Brief information
In Peru, tourists will see the ancient land of the Incas, temples of the pre-Inca period, the Amazon rainforest, the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, the relict Lake Titicaca, the mysterious petroglyphs in the Nazca desert, museums in Lima, which the locals call the “City of Kings”, as well as condors majestically hovering over Colca Canyon. In this ancient country, there are also good beaches on the Pacific Ocean.
Geography of Peru
Peru is located in the west of South America. Peru borders Colombia and Ecuador to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, and Chile to the south. In the west, the country is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Total area – 1,285,216 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 5,536 km.
In the west there is a narrow coastal plain, in the east there is a flat area covered with tropical forests (jungle), and the rest of the country is occupied by the Andes mountain system. The highest local peak is Mount Huascaran, whose height reaches 6,768 meters.
Most Peruvian rivers originate in the Andes mountains. They flow into the Pacific Ocean, into Lake Titicaca, and are also tributaries of the Amazon River.
Earthquakes occur quite often in Peru, however, most of them are not destructive.
Capital
According to simplyyellowpages.com, Lima is the capital of Peru. More than 8 million people now live in this city. Lima was founded by the Spaniards in 1535.
Official language of Peru
Peru has several official languages - Spanish and the languages of local Indians (where they live compactly).
Religion
Most of the inhabitants of this country are Catholics.
State structure
According to diseaseslearning.com, Peru is a presidential republic, headed by a President elected for 5 years. The president acts as head of state and head of government. His functions also include the appointment of the Prime Minister.
The unicameral local parliament is called the Congress, it consists of 130 deputies, also elected for 5 years.
The main political parties are the Union for Peru, the Peruvian Aprista Party, the National Unity Party and the Alliance for the Future.
Administratively, the country is divided into 25 regions and one province with the center in Lima. Regions are further subdivided into districts.
Climate and weather
The climate in Peru is varied, ranging from subtropical and tropical to alpine in the Andes. It is the Andes, as well as the Humboldt Current, that have a decisive influence on the local climate.
The best time to visit this country is the Peruvian winter (June-September), when there is little rainfall.
During the Peruvian summer (November-March) it rains very often. The temperature is higher than in summer, but it can get very cold at night. The most unpredictable seasons are spring (April-May) and autumn (October).
Seas and oceans of Peru
In the west, the country is washed by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. The length of the sea coast is 2,414 km. The average sea temperature near the coast is from +14C to +19C.
Rivers and lakes
The sources of most Peruvian rivers begin in the Andes mountains. They flow into the Pacific Ocean, into Lake Titicaca or are tributaries of the Amazon. The longest local rivers are the Ucayali (1,771 km), the Marañon (1,414 km), the Putumayo (1,380 km), the Zhavari (1,184 km) and the Huallaga (1,138 km).
In the southeast, near the border with Bolivia, there is a mountain lake Titicaca with fresh water. Its area is 8300 sq. km.
Culture of Peru
The culture of Peru was formed under the influence of the traditions of local Indians and Spaniards. The traditions and customs of many ethnic groups coexist in this country. As in any other country in South America, Peru has a huge number of festivals, fiestas and holidays, most of which are, of course, of a religious nature.
In February, for example, there is a fiesta in Puno in honor of the Blessed Virgin of La Candelaria, in April there are fiestas throughout the country in honor of Good Friday and Easter, in July there is a fiesta in Paucartambo in honor of the Virgin of El Carmen, and in October in Lima – Fiesta of the Lord of Miracles.
On June 24, Peruvians celebrate the summer solstice Inti Raimi, which has its roots in Inca tradition.
Also very interesting are the Marinera Dance Festival in La Libertad, the Spring Festival in Trujillo and the wine festival of La Vendimina.
Kitchen
The territory of Peru is geographically divided into three regions – mountainous, jungle and coastal region. Peruvian cuisine can be divided along the same lines.
In coastal areas, fish and seafood dishes predominate. The traditional dish there is “Ceviche”, which is fish marinated in lemon or lime juice with coriander, garlic and onions. Such fish is served with corn, potatoes or seaweed.
In mountainous areas, the emphasis is on meat dishes. The traditional dish of the Peruvians in the mountains is “Pachamanca” (meat baked in its own juice in a hole in the ground, seasoned with spices). Such meat is often served with potatoes.
In the cuisine of the Peruvian jungle, the emphasis is on vegetables, fruits and meat. In the jungle region, Peruvians eat a large amount of fruit every day, including the Camu Camu fruit, which is rich in vitamin C.
Traditional non-alcoholic drinks are coca leaf tea (it is not a drug, it is sometimes drunk cold, but most often hot), herbal or fruit tea “Emoliente”, a drink “Chicha morada” from purple corn with sugar and spices.
Traditional alcoholic drinks are Pisco (traditional Peruvian vodka), Chicha de jora (traditional corn alcoholic drink), wine and beer.
Sights of Peru
Tourists in Peru are waiting for a lot of interesting sights. These are, for example, the relic lake Titicaca, medieval palaces and churches, petroglyphs in the Nazca desert, fortresses and cities of the Incas, temples of the pre-Inca period and much more. The Top 10 most interesting Peruvian attractions, in our opinion, may include the following:
- Inca Religious Center Sacsayhuaman
- Lake Titicaca
- Religious center of the pre-Inca period Pachacamac
- Petroglyphs in the Nazca Desert
- Sacred city of the Incas Machu Picchu
- Ruins of the ancient Indian city of Chan Chan
- Cathedral of Santo Domingo in Lima
- Megalithic sculptures on the plateau of Marcahuasi
- Capital of the Inca Empire Cusco
- Inca fortress Pisac
Of great interest to tourists are Peruvian national parks and reserves – the Manu Biosphere Reserve, the ecological reserve in Batan Grande, as well as the national parks Bahuaha Sonone and Maididi.
Cities and resorts
The largest cities are Lima, Arequipa, Callao, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Iquitos and Piura.
Peruvian beach resorts are not as famous as resorts in Ecuador and Colombia, for example, but this country has some very beautiful beaches surrounded by the Andes. The most popular local beach resorts are Picasmayo, Chicama, Paracas, La Pimentel, Tumbesa, Trujillo and Lima. The best time to relax on Peruvian beaches is January-March.
Many believe that the best Peruvian beach is Punta Sal, located in the north of the country near the border with Ecuador. Another popular local beach is Mancora. Both of these beaches present excellent opportunities for water sports, especially surfing.
Tourists in Peru are also offered a large number of historical and ecological excursion tours. During these sightseeing tours, tourists visit the villages of local Indians, explore ancient Indian archaeological complexes, observe unique animals and birds, get acquainted with the way of life of local residents, and try traditional Indian dishes.
There are many therapeutic thermal baths in the Peruvian mountains, which are visited by thousands of tourists with pleasure.
Souvenirs/Shopping
Tourists in Peru buy handicrafts, jewelry, clothes (sweaters, hats, scarves) made of alpaca wool, carpets, wooden chess with figures of the Incas and conquistadors, traditional Peruvian pisco vodka.
Office Hours
Banks:
Mon-Fri: 09:00-18:00 (most banks close for siesta from 13:00 to 15:00)
Sat: 09:00-12:00
Shops:
Mon-Sat: 09:00-17:00/18:00
Some banks are also open on Sundays, but only until lunch.
Visa
Ukrainians who want to travel to Peru for up to 3 months do not need a visa.
Currency of Peru
The new sol is the official currency in Peru. Its international designation is PEN. One new sol = 100 centimos. Many hotels, restaurants and shops accept American dollars for payment. All major credit cards are used in cities.
Customs restrictions
There are no restrictions on the import and export of local and foreign currency, but amounts exceeding $10,000 must be declared.
It is forbidden to import drugs, firearms and ammunition, unpreserved food. Salami, ham and cheese can only be imported with a certificate issued by the manufacturer. When importing cats and dogs, they must have an international veterinary certificate.
When buying goods, keep receipts – they will be useful to you at customs when you leave the country. For the export of objects of archeology, art and history, a special permit from the relevant authorities is required.
Useful phone numbers and addresses
Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Peru in Ukraine:
Postcode: 04070, Kiev, st. Naberezhno-Khreshchatytska, 25
Т: (044) 425-24-20
Embassy of Ukraine in Peru:
Calle Juan Dellepiani № 470, San Isidro, Lima, Peru
Т: (8 10 511) 264 28
84 mail: [email protected]
Emergency numbers
105 – Police
116 – Fire brigade
117 – Ambulance
Time
Behind Kyiv for 8 hours. Those. if, for example, in Kyiv 13:00, then in Lima – 05:00.
Tips
Tipping in Peru is not mandatory. However, in prestigious restaurants and hotels the tip is usually 10% of the bill. Taxi drivers don’t expect tips.
The medicine
Before traveling to Peru, it is recommended to make several preventive vaccinations (for example, against yellow fever, trouser fever, malaria, hepatitis A and rabies).
Security
Every year more than 2.5 thousand tourists visit Peru, and for the vast majority of them it becomes a great vacation. However, Peru is a poor country, so petty theft is not uncommon there. Therefore, we recommend that tourists observe reasonable security measures.
