South America
Welcome Kit
Peru
Be amazed in this vast and ancient land. A pearl of South America.
A once-in-a-lifetime journey will take you through the heart of the Inca Empire, which in its height, dominated the entire length of the Andes, a land of wonders!
Highlights
To travel through Peru is to discover worlds with landscapes, sounds, colors and flavors of their own. Travel through time by millenarian civilizations and share with Peruvians its great cultural heritage.
Enjoy countless destinations with emotions that are hard to forget. Experiences and memories that you will always carry with you.
General Facts
Peru is located in the western part of South America. It borders Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast and Chile to the south. Its territory is made up of diverse landscapes: the valleys, altiplano and high peaks of the Andes Mountains spread out towards the desert coast in the west and the Amazon in the east.
The extension of the Peruvian territory reaches 1,285,215 km2. Peru is determined by the presence of the Andes Mountain Range, which crosses the territory from the South to the North, configuring three clearly differentiated areas: The Coast, the Highlands and the Jungle.
Map Location
Documentation
A valid Passport.
Most countries in America and
Western Europe do not require a visa.
Insurance information.
Best Time to Go
The Best time to travel to Peru for foreigners is in great part determined by weather so you can enjoy your vacation, depending on where you will go and what you would like to do.
High Season (jun-aug)
Busy season. Best time for parties, high altitude sports and excursions.
Dry season in the Andean Altiplano and the jungles.
Mid Season (sep-nov and mar-may)
Ideal for visits without crowds.
Spring and autumn in the Altiplano. From September to November great excursions in the jungle.
Low Season (dec-feb)
The Inca Trail closes in February.
Rainy season in the Altiplano and in the Amazon until May.
High season on the coast and for beach activities.
Clothing
The country has many places of tourist interest, so it will be like making several trips in one.
Depending on your tastes and preferences you will pack different things, it all depends on the places you want to visit and the activities you want to do there. For example, in the Amazon it is hot and humid, while at the highest points of the Andes it is freezing cold. You will also need mountain equipment for your hiking routes, especially comfortable shoes. So, make a good planning considering the weather and the activities to be done.
Healthcare
Altitude Sickness
It is not unusual in the Andes.
Take it easy when you land in Peru and try not to do anything too strenuous. Check with your doctor before coming if in doubt.
Packing
Peru flights allow, as their restrictions are limited to 50 pounds (23 kg) per person.
Currency
Nuevos Soles.
Major credit cards are widely accepted.
Electricity
Peru: 220 V – 60 Hz
A twin flat blade (as used in North America) and twin round pin plugs (as used in continental Europe) are both standard.
Local Taxes
Foodie
Peruvian cuisine is considered one of the most important in the world. Its variety and influence of other cultures (Spanish, Italian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic) make its meals really special. Lima, its capital, is considered as “The Gastronomical Capital of the Americas”.
The famous dishes and typical drinks that are distinguished in the country are:
Ceviche: this dish consists of a combination of fresh fish and seafood marinated in
lemon juice.
Lomo saltado: The lomo saltado was born thanks to the fusion of Peruvian and Chinese cuisine and consists of fried pieces of meat with onion and tomato.
Pachamanca: This is a typical Peruvian dish, made by cooking beef, pork, chicken and guinea pig, as well as other ingredients. Everything is cooked under the heat of the stones that are heated with the combustion of wood.
Potato “a la huancaína”: The dish consists of boiled potatoes covered with a cream of cheese, oil, salt, yellow pepper and milk so that it has consistency.
Juane: It is a typical dish made with rice, chicken meat, olives, boiled egg, among other spices that are wrapped in a leaf and boiled for an hour and a half.
Picarones: they are traditional sweets in Peruvian gastronomy and their presentation consists of rings made of wheat flour dough, pumpkin and sweet potato bathed with the sugar cane sweet called chancaca.
Suspiro limeño: is a traditional dessert consisting of a sweet cream made from milk, sugar, egg yolk and vanilla essence, covered with meringue made from egg whites, port wine and sugar.
Mazamorra morada: it is made with concentrated purple corn with cornstarch. The dessert is usually accompanied by rice pudding and called “classic” or “combined”. This is a quite nutritious dessert since it contains a great amount of fiber in its nuts.
Pisco Sur: It is the most important drink in Peru. It is a cocktail made with pisco (derived from grapes), lemon juice, sugar syrup, egg white and ice.
Chicha Morada: It is a drink prepared with boiled purple corn. When the corn is cold, pineapple peel, cinnamon, a little lemon juice and sugar are added.
Foodie Advice >>
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Activities
The Uros Island
The Uros Island is a group of artificial islands that are located in Lake Titicaca. These were created by the Uros, who were an ethnic group before the Incas, originally from Bolivia. To escape from the wars, they built these islands and took refuge in them.
Nowadays, these lands are inhabited by families and each one owns its own plot of land. You can visit them by taking a tour and meet the families living there. These families currently live from handicrafts and tourism.
Moray Ruins
They are an impressive archaeological complex located 74 kilometers from the city of Cusco and 3,500 meters above sea level. This area stands out for showing a series of unique circular platforms that look like amphitheaters. The ruins of Moray were built on retaining walls and it is believed that they were used by the Indians as an agricultural research center and for astronomical observation.
The Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are geoglyphs (figures built on hillsides or plains) located in the Nazca Desert.
They were created by an ancient culture. These designs stand out for the perfection with which they were made. They are wonderful to look at and impressive for their dimensions. These sculptures were declared a world heritage site.
Sacred Valley of the Incas
A magical area of ravines, archaeological sites and picturesque colonial villages, which follow one another, inhabited by indigenous communities, who have kept their traditions and customs alive over time.
Its main enclaves correspond to the archaeological complex and town of Pisac, the town of Chinchero with its famous weavers and the archaeological zone of Ollantaytambo, the only Inca city that is practically intact, and whose constructions today are inhabited by their descendants.
Machu Picchu
An impressive Inca city built at an altitude of 2360 meters above sea level, a breathtaking landscape of walls, terraces and ramps that seem to be carved into the rock itself, immersed among majestic mountain peaks, cliffs and the greenery of the Amazon forest.
It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. It is a place that allows to recreate through its temples, palaces and staircases, what once was the most splendid construction built by the Inca Empire.