Overview

Peru is the third-largest country in South America after Brazil and Argentina, ranking it among the world's 20 largest nations. It is country of colorful textiles, high-spirited celebrations, wild animals, and melting pot of interesting cultures. There are plenty of memorable travel experiences and outdoor adventures just waiting for those who are willing to make the journey. Any visit to this nation of nearly 28 million people should include its most famous site, Machu Picchu. A forgotten civilization of the ancient Incas, the breathtaking tour of this mystical site is virtually indescribable to those who have never experienced it. For those who would rather sit back and take in the sights from the water, there's Lake Titicaca, the world's highest commercially navigable lake.
See how you do at a travel quiz

Travel Facts

Population
28,674,757

Capital
Lima

Time Zone
Same as U.S. Central Standard Time

Currency
Nuevo sol

Weather
The weather in Peru is about as diverse as the people and wildlife that live there. The coast offers moderate temperatures with high humidity, but relatively low precipitation with the exception of the wetter northern region. In the highlands, the temperature and humidity lessen with altitude, all the way up to the frozen peaks of the Andes. The jungle region is known for its heavy rainfall and higher temperatures with the exception of the southern area, which is much colder during winter.

Entertainment & Nightlife

In modern cities like Lima, a lively bar or disco is not hard to find. But you might also try some more reserved activities like haggling for local specialties like alpaca sweaters, llama rugs, intricately designed gold jewelry, local weavings, and hand-tossed pottery. Sip on a local beverage like a pisco sour or an Inca Kola in one of the many international restaurants you find in most major cities and make sure to plan a visit one of the many wildlife sanctuaries. For a culinary delight, check out a Peruvian barbeque known as "pachamanca" where food is cooked in giant underground fire pits.

Restaurant and Cuisine Listings

Astrid y Gastón, Lima
Serving a tempting creative brand of Creole-Mediterranean fare, this restaurant is a great stop in the scenic Miraflores area. A talented husband and wife team run and cook this colorful colonial, yet stylish dining room that's a true favorite of the locals.

MAP Café, Cusco
If it's art and good food you seek, be sure to stop at this chic restaurant tucked away in the colonial patio of the city's great pre-Columbian art museum. Featuring an awesome wine list to compliment the nouveau Andean cuisine, visitors to Cusco frequently return for the bit of sophistication and elegance that the MAP Café offers.

Indio Feliz, Aguas Calientes
Located in the town just below Machu Picchu, this Peruvian-French restaurant is a great stop after completing the sometimes grueling Inca Trail. The very popular two-level dining room offers a great-value three-course menu in an attractive setting.

Culture & Heritage

Peru is a fascinating blend of the cultures of the indigenous Americans and the Spanish peoples. The conquest of the conquistadors brought the introduction of money, Catholicism, and the Spanish language to a land already home to some of the earliest civilizations in South America. Unfortunately, the conquistadors also brought with them diseases, famine, war and the exploitation of Peruvian gold and silver. Today, Peru is considered a rapidly developing country and has seen an influx of cultures from as far as Africa, Japan and China. Even Peruvian music has Andean, Spanish and African roots, and modern American music is quickly finding a home as well. The food is also wonderfully diverse with influences from many different lands, but almost always features the main staples of rice and potatoes.

Famous Peruvians: Spotlight on Saint Martin de Porres

Saint Martin de Porres was the first black saint from the Americas and known for his loving care of Lima's poor and sick. Also known as Martin of Charity, numerous miraculous cures were attributed to him, and he is buried in the same monastery in Lima where he worked for years.