Travel Information Peru

Travel map of Peru by the tour operator OVERCROSS

Peru – The "Kingdom of the Sun" is a land of ancient cultures, where the traditional way of life of the indigenous population has survived in many places. With its varied scenic contrasts, it invites visitors to explore the coast, the highlands, and the jungle. In addition to the "lost city of the Incas" Machu Picchu and the impressive Inca ruins around Cusco, Peru offers further cultural and scenic highlights with the famous Nazca Lines, Lake Titicaca, the Colca Canyon, and the archaeologically very interesting north of the country. 

1. General Information
2. Climate
3. Flora and Fauna
4. National Parks and Nature Conservation
5. Medical Advice
6. Population
7. Politics and Economy
8. Transport Network
9. Cities and Regions
10. Culture, Sights
11. Public Holidays
12. Travel Advice
13. Foreign Representations
14. Sources and Links

1. General Information

Continent: South America
Geographical location: West coast of South America, borders the Pacific
Highest elevation:  Nevado Huascarán, 6768 m
Form of government: Constitutional Republic
Government system: Semi-presidential system
Languages: Quechua, Aymara and Spanish
Neighboring countries: Ecuador, Brazil, Chile, Bolivia, Colombia
Capital: Lima
Area: 1,285,220 km²
Population: 34,742,500 (2023)
Population density: 27 inhabitants per km²
Religions: 81.3%  Catholic, 12.5% Protestant
Currency: Nuevo Sol (PEN)
Climate: Tropical zone below the equator
Time zone:  UTC -5
Area code: +51
Country code: PE 
Electricity: 220V Alternating current / Bring power adapter
Opening hours: Supermarkets are usually open from 9 am - 9 pm, banks until 9 am - 5 pm

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2. Climate

On the coast of Peru, which lies on the South Pacific, it gets very hot in the summer months, with temperatures over 30 °C. In the evenings, temperatures drop sharply. The cold season in the coastal region of Peru begins here in May and lasts until the end of November. During this time, temperatures just reach the -10 °C mark, which can be felt especially strongly in the capital, Lima.

In the Andes region, the travel season only begins in May. During the day it is summery warm, but if your excursion lasts until sunset, you should always have a jacket with you, as the temperature differences between day and night fluctuate greatly. In the city of Cusco, located over 3,400 km high, temperatures can, for example, drop from around 20 °C during the day to 0 °C at night. During the rainy season in the Andes region of Peru from October to April, trips to Machu Picchu or Cusco are rather not recommended.

In contrast to the varied east, the Peruvian rain and cloud forest west of the Andes offers a more uniform tropical climate. The average temperature is well above 20 °C throughout the year and rainfall is unavoidable here. In the drier months from May to December, temperatures often rise above 30 °C.

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3. Flora and Fauna

Image: Macaw on the Peru tour

Peru’s flora offers a diverse variety of plants. In the dry and sandy coastal plains, grasses and shrubs rarely grow. In contrast, the rainforest regions contain a great abundance of plants. Among other things, rubber and vanilla plants grow there. In the high mountains, due to natural conditions, only sparse plant diversity is present. Here you mainly find drought-tolerant plants such as cacti and mesquites.

Just like the flora, Peru’s wildlife also offers great variety. In the coastal region and on the offshore islands live gulls and terns, lizards, scorpions, seals, and penguins. In the Peruvian coastal waters, there are, among others, sardines, lobsters, and mackerel. Animals of the more fertile regions in the east include, for example, armadillos, alligators, jaguars, pumas, parrots, and flamingos. In the mountain region live the hump-less camels such as llamas and alpacas. Peru’s national animal, the red cock-of-the-rock, can be found in the Manú National Park.

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4. National Parks and Nature Conservation

The Constitution of Peru from 1993 regards the country’s natural resources and ecosystems as national natural heritage. In total, there are 74 different nature reserves protected by the government of Peru, which cover 15.22% of Peru’s land area. The largest and one of the oldest national parks in Peru is the Manú National Park, which is definitely worth a visit. It covers an area of 18,812 km²,  was established in 1973, and was thus the third in Peru. Manu National Park is home to 200 species of mammals, 14 species of monkeys, 132 species of reptiles, 155 species of amphibians, and a total of 1086 species of insects, which can be observed on a tour through the park.

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5. Medical Information

In general, no vaccinations are required. However, all travelers from the completed 9th month of life are recommended to get vaccinated in good time, especially when traveling to the entire Peruvian Amazon region, that is, 10 days before departure. In addition, if arriving from Peru for onward travel to a third country, a vaccination against yellow fever may be required.

The best standard of medical care is in the capital, Lima. In Cusco, the medical standard is usually not sufficient to properly treat serious emergencies, so it is recommended that, as soon as the patient’s medical condition allows, seriously ill or injured persons be transferred to the hospital in Lima.

A worldwide health insurance coverage and a reliable repatriation insurance are also recommended.

In general, the German Federal Foreign Office recommends checking the website of the German Embassy for information about doctors and hospitals in Peru in case of illness.

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6. Population

Image: Population in Peru

Besides Bolivia and Guatemala, Peru is one of the three Latin American countries with a large share of indigenous population. 44 percent of the people living there are mestizos. 31 percent are of indigenous descent and mostly belong to the Quechua and Aymara speaking peoples. 15 percent of the inhabitants are of European descent, and the share of Afro-Peruvians is estimated at about 4 percent. In addition, along the border with Ecuador in the rainforest there are as yet 15 known but uncontacted indigenous groups. As they have hardly any resistance to diseases like the flu, they have an internationally recognized right to isolation. 

Spanish is the most common language in Peru and is spoken by about 80 percent of the population as their mother tongue. However, Spanish in Peru varies because it has different dialects from region to region. Nevertheless, the Seseo spoken throughout South America is common everywhere. In addition, there are indigenous languages, with Quechua and Aymara being the most widely used.

In Peru, a large part of the population, about 81 percent, is Roman Catholic. 12.5 percent are Protestant, 3.3 percent report a religion not listed, and 2.9 percent are not religious. The reason for the large share of Christians in Peru lies in the conquest of Latin America by the Spaniards; they began Christianization in the 16th century, and the religion did not change after Peru's independence.

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7. Politics and Economy

The primary interests of the state of Peru include protection from threats to the security of Peruvian citizens and the promotion of the common good. However, in carrying out these interests, there are still some issues that need to be resolved. 

Peru is rich in mineral resources, especially copper, gold, and silver. The country is one of the world's largest producers of these raw materials. In addition, after China, Peru is the second largest fishing nation. In the past twenty years, Peru has had an economic growth rate of about 5 percent.

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8. Transport Network

When it comes to Peru's road network, there are mainly infrastructural problems with the axes crossing the Andes. The expansion of roads is steadily increasing, but since the asphalted roads at higher altitudes are always prone to maintenance issues, many expansions cannot last long. As in most countries of the region, public transport bears the main burden. When traveling by public transport, one should be cautious, as Peru's roads are among the most dangerous in Latin America.

The rail network in Peru consists of several subnetworks that are not connected to each other. Currently, about 2200 km are in operation. From 1990 onward, Peru's three largest rail networks were mostly privatized; before that, they were operated for decades by the state railway company ENAFER.

The airport in Callao handles most international flights. In every other city there are small airports that handle domestic flights.

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9. Cities and Regions

The largest cities in Peru

City

Pop.

Lima: Capital city, 30 percent of the population live here

Cusco: Located in the center of the Peruvian Andean highlands

Arequipa: Located in the south of the South American Andean state of Peru and represents the political, economic, and cultural center of southern Peru

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10. Culture, Sights

Picture: Machu Picchu on the Peru tour

Machu Picchu:

In 1911, the ruin city of Machu Picchu of the Incas, covered by lush greenery, was discovered on a mountain ridge near the mountain of the same name in Peru. It is assumed that in those days only a select few were allowed to enter the Inca city, to keep the city secret from the conquistadors. It was also not mentioned in any Spanish chronicles. As the Incas left no written records, it is still not known what happened to the Incas back then. Despite the discovery in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, the city remained hidden from the general public until 1940. It was only when an archaeological expedition team came upon an old Inca path, which was formerly the only connection to the outside world and led to Machu Picchu, that the city became known and investigations began. From the remains of the site, researchers found that at the time of the Incas, about 1000 people must have lived there, using the place mainly for spiritual and ceremonial purposes. The ruined city at Machu Picchu is believed to have been a residence for priests, high officials, craftsmen and their servants, but above all also the virgins consecrated to the sun god, called Mamacunas. This theory is based on the discovery of 173 skeletons, 150 of them female. The city consists of several parts: the streets, fountains which were probably used for religious purposes, a residential district with small houses, a cemetery with a burial stone, a prison district, as well as various temples.

Lake Titicaca: 

In the middle of the barren highlands, surrounded by the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, lies the Lake Titicaca, which hosts over 30 islands on its surface area of 8000 km². The water here is ice cold, which is hardly surprising for a lake at an altitude of 3856 m. The indigenous people have always lived here from fishing and breeding llamas and alpacas. Nowhere else in the highlands has the culture and the traditional way of life been preserved so authentically. According to popular belief, the Inca culture originated at Lake Titicaca and it is the holiest body of water in the empire. At the center of the mystical beliefs is the Isla del Sol. According to legend, four sisters and four brothers are said to have appeared there in a stone gate. Two of them were Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, the first Incas. Another legend tells that the sun was born on a sacred stone on the Isla del Sol. On the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca lies Puno. Here there is hardly a month without some major celebration, at which dozens of powerful traditional dances are performed each time.

Inca Trail:

Today, the best-known Inca trail is the 400-year-old Inca Trail. It was discovered in 1942 and cleared in the years that followed. By now, it is the most frequented trail in South America. It takes about four days to hike along the Inca Trail. Several Inca ruins are located along the way, which cannot be reached otherwise. The highlight of the hike is the Inca city Machu Picchu, which you reach at the end of the trail. To better preserve the trail and to reduce environmental problems, since 2001 it has only been permitted to enter the Inca Trail as part of a guided hike, and in 2004 the number of tourists wishing to hike the trail was limited to 500 per day.

Nazca Lines:

The plain north of Nazca is crisscrossed by many lines, some of them up to 300 m long, called the Nazca Lines. These lines are about 2000 years old and, when viewed from the air, depict animals and geometric figures that were scratched into the ground. For a very long time, people thought the lines were part of a canal system. By chance, however, it was discovered from an airplane that these lines formed shapes. From then on, various theories were proposed as to how the Nazca Indians at that time were able to scratch nearly perfect geometric figures into the ground. The German researcher was firmly convinced that a standard measurement was used as the basis, such as the distance between elbow and index finger or a rope tied to a post to lay circles and arcs. However, some opponents of this theory did not want to believe that the Indians created drawings they themselves could not see. That's why the International Explorers Club tried in 1975 to prove that the Nazca Indians already possessed aircraft back then. For this reason, a hot air balloon made of reeds and cloth was built, which stayed in the air for one minute and flew 100 meters high, but even that only proved little. Another theory was put forward by Erich von Däniken. He claimed that the Nazca plain served as a landing site for extraterrestrials. This attracted thousands of tourists, who left indelible traces with their cars, motorcycles, and horses. Since then, entry onto the Nasca plain has been prohibited and it is now only possible to view it from the air.

Chan Chan:

On the outskirts of the city of Trujillo stand the ruins of Chan Chan, the largest adobe city in the world. The city covers 28 km² and consists of seven citadels, which are surrounded by a high wall. The Chimu had such a sophisticated irrigation system that they were able to transform the barren wasteland around the city into fertile grain, fruit, and vegetable fields. The Chimu were able to preserve their culture unaltered for many years. Only when the Spanish destroyed the irrigation systems did the Chimu have to leave their protective city and were defeated.

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11. Holidays

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12. Travel Information

Cash withdrawals of the local currency and US dollars are possible with a credit card at ATMs. With EC cards, this is only possible to a limited extent, or with EC cards of the V-Pay system, cash withdrawals are not possible at all. In many cities you can often pay directly with US dollars. Euros can be exchanged in Lima, Arequipa, Puno and Cusco. In smaller towns, exchanging can sometimes even be problematic with US dollars.

You should always carry a copy of your ID, but the original documents should always be kept safely. In case of theft, you should definitely contact the police.

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13. Foreign Representations

German Embassy in Peru, Address: Lima, Embajada de la República Federal de Alemania, Apartado 18-0504. Telephone: + 511 212 50 16 

More information about it can be found here

Peruvian Embassy in Germany, Address: Berlin, Mohrenstraße 42. Telephone: +49 30 206 41 03

More information on this here

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14. Sources and Links

Lima Travel Guide & Travel Information

www.auswaertiges-amt.de

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