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Peru is geographically dominated by the Andes, one of the world's highest mountain chains, and by the exuberant Amazon jungle. Ancient cultures and a rich colonial tradition make it a magical spot where you can enjoy a variety of activities ranging from hiking to the Machu Picchu Archeological site to cruising the Amazon Basin. |
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| GEOGRAPHY |
The Peruvian territory possess a great geographical contrast and presents three defined natural regions, parallel among each other from north to south.
The coast:
Located to the west, it is a narrow fringe of desert, sandy and arid plains, with valleys oasis formed by rivers that go down from the Andes Mountains to the sea. In these valleys big populated centers are located.
The Mountain:
Also called Andean region is of uneven topography. It is formed by the Mountain range of the Andes, and is located between the coast and the forest, high mountains, deep valleys, plateaus. The highest pick in Peru; is the Huascaran which has 22,224 feet (6,780 m) above sea level.
The forest:
Also called amazonian, mountain or east, located to the east, formed by the oriental hillsides of the Mountain range of the Andes and extensive plains, with exuberant vegetation and tropical forests. It is furrowed by numerous rivers, all tributaries of the Amazonas River. The forest occupies more than 50% of the territory , existing some zones that are in full discovery and investigation stage |
| MONEY EXCHANGE |
Currency:
The official currency is Nuevo Sol (S/.), the sub units are the cents. You may find currencies of 0.05, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.50 cents, also currencies of 1, 2 and 5 Nuevos Soles, and bills with denomination of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Nuevos Soles.
Money Exchange:
In Peru exists holding freedom and disposition of any foreign currency, and it can be exchanged in banks and offices of exchange.
In the airports there are offices of exchange and banks that will change your currency at your arrival to a city.
In commercial areas of each city, you will be able to locate houses of exchange and banks. In some cities, especially in Lima, you will see people dedicated to change currency on the streets, which are identified with a special vest and an identification card.
The commercial establishments do not have obligation of accepting payments in foreign currency. The establishments of the tourism sector usually accept payments in North American dollars
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| PEOPLE |
The peruvian people is multiethnic and multicultural: The indian culture of the Andes, the Mestizo culture inflluenced by Spanish colonization, some oriental and other immigration, and some coastal African influences.
The estimated population for 1998 was of 24,866,000 inhabitants, with an annual growth rate of 1.9%. The metropolis of Lima concentrates 28% of population.
Geographical distribution of population:
Lima department: 32.1%
North and central Mountain: 19.4%
North Coast: 16.9%
Andean trapeze: 15.7%
South Coast: 8.2%
Forest: 7.7%
Ethnic people in Peru;
Indians (Quechua and aimaras): 48%
Mestizos (cholos): 32%
White: 12%
Black and mulattos: 6%
Others: 2%
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| SHOPPING |
| Souvenirs are good, varied and cheap. Although going to the village markets is fun, you won't necessarily save a great deal of money. In markets and smaller stores, bargaining is acceptable, indeed expected. In tourist stores in the major cities price are sometimes fixed. Some of the best stores are quite expensive, but the quality of their products is often superior.
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| TAX |
Airport Departure Tax:
International flights:
US $30.25 is charged when leaving Peru from Lima Airport.
Domestic flights:
US $6.05 is charged when departing from Lima Airport
US $4.28 is charged when departing from other airports.
Only cash accepted.
Tipping is not expected in budget restaurants. A tip of between 10 and 15% is fine in upmarket restaurants if a service charge has not already been added to the bill. Taxi drivers are not tipped - bargain hard beforehand and stick to your price. Bargaining is accepted and expected in markets.
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| HOLIDAYS & FESTIVITIES |
| Jan |
1 |
New Year's Day |
| Mar |
Varies |
Easter & Good Friday |
| Apr |
Varies |
Easter & Good Friday |
| May |
1 |
Labour Day |
| Jun |
29 |
St Peter's and St Paul's Day |
| July |
28/29 |
Independence Day |
| Aug |
30 |
Sta. Rosa de Lima Day |
| Oct |
8 |
Battle of Afganos |
| Nov |
1 |
All Saint 'Day |
| 15 |
Proclamation Day |
| Dec |
8 |
Inmaculate Conception |
| 25 |
Christmas |
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| COUNTRY ORIENTATION |
No tourist visa required for U.S. citizens. Enter the country with only a valid passport for a period up to 90 days.
Yellow Fever Vaccination recommended for all Travelers to Peru?s Amazon Rainforest
Heir to ancient cultures and a rich colonial tradition, Peru is a magical spot, which involves one of the richest biodiversities of Earth, and is a melting pot of different cultures.
While Peru inevitably evokes images of Machu Picchu and the Inca empire, the country is also riddled with archaeological sites which are a legacy of even more ancient times, when great civilizations bequeathed a legacy of their art, customs and rituals, their wisdom and skills.
Witness the melting pot of cultures in striking and prosperous cities founded during the colonial era, which today, with their churches, convents, monasteries and aristocratic mansions, are a showcase of architecture and art from a bygone age.
Museums throughout the country display Peruvian art and archaeological artifacts. Many of Peru's colonial buildings, such as the Torre Tagle Palace and the cathedral in Lima, contain valuable artifacts. Notable museums in Lima include the Museum of Art (1961), the Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological Museum (1926), the Javier Prado Natural History Museum, and the National Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology (1822), which display collections of pre-Columbian artifacts. Other important museums include the Military History Museum of Peru (1946), in Callao; and archaeological museums in Arequipa, Cusco, Huancayo, and Trujillo.
And there is a lot more. The cordillera Blanca is an ice climber's paradise. It takes just one or two days to reach the snowline on most mountains in this, the most intensive grouping of glaciated peaks in South America.
The beauty of Peru's rivers stems from the canyons, which their waters have carved out over centuries, the plant life, which grows alongside, and the varieties of fauna found in their waters. All this makes them ideal spots for swimming, resting and adventure sports such as rafting.
For Bird watching, Peru is number one country in the world for birds. 18.5% of all the species in the world and 45% of all Neotropical birds occur here.
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| WEATHER |
Summer: December 22nd. to March 21st.
Falls: March 22nd. to June 21st.
Winter: June 22nd. to September 22nd.
Spring: September 23rd. to December 21st.
Peru is located in the equatorial area of South America, but its climate does not correspond to its geographical location for two fundamental factors, the Andean Mountain Range and the cold marine current of Humboldt, also called Peruvian current.
The Peruvian current and the geographical relief of Peru , condition the weather characteristics in three big areas (from west to east), the coast, the Andean area or mountain, and the amazon area or jungle, corresponding for each one of them particular weather characteristics.
The coast presents, in general, a tempered weather, warm in the north, a little colder to the center and south. The rains are almost nonexistent, to exception of the north area, where strong rains are presented in the months of summer. In some areas of the central and south coast, as the cities of Lima and Arequipa, in the months of winter is common the presence of very delicate rains called garua or chachani.
The Andean area or mountain has in general a cold and dry weather, in the north area the rains are more intense.
The amazon area or jungle has a tropical, hot and humid weather, with presence of torrential rains that increase in the months of summer.
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