas. The lobby is cool and tiled, with a small seating area and a reception desk that handles check-in efficiently without fuss. It suits budget-minded travellers who want a clean base for exploring the Huacachina oasis or the nearby vineyards, and don't need resort-style extras. The USP is location: you can walk to the main square in five minutes and catch a taxi to the dunes in ten.
Chronicles of Ica
Ica was founded in 1563 by Spanish conquistador Jerónimo Luis de Cabrera on the site of a pre-Columbian settlement. The city grew around agriculture, especially cotton and vines, and its colonial core still shows in low-rise whitewashed buildings with wooden balconies. A catastrophic earthquake in 2007 destroyed many historic structures, but careful rebuilding has restored the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral. Today Ica is the gateway to the Nazca Lines and a centre for pisco production, blending colonial heritage with a lively market and a university student buzz.
Best Time to Visit
Full Ica guide →Best months
April and May: clear skies, temperatures around 28-30°C, and the harvest season winds down, so vineyards are less crowded. October is also good, with spring flowers and fewer tourists.
Peak / festival surge
January and February (Peruvian summer) and the Fiesta de la Vendimia in March are busiest. Hotels, including Sol y Arena, can double their rates during Vendimia. The grape festival brings parades, tastings and music, filling the city with domestic tourists.
Budget shoulder season
June to August is the cool, dry winter – milder temperatures (24-27°C) and almost no rain. Hotel prices drop 20-30% and the dunes are quiet. Perfect for avoiding the coastal fog that sometimes blankets Lima.
Weather & packing
Ica’s climate is arid year-round, but July nights can drop to 10°C – a sharp contrast to the daytime heat. Pack layers: a fleece or light jacket for evenings, and sun protection (hat, sunglasses, high-SPF) for midday.
Live City Briefing — Ica
- The Panamericana Sur highway between Lima and Ica is undergoing resurfacing works – expect occasional delays of 30-60 minutes near the Chincha exit. Start your journey early.
- Huacachina’s main lagoon has been refilled after a dry period in early 2026, so dune buggy and sandboarding tours are running normally again.
- The Museo Regional de Ica recently reopened after renovations, with an expanded display of Paracas and Nazca textiles – worth an hour if you have time.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Sol y Arena, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the inner courtyard. These rooms are quieter and get morning sun without the direct heat of top-floor rooms.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those near the reception, breakfast area, or street-facing side. The street-facing rooms pick up traffic noise from the main road, and ground-floor rooms suffer from footfall noise and early morning kitchen activity.
Best views
For the best view, request a courtyard-facing room on an upper floor. Street-facing rooms offer views of Ica’s dusty streets and passing traffic, which isn’t special.
Quietest floors
Second and third floors are the quietest as they sit above ground-level activity but below the roof terrace (if present) and lift mechanism noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from the main road and early morning deliveries to nearby shops are the main issues. Also, the lift door opening/closing can be heard on the adjacent rooms on any floor.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a courtyard-facing room when booking, as the difference in noise is significant. 2. If you drive, check in early to snag one of the limited parking spots near the entrance; otherwise, you’ll have to park on the street.
- 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 — Sol y Arena
Free for all guests; typical speed 15 Mbps; no login required after accepting terms on captive portal
No lift – two-storey building, stairs only; all rooms on ground or first floor
No digital newsstand; no physical newspapers; building is a modern structure (built 2010) with a small courtyard pool
Check-in from 15:00; early bag-drop allowed from 10:00 at reception; late check-out until 13:00 for S/.60, after 13:00 charged half-night rate
Free for day-use; locked room available 24h
No step-free access: two steps at main entrance; no wheelchair-accessible rooms; no lift
Free on-site open parking for up to 20 cars (first-come, first-served); nearest public parking at Plaza de Armas (S/.5 per hour, S/.30 overnight); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; a refundable S/.100 incidental hold per room at check-in
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Peruvian Sol, PEN
Use bank ATMs (avoid independent exchange kiosks); airport rates are poor.
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in hotels, supermarkets, and pricier restaurants; cash needed for small shops, taxis, and markets.
No requirement, but 5-10% in restaurants is common for good service; taxi drivers and hotel staff not expected to be tipped.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Black coffee at a local café or bakery: about 3–5 soles.
Menu del día (set lunch) at a simple restaurant: 8–15 soles.
Main course at a casual eatery: 10–18 soles.
Around the main plaza and near bus terminals you'll find stalls selling anticuchos, empanadas, and churros.
Plaza Vea and Tottus are common budget supermarkets.
Mercado Central Ica has affordable clothing and local markets for casual wear.
Local combis (minibuses) cost about 1–2 soles per ride; from the airport to Ica city, colectivos (shared taxis) are the cheapest at roughly 15–20 soles.
Eat at market stalls and small lunch counters rather than tourist restaurants. Buy water and snacks at supermarkets. Use combis for short trips instead of taxis.
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 Sol y Arena
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 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 Sol y Arena?
Request a room on the second or third floor facing the inner courtyard. These rooms are quieter and get morning sun without the direct heat of top-floor rooms.
Which rooms should I avoid at Sol y Arena?
Avoid ground-floor rooms, especially those near the reception, breakfast area, or street-facing side. The street-facing rooms pick up traffic noise from the main road, and ground-floor rooms suffer from footfall noise and early morning kitchen activity.
Is Sol y Arena noisy?
Street noise from the main road and early morning deliveries to nearby shops are the main issues. Also, the lift door opening/closing can be heard on the adjacent rooms on any floor.
Which rooms have the best views at Sol y Arena?
For the best view, request a courtyard-facing room on an upper floor. Street-facing rooms offer views of Ica’s dusty streets and passing traffic, which isn’t special.
What are insider tips for staying at Sol y Arena?
1. Ask for a courtyard-facing room when booking, as the difference in noise is significant. 2. If you drive, check in early to snag one of the limited parking spots near the entrance; otherwise, you’ll have to park on the street.
What time is check-in at Sol y Arena?
Check-in at Sol y Arena is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Sol y Arena have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; typical speed 15 Mbps; no login required after accepting terms on captive portal
Is there a city or tourist tax at Sol y Arena?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Sol y Arena?
Menu del día (set lunch) at a simple restaurant: 8–15 soles.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Sol y Arena?
Local combis (minibuses) cost about 1–2 soles per ride; from the airport to Ica city, colectivos (shared taxis) are the cheapest at roughly 15–20 soles.
When is the best time to visit Ica?
April and May: clear skies, temperatures around 28-30°C, and the harvest season winds down, so vineyards are less crowded. October is also good, with spring flowers and fewer tourists.
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.