• Peru Info

INFORMATION

One of best destination in the world: Trekking and Climbing in the Cordillera Blanca and Huayhuash, Inca Culture and Machu Picchu

About Peru

Peru (Spanish: Perú; Quechua: Piruw; Aymara: Piruw), officially the Republic of Peru, is a country in western South America. It is bordered in the north by Ecuador and Colombia, in the east by Brazil, in the southeast by Bolivia, in the south by Chile, and in the west by the Pacific Ocean. Peru is an extremely biodiverse country with habitats ranging from the arid plains of the Pacific coastal region in the west to the peaks of the Andes mountains vertically extending from the north to the southeast of the country to the tropical Amazon Basin rainforest in the east with the Amazon river.

Peruvian territory was home to ancient cultures spanning from the Norte Chico civilization in Caral, one of the oldest in the world, to the Inca Empire, the largest state in Pre-Columbian America. The Spanish Empire conquered the region in the 16th century and established a Viceroyalty with its capital in Lima, which included most of its South American colonies. Ideas of political autonomy later spread throughout Spanish America and Peru gained its independence, which was formally proclaimed in 1821.

Peru is a representative democratic republic divided into 25 regions. It is a developing country with a high Human Development Index score and a poverty level around 25.8 percent. Its main economic activities include mining, manufacturing, agriculture and fishing.

The Peruvian population, estimated at 30.4 million, is multiethnic, including Amerindians, Europeans, Africans and Asians. The main spoken language is Spanish, although a significant number of Peruvians speak Quechua or other native languages. This mixture of cultural traditions has resulted in a wide diversity of expressions in fields such as art, cuisine, literature, and music.

Time zone
Time zone is PET (UTC−5)

Language
Spanish, Quechua and Aymara are the official languages of Peru. English is spoken in many tourist places.

Telecommunications
Free Wi-fi there are in almost all of cafés and restaurantes. All hostels also have Internet access. There are also plenty of 'Locutorios' where you can call overseas for approximately 0.50 Nuevo Soles a minute. The international code for Peru is 51 and for Huaraz, 043.

Pharmacies
There are several pharmacies in all cities. Basic toiletries, sun cream, lip balm, moist towelettes and women's sanitary needs are all readily available.

Restaurants, coffee shops and bars
There are numerous restaurants, coffee shops and bars to suit all tastes in Peru. Please ask us if you require more information.

Laundry
Many hostels include their own laundry service. There are also 'Lavanderias' in the town. The average price is 6 Nuevo Soles per kilo of laundry and most places provide fast service.

Drinking water
It is recommended to buy bottled water, which is available in 600ml or 3L bottles.

Supermarkets, markets
There are markets and supermarkets in Peru where basic groceries are available as well as several outdoor markets for fresh fruit and vegetables.

Security
It is advisable to exercise the same caution as you would in any tourist location. When walking in the town and especially in the markets, keep cameras, wallets and any other valuables well hidden. Try to avoid displaying expensive jewellery or carrying unnecessary amounts of cash.

Huaraz

The capital of the region of Ancash, Huaraz is located at 3085m, 400km northeast of Lima. Situated on the River Santa in the Huaylas valley, it boasts an inspiring backdrop of snow-peaked mountains of the Cordilleras Negra and Blanca, also home to Huascaran, Peru's highest mountain. There are two main seasons, the wet season and dry with average temperatures ranging between 10°C – 16°C. Huaraz is a newly-built town after the majority was destroyed in the 1970 earthquake in which 70,000 tragically lost their lives. Originally inhabited by pre-Inca and Inca tribes, today much of the population of Huaraz is made up from indigenous Andes groups whose native language is Quechua. Huaraz is a major centre for trekking and climbing.