Tourist Information

Peru is located in the western part of South America. It is bordered to the north by Ecuador and Colombia; to the east by Brazil and Bolivia; to the south by Chile; and to the west by the Pacific Ocean.

It has a total area of ​​1,285,215.6 km2 and a population of more than 34 million inhabitants. Its capital is the city of Lima.
Peru is divided into 24 provincial states called “departments” and the constitutional province of Callao. Its official language is Spanish, but we can also find Aymara and Quechua, among other languages.

Peru is a megadiverse country, with 11 ecoregions and 84 life zones out of the 117 that exist in the world. It has an enormous multiplicity of landscapes due to its geographical conditions, which in turn gives it a great diversity of natural resources. Three large regions can be identified in its territory: Coast, Sierra and Jungle.

Coast:

A narrow strip of deserts and fertile valleys bathed by the Pacific Ocean characterize the Peruvian coast. The coast has a warm temperate climate, but with high humidity and dense fog that produces an intense sensation of cold in winter. In summer, there is very little fog and the temperature reaches 30°C.

In its northern part, the coast has warm temperatures almost all year round, with a short period of rain between November and December. The southern and central coast have two distinct seasons, winter (April to October) and summer (November to March).

Sierra:

This is the mountainous region of Peru, the Andes mountain range dominates its landscape and has several ecoregions at different altitude levels. The northern Andes are lower and wetter than average, the central Andes are the highest and steepest, and it is here where the highest peak in the country is found, the snow-capped Huascarán, at 6,768 meters above sea level. The southern Andes are thicker, also known as the highlands.

The mountains have two seasons: summer (April to October) with sunny days, cold nights and little rain, the ideal time to visit; and winter (November to March) with abundant rain. During the day, the sun can heat up to 24°C and at night the temperature can drop to -3°C.

Jungle:

Located to the east, it is a vast flat region covered by vegetation in the Amazon River basin, which is born from the union of the Marañón and Ucayali rivers. It is the largest region in the territory of Peru. It is made up of the high jungle or mountain brow (above 700 meters above sea level) which is characterized by its cloud forests and the low jungle (below 700 meters above sea level).

Like the mountains, the jungle has two well-defined seasons. The months of November to March are of abundant rain; and between April and October there is little rain, an ideal time to travel because the rivers decrease their flow and the roads are easily passable. Humidity is very high throughout the year.

Occasionally, between the months of May and August there are occasional “friajes” or “surazos”, cold snaps coming from the extreme south of the continent in which the temperature usually drops to 8°-12°C.

Tourism

Peru is a tourist destination that impresses with its natural landscapes, its rich history, its vibrant culture and delicious cuisine. Machu Picchu is the most visited attraction in the country, but you can also find other fascinating places such as the Colca Canyon, Lake Titicaca, Huascarán National Park, the Nazca Lines, the Paracas National Reserve, among others. The city of Lima offers a great variety of museums, art galleries, restaurants and shops.

Peru is also a perfect destination for lovers of adventure and outdoor sports. Activities such as trekking, climbing, sandboarding, surfing and rafting can be practiced in different parts of the country. The diversity of landscapes means that each region of Peru has something unique to offer to travelers.

Let’s not forget its gastronomy, which has been awarded several times as the best culinary destination. Its history, contribution from other cultures and environmental conditions make Peruvian food a delight for the palates of visitors.

For more information, you can visit the following page:

https://www.peru.travel/es/acerca-de-peru/turismo

Safe tourism:

Before hiring the services of a Travel and Tourism Agency, make sure that it has a RUC and is registered in the National Directory of Qualified Tourist Service Providers of Mincetur: https://consultasenlinea.mincetur.gob.pe/directoriodeserviciosturisticos/DirPrestadores/DirBusquedaPrincipal