Perú is one of the main touristic destinations with an inmense
variety of landscape, where we can find all climates of the world. It
offers us the opportunity to rediscover its fascinating and rich historical
legacy with hundreds of archeological ruins disseminated along the wide
territory, its traditions and ancestral customs, and its indigenous
communities profoundly devoted to The Pachamama "The Mother Earth".
Thus, once we have crossed the spectacular Andes with its mountain tops
of over six thousand meters high, Peru enables us to go from the magic
exuberant humidity of the Amazon to the endless and arid coastal deserts;
not being necessary to cross barriers. Besides its natural diversity,
it is always possible to visit its main archeological places, cultural
patrimony left by successive civilizations that took a leading role
in Peruvian history, from Chavin de Huantar (master culture of civilization,
with its "Cabezas Clavas" and the mysterious Lanzón,
sort of enormous knife), Paracas (with its well-crafted mantle and amazing
trepanned skulls), Nazca (with its famous and mysterious "Lines
of Nazca" of bio-formed figures), Mochica (with the astonishing
ornamentation based on different people of the elite, recent discovery
as the "Señor de Sipán" and its varied and well-crafted
ceramics), Chimu (with the largest mud City of the world, Chan Chan),
and also the famous Inca Culture (with the amazing fortress of Machu
Picchu). Furthermore, in Peru the magic sensation of colonial towns,
such as the colorful Trujillo, the mixed raced Cuzco, or the "chaotic"
and at the same time, charming "Lima".
HISTORY
More than 10,000 years ago, early settlers occupied the Peruvian territory
developing agriculture, llamas and alpacas domestication, pottery, textiles,
and goldsmithing. Different regional civilizations were developed, among
the most important ones: Chavin, Paracas, Nazca, Mochica and Chimú,
as legacy. They left a wide amount of knowledge to the Incas.The Incas appeared in the peruvian history by the year 1,200 and establish
an Empire at the end of the XV century, which would be conquered, in
1532, by the Spaniards. The permanence of these spaniards for almost
3 centuries would leave a rich mixed race group, reflected in its architecture,
folklore and people. Peruvian independence was established in 1821,
creating Perú of our times, an open country to the entire world.
Nowadays, Perú is a modern and traditional country, proud of
its rich past, its roots, and ready to show these characteristics to
our visitors.
POPULATION
25 million inhabitants
70% urban - 30% rural
85% Literacy
CLIMATE
Perú has numerous climates in general: tropical influenced by the Andean Mountain
Range, the equatorial latitude, and the cold Humboldt Ocean Current as well
as El Niño (warm) current, Summer and cold seasons occur in different ways
according to the regions; however, we could define two well marked seasons:
Summer: from December
15 to April 14
Winter: from April
15 to December 14
Coast: Hot, humid
and clear sky in summer, with an average temperature of 26°, without precipitation.
Mild in winter with an average temperature of 16°, without precipitation but
with high humidity.
Highland: Hot in summer and dry during the day,
mild to cold at nights (very cold dawns), with abundant precipitation. Mild
to cold in winter, with very few precipitation
Amazon: Mainly tropical climate, with precipitation all the year (abundant
in summer), hot and humid. Average annual temperature 28°.CURRENCY
The national currency is the Nuevo Sol (S/.) coins of with 10, 20 and 50 cents;
S/. 1, S/. 2 and S/.5.
Bank Notes: S/. 10, S/. 20, S/. 50, S/. 100 and S/. 200.
US$ 1.00 is equivalent to S/.3.52 (fluctuating rate)
VACCINES
If the amazon region is included during the itinerary or program, a vaccine
against yellow fever is required, with a 10 day minimal period before the
travelling date.
VISA
The visa will depend on the residence country (please ask the corresponding
Peruvian consulate). It is necessary to hold an valid passport with a minimum
expiration date of 6 months.
LANGUAGE
The Spanish language is spoken almost in every part of the Peruvian territory,
also Quechua, Aymara and other native languages are spoken in some regions.
FOOD
The different ingredients of the Peruvian cuisine and the different dishes
of the European, Asian, African and neighbouring countries, have produced
a specialised food known as “Criolla Food”. MORE here about the Geography
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