General tourist information about Peru, including all the things to know before leaving, for a trip or a vacation in this state of South America.
Peru in a nutshell
- Capital: Lima
- Area in sq km: 1,285,216
- Population: 28,302,603 (first half 2006)
- Religion: Catholic majority, Protestant minority and other religions.
Where is it
Peru borders Colombia and Ecuador to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Chile to the south; to the west it is washed by the Pacific Ocean.
It is by extension the third country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina. It is formed, proceeding from west to east, from three distinct regions: the Costa, the Sierra and the Selva (or Montana).
The coast is an area with scarce vegetation, with the exception of the valleys where rivers flow which flow into the Pacific Ocean.
It is in this area of territory that Peru's major population centers are located.
The Sierra is the Andes region, formed by very high peaks, such as the summit of Huascaràn (m. 6,768), this area is subject to seismic and volcanic manifestations.
In the south-eastern part of the Sierra, on the border with Bolivia, there is Lake Titicaca at 3,800 meters high.
La Selva, the largest region in the country covered by a tropical forest and crossed by large rivers, begins where the chain of the Eastern Cordillera slopes down to the plain of the Amazon River, up to the border with Brazil.
Hydrography
The main rivers of Peru (Maranòn, Napo, Huallaga, Ucayali), pay to the Atlantic Ocean through the Amazon River.
They are born on the Andean chain, they slide longitudinally until, through lateral passages, they follow their course towards the east.
The Maranòn and Ucayali rivers come together near the city of Iquitos and give life to the Amazon River.
Recommended readings- Lima (Peru): what to see
- Cusco (Peru): what to see in the archaeological site
- Peru: useful information
- Machu Picchu (Peru): what to see in the lost city of the Incas
- Apurimac: Peru's river that feeds the Amazon River
The rivers that flow into the Pacific Ocean flow steeply towards it, their waters are used to irrigate the surrounding land.
On the border between Peru and Bolivia at 3800 m. altitude, is located, wrapped in a very suggestive scenery, Lake Titicaca.
Climate
Peru's climate reflects its geographical and morphological position.
Keeping in mind that the seasons are upside down compared to ours, it is possible to make some distinctions.
The climate of the coast is influenced by the cold current of Humboldt (which comes from the Pacific Ocean) and by the presence of the Andes mountain range.
In the winter period (April-October), this region is shrouded in a fog called garua, which makes the air very humid, even if the rains are absent and the climate is dry.
The summer period (November-March) coincides with the rainy season.
The northern coast of the country has a warmer climate than the southern one.
In the Andes region from April to October, the season is dry, while from November to March it is the rainy season.
A characteristic of these areas is the strong temperature range between day and night.
In the Selva the climate is very hot and humid, except for the higher areas, which have a subtropical-temperate climate, the rains are abundant, especially in the period between November and March.
Population
The population of Peru is made up mostly of Quechua who live in the Andes (they were the main nucleus of the Inca Empire) and of mestizos.
In addition there are Creoles, whites, Aymaràs (populations of the Andes) and a minority of Amazonian Indians.
Time zone
In Peru it is necessary to move the clock hands 6 hours back, compared to Italy, while when in our country summer time is in force, 7 hours less must be considered.
Spoken language
The official languages of Peru are Spanish and Quechua.
In the southern regions (Lake Titicaca) the Aymarà is spoken.
Economy
Peru faces numerous social, economic and political challenges, to increase economic development and reduce poverty, as well as the widespread social differences present within its people.
The main activities of the country, which constitute the main sectors of the Peruvian economy and which contribute most to exports, are the mining sector, fueled by the resources of silver, tin, lead, zinc, copper, gold and the fishing sector, with various activities including the cultivation of shrimp, oysters, fan-shaped shells and fishmeal production.
The agro-industrial sector is also significant, with products that mainly come from irrigated crops along the coastal strip, including coffee, sugar cane, cotton, fruit, vegetables, citrus fruits, cereals and potatoes.
The textile sector is highlighted by the ability of Peruvians to work and the quality of the raw material, in fact there are numerous herds of llama, alpaca sheep, which provide a very precious wool.
The history, culture and natural beauty of the country favor the tourism sector.
When to go
To go to the Andes and to visit the archaeological sites, wanting to avoid the rainy season, even if it rains all year round in the Amazon, the months from May to mid-September are preferable.
In the Andes, during the daytime the temperature is warm all year round, while at night it drops by several degrees.
On the coast, the preferred months are from December to March (summer season), with a warm temperate daytime climate and cool nighttime.
During the other months the coast is almost always shrouded in fog.
Necessary documents
A valid passport is required to enter Peru.
A visa is not required up to 90 days of stay.
Upon arrival in Peru, the international boarding and disembarking card (Tarjeta Internacional de Embarque y Desembarque), received by plane or at the migration office of the border area of origin, must be delivered to the Migration Office.
This card must be kept and returned upon departure.
Phone
- The international code to call from Italy to Peru is: 0051
- The international prefix for telephoning from Peru to Italy is: 0039
Internet points are widespread, offering internet connections at an affordable price.
Electricity
The electric current is 220 volts.
Money and credit cards
The official currency of Peru is the Nuevo Sol. The main credit cards are accepted in the most important centers and hotels.
ATM withdrawals are possible in most cities.
The US dollar is easy to use for payments and the euro can be changed without difficulty.
Vaccinations
To visit Peru some vaccinations are recommended, including Antitifica, vaccinations against hepatitis A and B., malaria prophylaxis, only for those who visit the Amazonian regions, vaccine against yellow fever, not required for those coming from Italy, even if in any case recommended for visiting the Amazon regions.
It is also recommended to drink only bottled water, not to add ice to drinks and not to eat vegetables and raw foods.
How to get
Lima's Jorge Chavez international airport is Peru's main airport.
There are no direct flights from Italy to this country, but various airlines connect Europe to Peru.
Klm connects Italy to Lima with a stopover in Amsterdam, Iberia, from Italy offers flights to Lima, with a stopover in Madrid or Barcelona, Air France provides connections with Lima through various intermediate airports.
Other airlines, including Continental Airlines, Avianca, Air Comet and Lan Airlines, also connect Italy to Peru.
