"Dear Hot Expeditions, greetings from England and thank you very much for the days in Ica, Nazca Lines and Paracas National Reserve. James and I enjoyed the time under your guidance and keep fond memories of our visit to the central coast of Peru. Many thanks to Hot Expeditions!"
Peru occupies the west central area of South America, on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. It is the third largest country on the continent, covering 1,28 million km² (496,225 mile²), a surface greater than the combined territories of Spain, France and Germany. Peru is divided into three geographic regions:
- Coast - costa - (12% of the territory): a warm climate along the coastline that includes superb natural beaches, mysterious deserts, fertile river valleys and exotic dry woodlands.
- Highlands - sierra - (28% of the territory): a region of varied terrain and temperate climate, dominated by the snowcapped peaks of the Andes rising above 6,000 meter sea level, the highest of which is Mount Huascaran at 6,768 m (22,206 ft). It includes deep canyons such as the Colca Canyon at 3,400 m (11,154 ft) and Cotahuasi Canyon at 3,535 m (11,598 ft), the two deepest on the planet Earth; and high plains like the plateau of Collao, on the shores of the world's highest navigable lake Titicaca, at 3,810 m (12,500 ft).
- Jungle or Amazonia - selva - (60% of the territory): a region of tropical climate, lush vegetation and abundant fauna that is part of one of the planet's largest natural reserves. It is here that the confluence of the Marañon and Ucayali rivers forms the Amazon River, the largest in the world.
Temperatures and atmospheric cycles vary from one region to another.
- Coast: There are two clearly-defined seasons on the coast: summer (December-March), when temperatures can reach 27°C (80°F); and winter (April-November),which is very damp and chilly, with temperatures falling to 12°C (53°F). Although it rarely rains on the coast, mist and drizzle are common during the winter. The far north coast enjoys sunshine all year round, with temperatures reaching 35°C (95°F) in the summer.
- Highlands: The climate is dry and temperate, with two clearly-defined seasons: the dry season (April-October), with sunny days, very cold nights and scant rainfall -the ideal time to visit the Andes- and the rainy season (December-March). There is a sharp contrast in temperature between sun and shade, and temperatures can often vary widely during the same day, from 20°C (68°F) to 2°C (35°F).
- Jungle: The climate is tropical and humid. There are two well-defined seasons: the summer or dry season (April to October) with sunny days and temperatures above 30ºC (86ºF), and the rainy season (November to March), with frequent heavy showers and high river levels.
Peru has a population of approximately 27 million people. The coast is home to 52% of the total population, while 36% live in the highlands and 12% in the jungle. The population is predominantly mestizo or racially mixed, and most speak Spanish, although there are two important minorities: the Quechua and Aymara, and the native population of Amazonia, which is subdivided into 14 linguistic families and 42 ethnic groups.
Peru is one of the great original centers of ancient culture, along with Mexico, Mesopotamia, India and China.
Paleolithic man left his first traces here and began to develop villages of hunter-gatherers around 6000 B.C. (as seen in Lauricocha, Huanuco). Farming settlements began to form around 2500 B.C., planting manioc, broad beans, quinoa, potatoes, cotton and maize. Prior to the arrival of the Conquistadors from Europe, Peruvian history is divided into five stages or horizons:
- Early Horizon (1200 B.C. - 200 B.C.): Small states were formed, with the elite holding economic and religious power. Chavin de Huantar (Ancash) belongs to this stage, with its temple of underground passages that include monochromatic pottery and megalithic art. Other key remains are those of Caral (Lima) and Sechin (Ancash).
- Intermediate Early Horizon (200 B.C. - A.D. 600): This is the era of the great centers of regional development. The important cultures are those of Tiahuanaco (Puno), Mochica and Lambayeque (Lambayeque and La Libertad), Nasca and Paracas (Ica). Tiahuanaco is known for its Chullpas or funeral towers at Sillustani (Puno); the Mochica are famous for the Royal Tombs of the Lord of Sipan; the Lambayeque built the pyramids of Tucume; the Nazcas made remarkable pottery and drew the mysterious Lines in the desert; and the Paracas wove wonderful textiles.
- Middle Horizon (A.D. 600 - A.D. 900): The epoch when the Wari culture spread throughout the Andean region. Evidence lies in the citadels of Wari (Ayacucho), Pikillacta (Cuzco) and Marca Huamachuco (La Libertad).
- Late Intermediate Horizon (A.D.900 - A.D. 1400): This period is marked by a group of regional states with well defined cultural features. The important cultures are those of Chimu and Chincha on the coast; Cajamarca and Huanta in the highlands; and Chachapoyas in the north jungle. The structures representative of this period are the Chimu citadel of Chan Chan (La Libertad), the funeral center of the Windows of Otuzco in Cajamarca, and the Chachapoyan citadel of Kuelap (in Amazonas).
- Late Horizon (A.D.1400 - A.D. 1532): This is the period predominated by the Incas, native to Cuzco, who built an imperial form of government throughout the entire Andean world. Their main legacy is their architecture in Cuzco. This period concludes in 1532 with the Spanish Conquest.
The Colonial period developed between 1532 and 1821, from which there is a magnificent artistic heritage. Examples include paintings such as those of the so-called Cuzco School; architecture as in the Santo Domingo convent in Cuzco (built on the ancient Inca temple of Koricancha) and the convent of Santa Catalina in Arequipa. Independence was declared on July 28, 1821 and later consolidated with the victory of the Battle of Ayacucho on December 9, 1824.
After a military dictatorship and so many adventurous war now is a modern XXI. century democratic country.
The official language is Spanish, although the state also recognizes all other native languages and dialects. The Roman Catholic Church enjoys a favored status but the state guarantees full religious freedom. Basic English is taught at most schools. English is generally spoken by people who work in the travel industry, such as tour guides and personnel at travel agencies and hotels.
The Peruvian currency is the Nuevo Sol (S/.); circulation is in coins of 0.10, 0.20, 0.50, 1, 2, 5 Nuevos Soles; and banknotes for 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Nuevos Soles. Most shops, restaurants and gasoline stations accept US dollars and euros at the daily exchange rate. Most hotels and commercial establishments in cities throughout the country accept major credit cards: Visa, Master Card, Diners and American Express. Travelers checks are not widely used. Check with the establishment whether they are accepted.
Peruvian time is 5 hours behind or less than Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and coincides with Eastern Standard Time (EST) in the United States. Peru is on the same time as Montreal, New York, Washington DC, Miami, Havana, Bogota; Peru does not observe a daylight saving time.
Electric current is 220 volts AC, 60 Hz, except Arequipa (50 Hz). Plugs are either American flat-pin or twin flat and around pin combined. There are public Internet booths almost everywhere in the country
Weights and measures Metric.
Airport taxes US $30 on international flight departures payable in dollars or in soles; US $4.50 on internal flights (when making a domestic connection in Lima, you don't have to pay airport tax).
Quinua is a Peruvian high protein cereal with 25 varieties. Olluco is a Peruvian tuber with over 30 varieties.
The potato is originally from Peru and they produce over 3000 varieties.
The Tomato is originally from Peru, and it is a close relative of the Potato.
The corn from Peru is a variety with the biggest kernels in the world amongst 32 others produced. Corn is originally from the Americas, including Peru.
The Avocado is originally from Peru and they produce the softest variety.
Peruvian food has 468 different registered typical dishes .
The finest cottons in the world, Pima and Tanguis are Peruvian.
The weeping willow is originally from Peru and it produces the base for aspirin.
Tara is a Peruvian tree from which tannin is produced for the production of dyes.
Yacon, a tuber similar to the yucca (cassava, manioc), is originally from Peru and is the base for insulin.
Maca, a Peruvian root, known as Huanarpo Macha is what VIAGRA is made from; it has been in use in Peru for hundreds of years.
The Plaza de Acho is the second oldest bull ring made in the world. It was built in the days of viceroy Amat in 1766.
The National University of San Marcos is the oldest in the Americas and was founded on the 12th of May of 1551.
The oldest newspaper in South America is El Peruano, founded by Simon Bolivar in Lima in 1825.
One of the highest train pass in the world is in Ticlio at 4815 meters above sea level (15793 ft). This passenger train is now again departing from Lima once a week.
The deepest canyons in the world are Cotahuasi with 3600 meters (11,810 ft) and Colca with 3400 meters (11,150 ft ). Both are in Arequipa, the second most important city in Peru. The Colorado Grand Canyon is only 1600 meters in depth (1 mile).
The highest dune in the world is Cerro Blanco, 1176 m (3858 ft) from the base, near Nazca, in the coastal Peru. Height from sea level is 2080 m (6791 ft).
Largest ocean waves in the world north of Trujillo - destination for surfers all over the world.
Highest navigable lake in the world (shared with Bolivia) - Lake Titicaca
The Andes mountains in Peru have :
* 50 peaks over 6000 meters (19,685 ft).
* 1769 Glaciers.
* 12000 lakes and lagoons of different lenghts and depths.
In Peru, you can find 1701 species of birds, making it the most in any country in the world.
Mejia lakes in Arequipa are the habitat of thousands of migratory birds. More than 150 varieties come each year, 50% of which are permanent residents and the rest come from all parts of the world.
Peru is second in the world with 34 species of primates, third with 361 species of mammals, fifth with 297 species of reptiles and 251 amphibious.
Peru has 84 of the 103 ecological zones in the world.
The Peruvian flower is the Cantuta, and the bird is the Gallito de las Rocas (the rooster of the rocks).
Entomologists in Madre de Dios found a Shihuahuaco (asterix) tree with 5000 insect species of which 80% were seen for the first time.
The first catalogue of Peruvian flora, categorizes 3000 varieties of which :
* 524 are eatable
* 401 are wood
* 334 are toxic for the use of insecticides
* 213 are medicinal
* 110 are used for colorants
* 100 are used for the manufacturing of tools
* 90 are ornamental
* 36 are used for the production of oils and waxes
* 35 are used for the manufacturing of drinks.
In Peru you can find close to 1625 types of orchids (425 in the Machu Picchu area).
Sunflowers are native to Peru and were domesticated around 1000 B.C. Francisco Pizarro found the Inca subjects venerating the sunflower as an image of their sun god. Gold images of the flower, as well as seeds, were taken back to Europe early in the 16th century.
Four out of ten cereals are original from Peru (quinua, corn, cañihua and kiwicha). The kiwicha is the cereal that the NASA astronauts take on their trips.
Peru is the biggest producer in Latin America of gold, zinc and lead. It is the second world producer of copper. Antamina is the biggest mine in the world and Camisea is the second biggest gas reserve.
You can find 28 different climates in Peru, making it to be one of the 5 biggest biodiversities in the world.
In the Peruvian ocean you can find over 700 fish species and 400 crustaceans. 20 out of 67 species of whales in the world as well.
The Amazon, which starts in Peru, is the largest river in the world by wolume and has a largest drainage basin in the world, and one of the two cleanest (Congo river being the other). It flows 150,000 cubic meters per second.
The Lord of Sipan tomb, in Chiclayo, is the oldest in the Americas and the most magnificent. It can only be compared with the tomb of Tutankhamun in Egypt.
Caral, just 114 miles north of Lima, is the oldest discovered city in the Americas (3000 years BC).
On the last coffee exposition in Paris, Peruvian coffee was voted the best by both American end European tasters, out of 33 presented.
Pisco is Peruvian and the Pisco Sour is the most popular cocktail.
