Welcome to Peru
Peru’s archaeological sites draw travelers from all over the world, yet Peru has so much more to offer - stunning landscapes, an abundance of wildlife and the strong and friendly character of its people. There is also a rich variety of music, dance and arts in the cultures of Peru, and given it’s bounty of oceanic and tropical resources, Peruvian cuisine is some of the best in South America.
The people of Peru are extraordinarily friendly, and their character and spirituality is strongly tied to the Earth. It is true that many travelers also consider an experience in Peru as nothing short of spiritual.
Geography of Peru
Peru is a country of unparalleled geographic and biological diversity. Of the 32 defined climate zones in the world Peru has 28, and of the 104 biological zones 84 can be found within it’s borders. In a general sense, Peru can be defined by three distinct regions, the Andes Mountains, the Amazon Basin and the strip of desert along the coast.
The Peruvian Andes have become world famous among hikers, trekkers, and mountaineers. The second largest mountain chain in the world after the Himalayas, many of it’s glacier clad mountains have peaks of over 18,000 feet. These Andean highlands are home to the graceful Vicuña and the giant Andean Condor, the largest flying bird in the world. The Andes are also home to millions of highland Indians, who still speak in ancient tongues such as Quechua.
More than half of Peru’s land area lies in the western Amazon Basin, that is home to monkeys, macaws and countless other species of wildlife. It is arguably the most biologically diverse region on Earth. The thick tropical cloud forest on the eastern edge of the Andes are home to the greatest variety of birds on Earth, a lush realm of giant tree ferns, thick mosses, orchids, bromeliads and riot of tropical flora.
The coastal deserts of Peru are some of the driest regions on Earth, and while seemingly void of wildlife, the coastline is home to an abundance of wildlife, including sea lions and astounding colonies of pelagic birds.
Cultures of Peru
Peru’s population is over 26 million, almost half being concentrated in the narrow coastal desert, and roughly half in the Andean highlands. Although more than half of Peru’s territory can be found in the Amazon Basin, less than 5% of it’s population lives in these rainforests.
Around 45% of Peru’s population is Indian, more appropriately referred to as “indigenas”. Most indiginas speak in Quechua and are found in the Andean highlands. Another 37% of the population is mestizo, a mix of Spanish and Indian, 15% are white and the remaining 3% black or Asian.
The heritage of the Andean culture is clear in its folk art forms including music, dance and crafts. Traditional Andean music is referred to as “musica folklorica” and is heard at fiestas and performed in resaurants and bars that cater to music, known as “Penas”. The most recognized music from the Andes is based on drums and wind instruments including the flute.
Handicrafts, especially those from the Andean Highlands are based on pre-Columbian motifs. Textiles and weaving are an important indigenas craft, and traditional Alpaca wool is used to create ponchos, sweaters and hats that are in great demand, as well as gold and silver pieces that are linked to the ancient rituals and heritage of the Inca.
Cultures of Peru
Peru’s population is over 26 million, almost half being concentrated in the narrow coastal desert, and roughly half in the Andean highlands. Although more than half of Peru’s territory can be found in the Amazon Basin, less than 5% of it’s population lives in these rainforests.
Around 45% of Peru’s population is Indian, more appropriately referred to as “indigenas”. Most indiginas speak in Quechua and are found in the Andean highlands. Another 37% of the population is mestizo, a mix of Spanish and Indian, 15% are white and the remaining 3% black or Asian.
The heritage of the Andean culture is clear in its folk art forms including music, dance and crafts. Traditional Andean music is referred to as “musica folklorica” and is heard at fiestas and performed in resaurants and bars that cater to music, known as “Penas”. The most recognized music from the Andes is based on drums and wind instruments including the flute.
Handicrafts, especially those from the Andean Highlands are based on pre-Columbian motifs. Textiles and weaving are an important indigenas craft, and traditional Alpaca wool is used to create ponchos, sweaters and hats that are in great demand, as well as gold and silver pieces that are linked to the ancient rituals and heritage of the Inca.
Lima: The Colonial Capital
Once considered to among the most beautiful cities in Latin America, Lima has been transformed over recent years to recapture it’s colonial history and charm. The three main areas of interest in Lima are Lima Centro, Miraflores and Barranco. Lima Centro is where one finds the Plaza Major, that is often called the Plaza de Armas. This is the historical cornerstone of Lima’s foundation, from here avenues fanned out as the city grew. The Plaza Major is where one finds the historical Palacio de Gobierno or Presidential Palace, the monastery Santo Domingo and the Cathedral, that dates back to the 16th century.
The suburbs of Miraflores and Barranco are the focus of city’s action, night life and fine shopping. Lima is also known for exceptional restaurants and museums, and given the city is an international gateway for most travelers, it’s well worth taking a little time in this capital city, to learn more about Perú as a nation.
Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail.
They could have followed the valley but they chose the high route to
Machu Picchu, with its gorges and passes and climactic mountain views. True Andean highlanders, the Incas knew and loved the countless natural zones that lay within the folds of their vast domain. Their trail to Machu Picchu traverses a startling variety of microclimates, beginning with an arid cactus zone on the Urubamba valley floor, rising through native Polylepis forest to bleak high-altitude grassland, and ending in mossy cloud forest draped with orchids and bromeliads.
They celebrated the glory of the snow peaks by setting their trail along a ridge that descended from the sacred summit of Salcantay and ended at Machu Picchu. Wherever some astounding view or prominent natural feature captured their imaginations, they built magical stone outposts -- intricate ceremonial settlements of carved stone hewn from the white granite of the region. These cling to mountain spurs, perch on narrow ledges or spill down plunging slopes, with water channels threading among the houses, as though planted there, without human intervention, by an extravagant nature.
All this was abandoned around the time of the Spanish conquest, lying buried beneath the forest until Hiram Bingham set out in 1915 to follow up his discovery of Machu Picchu with a search or the Inca highway leading back to Cusco. Lucky explorer that he was, he found what we now call the Inca Trail and all the sites along it except Wiñay Wayna, that was not discovered until 1941, by Paul Fejos. Today we can hike this trail, seeing much of it intact and easy to imagine as it was in Inca times.
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