Peru's territory has an area of 1,285,216 square km. It is bordered by Ecuador and Colombia on the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, and finally Chile and Bolivia to the south. To the west lies the Pacific Ocean. Its population has more than 27 million inhabitants that speak Spanish, with others bilingual in Quechua or Aymara and other native languages.
Eastern Peru consists mostly of the moist tropical jungles of the Amazon Rain Forest, the largest on Earth. In the southeast along the border with Bolivia lies Lake Titicaca - the highest navigable lake in the world. The Altiplano plateau is a dry basin located along the slopes of the Andes in southeastern Peru. Along the border with Chile, the Atacama Desert is the driest place on the planet.
The Peruvian Sea is home to a large amount and variety of fish life. The Sechura Desert is located in northwestern Peru along the Pacific coastline.
The main rivers of Peru include the Ucayali, Mara Amazon (which is formed by the confluence of the Maraand the Ucayali), Putumayo, Pastaza, Napo, Jurua, and the Purus.
Climate and Weather
Varies according to area. On the coast winter lasts from June to September. During this period, the mountainous areas are often sunny during the day but cold at night. Heavy rains in the mountains and jungle last from December to April. It hardly ever rains in Lima nor most of the coast, except for Tumbes and Piura, which have tropical climates.
Population
With about 28 million inhabitants, Peru is the fourth most populous country in South America as of 2007. Peru is a multiethnic nation formed by the combination of different groups over five centuries. Amerindians inhabited Peruvian territory for several millennia before Spanish Conquest in the 16th century; their population decreased from an estimated 9 million in the 1520s to around 600,000 in 1620 mainly due to infectious diseases. Spaniards and Africans arrived in large numbers under colonial rule, mixing widely with each other and with indigenous peoples. After independence, there has been a gradual European immigration from England, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. Chinese arrived in the 1850s as a replacement for slave workers and have since become a major influence in Peruvian society. Other immigrant groups include Arabs and Japanese.
Transportation
Transportation in Peru is fairly complicated, due mostly to the country’s natural borders. Peru is also a large country, and thus navigating it by land can be a very time consuming affair if you wish to explore its different regions. The most practical means of transportation in Peru is flying, especially if you want to see a bunch of different places. Travel by land can be a whole lot cheaper, but generally it is relatively uncomfortable.
The most utilized means of transportation for travel in Peru is the Peru bus. Buses are a very affordable way to get around the country, and for trips from cities to small towns, they can be the only way to go.
For the more daring out there, Peru rental cars can be a way to get around, though it is generally recommended that most visitors stay away from the idea. First off, Peru rental cars are not very economical, especially if you want a 4 X 4.
Peru trains are not easy to come by for most routes, but in southern Peru, there are some very popular train routes that offer scenic travel in and around the Cusco department and nearby regions.
Top Attractions
1. Plaza Mayor and Plaza San Martin.
2. Museo de la Nación (National Museum).
3. Museo de Oro del Peru (Gold Museum).
4. Museo Rafael Larco Herrera.
5. Church of San Francisco.
6. Pisco.
7. Nazca.
8. Plaza de Armas.
9. Coricancha Inca Ruins.
10. Sacsayhuamán.
Best Travel Time
The seasons in Argentina are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere. Buenos Aires is ideal in fall (Mar-May) and spring (Sept-Nov), when temperatures are mild. The beaches and resort towns are packed with vacationing Argentines in summer (Dec-Mar), while Buenos Aires becomes somewhat deserted of locals. Plan a trip to Patagonia and the southern Andes in summer, when days are longer and warmer. Winter (June-Aug) is the best time to visit Iguazú and the Northwest, when the rains and heat have subsided; but spring (Aug-Oct) is also pleasant, as temperatures are mild and the crowds have cleared out.
Food and Drink
National specialties: • Ceviche (uncooked fish marinated in lemon or lime juice and hot chili pepper, served with fried corn, sweet potatoes, onions and flavored with coriander).
• Chupe de camarones is a chowder-type soup made with shrimps, milk, eggs, potatoes and peppers.
• Causa relleña (potato cakes with chicken in the center, but also cooked with avocado or crabmeat).
• Tamales (boiled corn dumplings filled with meat and wrapped in a banana leaf).
• Mazamorra morada (purple maize and sweet potato starch jelly cooked with lemons, dried fruits, cinnamon and cloves).
National drinks: • The most famous drink is pisco sour, made from a potent grape brandy.
• Other pisco-based drinks are algarrobina (pisco and carob syrup), chilcano (pisco and ginger ale) and capitán (pisco and vermouth).
• Chicha de jora (fermented red or yellow corn juice) and chicha morada (non-alcoholic purple corn juice) are popular drinks dating from Inca times.
• Peruvian beers and national wines are good.
Local Products/Shopping
There are many attractive Peruvian handicrafts such as alpaca wool sweaters, alpaca and llama rugs, Indian masks, weaving and jewelry. Galleries and handicraft shops abound in the Miraflores, Pueblo Libre and downtown districts of Lima. Handicrafts markets are located in Miraflores (Petit Thouars Ave, blocks 52 to 53) and Pueblo Libre (La Marina Ave, blocks 8 to 10). Bargaining is an expected practice with beach vendors and at markets and known as ’regateo’.
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1. Plaza Mayor and Plaza San Martin.
The seasons in Argentina are the reverse of those in the Northern Hemisphere. Buenos Aires is ideal in fall (Mar-May) and spring (Sept-Nov), when temperatures are mild. The beaches and resort towns are packed with vacationing Argentines in summer (Dec-Mar), while Buenos Aires becomes somewhat deserted of locals. Plan a trip to Patagonia and the southern Andes in summer, when days are longer and warmer. Winter (June-Aug) is the best time to visit Iguazú and the Northwest, when the rains and heat have subsided; but spring (Aug-Oct) is also pleasant, as temperatures are mild and the crowds have cleared out.