About Peru
From the Lonely Planet:
"It's the multicultural layers of great civilisations that make Peru so intriguing. You can wander around colonial cities that have preserved the legacy of the Spanish conquistadors, visit the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, explore the lost city of Machu Picchu and ponder the enigma of the Nazca Lines.
It also has some of the most spectacular and varied scenery in South America. The Peruvian Andes are arguably the most beautiful on the continent and they issue a siren's call to world-class mountaineers and trekkers alike. These mountains are also home to millions of indigenous highlanders, who still speak the ancient tongue of Quechua and maintain a traditional way of life."
After the fall of the Inca empire to the Spanish in 1533, Peru declared independence in 1821 and remaining Spanish forces were defeated in 1824 by the armies of Simon Bolivar and Jose de San Martin. After years of military rule in the 20th century, Peru returned to a democratic government in 1980, and President Fujimori's election in 1990 brought about a decade of economic growth and relative stability. Alan Garcia Perez, of the left-wing social democratic APRA (Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana) party, is the current president of Peru after winning the elections in 2006.
Peru's 1.2 million square kilometers is split into several varied ecological zones, from the dry western coastal plains where the capital, Lima, is situated, through the extreme highlands of the Andes, to the tropical lowlands of the Amazon Basin to the east. Peru's mountain ranges boast many high peaks, with thirty above 6,000m and the Nevado Huascaran ("Nevado" means "snow-covered peak") standing at 6,768m - or 22,205 feet - above sea level. For reference, Mount Everest is 8,850m. Within its borders lie the ultimate source of the Amazon River, as well as the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca (shared with Bolivia).
28 million people call Peru home. Spanish and the native Quechua are the official languages, though Aymara and a number of Amazonian languages are also spoken. The majority of the country are Roman Catholic Christians, though traditional religions dating back to the time of the Inca empire and beyond are still followed in many communities throughout the country.
Peru is not without its problems. Poverty in traditional rural towns and villages has led to a massive urban migration, and in Lima the city has been unable to support the huge influx of population. Unplanned shanty towns have been built around the capital by people with nowhere else to live. Successive governments have been plagued by corruption, ineffiency and human rights abuses, and the native coca leaf from which cocaine base is derived has led to the country being embroiled in the ilicit cocaine industry.
Despite its problems, Peru boasts a vibrant culture rooted in a rich historic heritage, and its people are welcoming and friendly. Christian beliefs are melded with spirituality and respect for the landscape, and the empty ruins of Inca towns and temples dotted about the former empire attract visitors all around the world. Beautiful scenery abounds: the snow-capped peaks and high mountain trails of the Andes; the endless rolling dunes of the coastal desert; the humid, mysterious Amazon rainforest with its rich wildlife.
Getting there
Many airlines fly to Peru, and it is also possible to make border crossings from neighboring countries. Travellers from the USA, Europe and other Latin American countries do not require visas at the time of writing, but always check requirements such as visas and innoculations before booking, and make sure you do not overstay the duration given in your passport stamp.
Major airlines flying international to Peru
Expedia and ebookers offer a great way of finding the cheapest flights, and Expedia is particularly useful for booking one-way flights coming back from Peru.
Other resources
The ubiquitous Lonely Planet Guidebook to Peru (see top right) is an excellent source of information on the country. Peru has an official tourism website with valuable resources for travellers, and many tour operators and their agents also offer free tourist information.
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