Heir to ancient cultures and a rich colonial tradition, Perú is a magical spot which involves one of the richest biodiversities of Earth, and is a melting pot of different cultures who together are forging the promise of a better future.
Surface Area
With an area of 1,285,216 square km, Peru is the third-largest country in South America after Brazil and Argentina, ranking it amongst the world’s 20 largest nations. Peru also holds sway over the sea up to 200 miles from the Peruvian coast and has territorial rights to an area of 60 million hectares in the Antarctic. Lima is the capital of Peru.
Population
29,132,013 inhabitants in 2009. Peru is a nation of mixed ethnic origins. Throughout its history, Peru has been the meeting ground for different nations and cultures. The indigenous population was joined 500 years ago by the Spaniards.
Language
As part of its rich cultural tradition, Peru features many different languages. Although Spanish is commonly spoken across the country, Quechua is a major legacy of the Inca empire, and is still spoken with regional dialects in many parts of Peru. In addition, other languages are spoken such as Aymara and a variety of dialects in the Amazon jungle, which are divided up into 15 linguistic families and 43 different languages.
Currency
The official currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol (S/.), which is divided into 100 centimos. The currency includes coins for 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimos and 1, 2 and 5 sol coins. There are bills in the denomination of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Nuevos Soles.
Government
Peru is a democratic republic. The president and members of Congress are elected every five years by universal suffrage. The current constitutional president of Peru is Alan Garcia Pérez (2006-2011).
Religion
Peru is a naturally religious country: a diversity of beliefs and freedom of worship can be seen from the wide range of festivals and rituals that feature both Catholic fervor and the mysticism of age-old pre-Hispanic cultures.
Telephone
Peru features a far-reaching telephone network that provides services for national and international long-distance calls from private telephone lines and public cabins. There are also currently 1.3 million clients who have cellular phones, and satellite communications are currently being developed.
Internet / Email
A number of service providers across the country has given the public access to Internet. Known in Peru as Cabinas Internet, the average cost of an hour’s connection is S/.3,50 (US$1).
Airports
14 airports equipped to receive commercial flights and 10 ready for international flights: Lima, Arequipa, Chiclayo, Pisco, Pucallpa,Iquitos, Cusco, Trujillo, Tacna and Juliaca. 17 airlines operating international flights and 7 airline companies offering domestic flights.
Ports
Peru’s largest port is Callao, outside Lima. Other major ports include Paita, Salaverry, Chimbote, Callao, Pisco, Ilo and Matarani.
Posted in 1.1. General information | Leave a Comment »
In Peru, nature appears to have taken on particular characteristics which have turned its mountains, plains, jungles and valleys into unique habitats.
An extraordinary variety of eco-systems shelters a wide diversity of animals and plants.
The Coast
Which features deserts, beautiful beaches and fertile valleys…
The Peruvian coastline is formed by a long snaking desert hemmed in between the sea and the mountains. The Andes to the east and the cold Humboldt sea current that runs along the coast are what make this area so arid. From the Sechura desert to the Nazca plains and the Atacama desert, the dry coastal terrain is occasionally split by valleys covered by a thick layer of cloud and drizzle in the winter.
Humidity in these areas produces a sensation of cold, although temperatures rarely dip below 12°C. During the summer, meanwhile, the sun beats down and temperatures often top 30°C. The central and southern sections of the coast feature two well-defined seasons: winter from April to October, and summer from November to March. The north coast, meanwhile, is not touched by the effects of the cold current, which means it enjoys 300 days of sunshine a year and warm temperatures all year-long (as much as 35°C in the summer).
The Highlands
A mountainous area dominated by the Andes, where Mount Huascaran soars to 6,768 meters…
In the Peruvian highlands, there are two well-defined seasons: the dry season (from April to October), marked by sunny days, cold nights and the lack of rain (the ideal time for visiting); and the rainy season (November to March), when there are frequent rain showers (generally more than 1000 mm). A characteristic of the mountain region is the drop in temperature during the day: temperatures commonly range around 24°C at midday before plunging to -3°C at night.
The Jungle
A vast region of tropical vegetation in the Amazon River Basin, home to Peru’s largest natural
reserves…
The vast Peruvian jungle, which surrounds the wide and winding Amazon river, is divided into two differentiated areas: the cloud forest (above 700 masl), which features a subtropical, balmy climate, with heavy rain showers (around 3000 mm a year) between November and March, and sunny days from April to October; and the lowland jungle (below 700 masl), where the dry season runs from April to October and is ideal for tourism, with sunshine and high temperatures often topping 35°C
Posted in 1.2. Geography | Leave a Comment »
The First Settlers
The first settlers reached Peru some 20,000 years ago. They brought stone tools and were hunter-gatherers, living off game and fruit…
The first settlers reached Peru some 20,000 years ago. They brought stone tools and were hunter-gatherers, living off game and fruit…
The Pre-Incas Cultures
Over the course of 1400 years, pre-Inca cultures settled along the Peruvian coast and highlands. The power and influence of some civilizations…
The Incas
The Inca empire (1200 – 1500 BC) was possibly the most organized civilization in South America. Their economic system, distribution of wealth, artistic..
The encounter between 2 worlds
The encounter between the Inca culture and Hispanic culture got underway as a result of the Spanish conquest in the early sixteenth century… Continue…
Birth of the Peruvian State 
Peru was declared an independent nation by Jose de San Martin in 1821, and in 1824 Simon Bolivar put an end to the War of Independence…
Peru Today
The early part of the twentieth century was marked by a drawn-out civilian dictatorship headed by President Augusto B. Leguia….
Posted in 1.3. History | Leave a Comment »
Peru is often simply associated with the historical sites of Machu Picchu, but there is much more . Be tempted to discover the richness of its people, nature and ornithology, archaeology, eco-tourism, gastronomic delights, adventure tourism, luxury travel, traditional festivities and much more.
One Country, many destinations.
Posted in 2. WHERE TO GO? | Leave a Comment »
