Capital: Lima

Language: Spanish

Currency: New Sol

In addition to the magical charm and ancient intrigue of Machu Picchu, the city of Cusco, located in the Peruvian Andes, is another hit and was once the capital of the Inca Empire. As such, it boasts countless archaeological remains, especially being famous for its Spanish colonial architecture. The Plaza de Armas is the old town’s central square, with arcades, carved wooden balconies and ruins of Inca walls. The Convento de Santo Domingo, a Baroque masterpiece, was built on top of the Inca Temple of the Sun.

Arequipa is the colonial-era capital of a region by the same name. Surrounded by three volcanoes, baroque-style buildings are built using ashlar, a white volcanic stone. You can even visit volcanoes without a guide.

Geography

Peru, in western South America, is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east next to Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the south and west by the Pacific Ocean.

Climate

The combination of tropical latitude, mountain ranges, topography variations, and two ocean currents (Humboldt and El Niño) give Peru a large diversity of climates. The coastal region has moderate temperatures, low precipitation, and high humidity, except for its warmer, wetter northern reaches. The Peruvian Amazon is characterised by heavy rainfall and high temperatures, except for its southernmost part, which has cold winters and seasonal rainfall. In the mountain region, rain is frequent in summer, and temperature and humidity diminish with altitude up to the Andes’ frozen peaks.

Culture

The old blends with the new in Peru!  The Quechua and Aymara, both with their own languages and customs, are the predominant native cultures, successfully preserving and keeping their proud cultures despite modernisation and globalisation. Cuzco, still, is told by many as still the culture capital of Peru!

The clothing here is both beautiful and traditional!  Polleras, these layers of bright skirts, are fairly popular in some areas, while some wear black skirts with wide embroidered belts or petticoats layered with elaborate designs. The cold can be harsh in the mountains and highlands, so ponchos are an absolutely necessity. In Puno, vs Cuzco, the ponchos are very long and dramatic. Woollen and straw hats are common as well!

Gastronomy

The Peruvian staples of maiz, potatoes, and rice combine with Spanish, Basque, and Asian flavours, evolving into sophisticated tastes, becoming world-famous!  Not only root foods but ceviches and other fish dishes await you in this country, normally pairing with milk, chilli pepper, or potatoes for a certain Peruvian flair. Tamales and humitas are also fairly common, usually served with delicious soups or stews! 

Some adventurous travellers have luck trying cuy or roast guinea pig, or even alpaca meat, often served additionally with yucca, a common root ingredient from the Andes. One might even try carapulca, a meat stew with dried potatoes, traditionally called papaseca!