Peruvian territory was home to several cultures during the ancient and medieval periods, and has one of the longest histories of civilization of any country, tracing its heritage back to the 10th millennium BCE. Notable pre-colonial cultures and civilizations include the Caral civilization (the earliest civilization in the Americas and considered one of the cradles of civilization,) the Nazca culture, the Wari and Tiwanaku empires, the Kingdom of Cusco, and the Inca Empire, the largest known state in the pre-Columbian Americas. Gained independence from Spain in 1824, having declared it in 1821.
Area 1,285,220 sq. km (496,225 sq. miles).
Population of Peru: 31.2 million
Capital: Lima, the largest city of Peru. 12°2.6′S 77°1.7′W
Time GMT – 5
Religion 81% Roman Catholic, 2.7% other denominations, 16.3% unspecified or none.
Language: Although the majority of city and town dwellers speak Spanish, Quechua is spoken in most mountain areas and Aymara /Spanish on the Lake Titicaca Islands.
There is no visa requirement for USA, UK, Canadian, Australian citizens. Please check your government’s travel website or contact to embassy directly to confirm visa requirements.
A valid six-year passport is essential valid for at least six months after departure to Peru.
If for any reason you organize a NEW PASSPORT after we have purchased your permits… you must bring the original old passport along with your new passport on the trail or a clear copy. If not the control will refuse your entrance.
Please ensure you have adequate travel insurance to cope with any medical emergencies, any costs incurred due to delayed or cancelled flights and for loss or delay of baggage.
People visiting Peru can buy travel health plans to protect themselves and their traveling companions from large out-of-pocket expenses due to unforeseen injury or illness. Although health concerns are the primary reason people purchase trip insurance for Peru.
we recommend World Nomads™ – Travel Insurance Peru
The sol – soles (plural) is the currency of Peru.
currency sign: S/. It is subdivided into 100 céntimos (“cents”).
The ISO 4217 currency code is PEN.
Banknotes for S/10, S/20, S/50, S/100 and S/200. All notes are of the same size (140 x 65 mm) and contain the portrait of a well-known historic Peruvian on the obverse
US Dollars and Euros exchange rates vary with the banks. There are places known for better rates near to banks and hotels, also there are official Casas de Cambio in Sol Avenue in Cusco, Airport bank´s rates are not good so change only a little money if is necessary. It is not recommended to exchange money from street vendors!
Important: Very old, torn or damaged notes are usually rejected. Businesses will reject them because the Banks do not accept them.
Cusco located at 3350 m / 11,089 ft. the archaeological capital of America was the main city of the Inca empire from the 13th century until the 16th-century Spanish conquest and considered by them as the «navel of the world». Today is the first of the resorts in South America and was proclaimed as a cultural heritage of humanity by UNESCO in 1983. It has become a major tourist destination, hosting nearly 2 million visitors a year. The Constitution of Peru (1993) designates it as the Historical Capital of Peru.
Coordinates: 13°31′30″S 71°58′20″W
Cusco’s climate is divided into two seasons: the rainy season, from November to March (the heaviest rains generally occur between January and March); and the dry season, from May to September.
Along the Inca Trail (May to September, high tourist season), temperatures range from 15° – 20ºC (59°F-68°F) during the day if it is sunny, and from 05-10ºC (41°F-50°F) during the day if it is not sunny and from 0-05ºC(32°F-41°F) during the night in between the first and second campsites. In Wiñaywayna and Machu Picchu, which is a subtropical zone, at a lower altitude, temperatures are usually warmer, although warm clothing is still recommended at night.
