Peru:

Peru’s appeal lies in the sheer beauty of its various landscapes, the abundance of its wildlife, and the strong and colorful character of the people.

Peru is peppered with Incan sites, but none so famous as the lost city of Machu Picchu. For many travelers to Peru, a visit to the lost Incan city of Machu Picchu is the whole purpose of their trip. With its awe-inspiring location, it is the best-known and most spectacular archaeological site on the continent. Despite being swamped by tourists from June to September, it still retains an air of grandeur and mystery.

South America's archaeological capital and oldest continuously inhabited city, Cuzco is now an important link in the region's travel network. Its legacy as the hub of the Incan empire is readily apparent: Quechua-speaking Incan descendants crowd the centuries-old stone-walled city streets.

Spread across an incredible 500 sq km (193 sq mi) of arid, rock-strewn land, the Nazca Lines remain one of the world's great archaeological mysteries. Eight hundred straight lines, geometric figures and some spectacular animal and plant drawings, the lines are almost imperceptible at ground level; only viewed from above do they form their striking vision.

Peru has been blessed with natural gifts as well: a huge chunk of Amazon rainforest falls within Parque Nacional Manu. This vast national park in the Amazon Basin covers almost 20,000 sq km (12,427 sq mi) and is one of the best places in South America to see a stunning variety of tropical wildlife. Progressive in its emphasis on preservation, Unesco declared Manu a Biosphere Reserve in 1977 and a World Natural Heritage Site in 1987.

The unique Islas Flotantes (floating islands) of the Uros people are Lake Titicaca's top tourist attraction. Although their popularity has led to massive over-commercialization, there is still nothing quite like them anywhere else in the world. The biggest island has several buildings, including a school, post office and an overabundance of souvenir shops.

What you need to know:

CLIMATE:
In the southern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed compared to the northern hemisphere. Due to the diversity of the landscape, there are regional variations as well.

The coastal region of Peru is cool for its latitude, and quite dry year-round. Temperatures are warmest during the summer months (January to March), with hot and humid days of around 29°C (84°F) and cool nights of just below 20°C (68°F). Winters are not too cold, but frequent low cloud may cause some to pine for sunshine. Inland, the temperature drops substantially, with less seasonal variation during the day - average highs are about 21°C (70°F) throughout the year and winter nights are chilly, particularly at higher elevations. There is also a moderate wet season here from December until May.

FOOD:
Each region of Peru offers its own unique contribution to the great variety of dishes. The rich Peruvian fishing grounds abound in fish and shellfish species, the heart of the succulent coastal gastronomy; rice, fowl and goat, meanwhile, are the key ingredients of Peru's north coastal cooking. In the Andes, delicious ingredients such as the potato and sweet corn in all its varieties, plus cuy (guinea pig) and ají chili pepper are the basis of highland cooking and are to be found across the country. The jungle adds its own touch, wild game with a side serving of fried banana and manioc root. Local fruit varieties such as chirimoya (custard apple) and lucuma produce unforgettable deserts.

Peruvian cuisine also reflects a rich mix of Western and Eastern cultural traditions. Over the course of centuries, Peru has felt the influence of Spain in stews and soups, Arab sweets and desserts, African contributions to Creole cooking, Italian pastas, Japanese preparations of fish and shellfish and Chinese culinary methods which have given birth to one of the most popular gastronomic traditions in Peru: chifa (Chinese-Peruvian fusion).

CURRENCY:
The official currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol (S/.), which is divided into 100 centimos. The currency includes coins for 5, 10, 20 and 50 centimos and 1, 2 and 5 sol coins. There are bills in the denomination of 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 Nuevos Soles

GEOGRAPHY:
With an area of 1,285,215 square km, Peru is the third-largest country in South America after Brazil and Argentina, ranking it amongst the world's 20 largest nations.

There are 3 main geographical regions: The Coast, which features deserts, beautiful beaches and fertile valleys; The Highlands, A mountainous area dominated by the Andes, where Mount Huascaran soars to 6,768 meters; and The Jungle, which surrounds the wide and winding Amazon river.

LANGUAGES:
The majority of people of Peru speak at least one of three different languages: Spanish, Quechua (both of these are considered official languages) and Aymara, which although it is spoken widely in Peru, is not considered an official language as such.

Common Phrases:

We recommend:

1.	Amantani – 14 Days
		This popular, busy tour combines the Peruvian Amazon with magical Machu Picchu, and takes you to the vast, blue waters of Lake Titicaca before culminating in La Paz, the highest capital city in the world. more

2.	Nazca – 17 days
		In a country with scenery that varies from coastal desert to high mountains and the lush beginnings of the mighty Amazon, you’ll want to experience it all and on this exhilarating tour you can! more

3.	Peru Completed - 21 days
		This is a genuine all-encompassing adventure offering a rare insight into the all of the allure, mystery and excitement that characterises Peru. Experience the parched coastal desert, the stunning Andean mountains and the thriving Amazon Jungle. Mingle with colourful locals, walk along ancient Inca pathways and absorb Peru’s majestic spirit completely. more

4.	Volunteer Abroad Peru
		We believe international volunteering promotes cross-cultural learning that helps create global awareness, understanding between cultures and provides the platform for positive change. more

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