Useful Information

About Perú

At one time Peru was the homeland of several prominent Andean civilizations, with the Incas certainly the most notable.

The incredible Incas built astonishing mountain temples, palaces and other buildings, all with no mortar; they constructed almost 10,000 miles of roads, engineered functional bridges and built aqueducts to transport their water.

At the zenith of the Inca’s influence in 1532, the Spanish conquistadors arrived in their quest for gold and other riches; they executed the proud, but over-matched indigenous Indians and their leaders, captured their cities – and in a brief period of time this innovative and powerful culture was scattered to the wind and all destroyed.

For almost three hundred years Peru functioned as a Spanish colony, but in the early 19th century, native discontent and colonist revolts brought calls of independence, localized uprisings, and then, civil war in 1821, with the Spanish finally defeated in 1824.

Over the next century, or so, Peru suffered through many wars, some with neighbors; brutal dictatorial rule, military coups and the subsequent political upheaval that comes with the territory.

In 1980, Peru finally returned to democratic leadership.
The future is surely bright in this one-time “Land of the Incas,” as Peru has an abundant supply of natural resources, enormous agricultural potential and some of the most stunning tourism venues on the planet.

Peru is home to one of the most impressive archaeological and tourist sites in the world, since 2007 on the world’s wonders  Machu Picchu. This Incan city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, offers unique insights into the lives of the Incan people.

BEFORE TRAVELING:

About the country:

Weather:

As with all countries situated near Ecuador, altitude greatly influences the climate of Peru. In the southern hemisphere, the seasons are inverted in relation to northern hemisphere. However, in Peru, this rule has some exceptions.

According to its geographical location (in the tropical southern hemisphere) Peru should have a warm, humid and rainy weather. However, the presence of the Andes, the South Pacific anticyclonic circulation and the cold Humboldt current have determined certain environmental conditions, giving rise to a variety of climates.

On the coast almost never rains, is characterized by the dense fog and dim mists between May and November, producing the sensation of cold The average annual temperature is only between 14 º C and 18 º C. In the summer (December to April), the humidity decreases and the sun shines brightly.

Both in the mountains region and in the rainforest or Peruvian jungle there is a dry season or “summer” (May to October) with abundant sunny days, and a rainy season between (November to April) “winter”. While the mountains region or sierra has a dry and cool weather, with an average temperature of between 9 º C and 18 º C, the rainforest has a tropical climate with temperatures ranging between 26 º C and 40 º C.

Health:

Health is one of our greatest assets.Therefore, it is not necessary to take the risk! Beyond the essential tips and regular checkup with your doctor to prevent disease, it is important to specifically prepare for a trip to South America. Consult your doctor and it is informed on the subject, please contact a specialist in tropical and infectious diseases.

A large part of the Peruvian territory is at a high altitude. During the trip, you can cross regions that reach more than 4,000 m.a.s.l. Therefore it is necessary to be cautious!

Altitude sickness can manifest itself in various forms, from a simple headache to pulmonary edema (fortunately very rare).

In emergencies
No wait it’s too late to turn to a doctor! It is better to lose a day’s journey to recover than return to his country urgently because you had a health problem.
Foresee insurance and not hesitate to use it!

Currency:

In Peru, since the early 90s, the official currency is Nuevo Sol
While traveling to Peru could be practical to change the currency of your country for Peruvian currency, you can pay in U.S. dollars in virtually any location, hotels, shopping centers, restaurants, entertainment venues and major cities. Although this is true and can be very comfortable, we remind you that in many cases the change rate applied in the shops will not be the most beneficial to you.
If you want to use a credit or debit card, you can pay to members of Visa and Master Card (Here you have to be aware that many countries require a formality for the bank to use cards abroad).

Language:

Spanish, Quechua, Aymara

Telephone codes: 51