Peru Travel Guide

Peru, a country rich in history, natural beauty, and cultural diversity, lies on the Pacific coast of South America. Its story is one of ancient civilizations, colonial transformations, and contemporary dynamism. This Peru travel guide will give you all the background information you need to plan your trip to this fascinating South American country.

Peru Travel Guide – Geography

Geographically, Peru divides into three distinct regions:

• The Coast: This narrow strip of desert runs along the Pacific Ocean and houses Peru’s most populous cities, including its capital, Lima;
• The Highlands: Dominated by the Andes Mountains, this region features stunning natural landscapes. It is here the Inca Empire thrived, leaving behind such treasures as Macchu Pichu. The Andes are crucial for agriculture, with crops like potatoes, quinoa, and maize cultivated on terraced fields;
• The Amazon Rainforest: The Amazon covers about 60% of Peru.

Peru – History

Although home to many advanced pre-Columbian civilisations, Peru is most famous for the Inca Empire. The Incas rose to prominence in the 13th century, and excelled in building, farming and road building. The Spanish Conquistadors destroyed them in the 16th century.

When Francisco Pizarro led the invasion of the Incan Empire, Peru became a key part of the Spanish Empire. Lima became its colonial capital. This colonisation established Spanish as Peru’s dominant language, even today.

Peru didn’t achieve independence from Spain until 1821, when an army led by Argentinian, José de San Martín, took Lima.

Since then, Peru has struggled with internal strife, most notably in the late 20th Century, with the rise of The Shining Path. They tried to overthrow the government through guerilla tactics and terrorised the country for a decade or more.

In recent years, Peru has experienced economic growth, becoming one of the fastest-growing economies in Latin America.

Peru – Food and Drink

No Peru Travel Guide would be complete without a deep dive into Peruvian food and drink. Peruvian cuisine is distinctive and popular worldwide. Dishes like ceviche (marinated raw fish), lomo saltado (stir-fried beef), and aji de gallina (chicken in a spicy sauce) showcase the country’s unique culinary identity. Cuy Chactado, a Peruvian specialty with guinea pig, isn’t as popular outside Peru.

The national drink is Pisco Sour – a cocktail made with Pisco, a local grape based brandy.

Peru – Best Places to Visit

There are many globally important sites to visit in Peru. Peru Travel Guide – Must visit attractions include:

• Machu Picchu – The famous Inca citadel hidden high in the Andes and only rediscovered in 1911;
• Nazca Lines – 2000-year-old pictographs laid out on the desert floor by the Nazca people and only visible from the air;
• Cusco – Capital of the Inca Empire, with well-preserved examples of Incan architecture;
• Ballestas Islands – Globally important sanctuary for marine life, including the Inca Tern and Humboldt Penguin;
• Lake Titicaca – The highest navigable lake in the world lies on the border of Peru & Bolivia. It is famous for the ‘floating islands’ manmade from Totora reeds which the indigenous Uros people build their homes on.