Peru. You decide how to experience it. by Visit Peru

You decide how to experience it.

peru.travel

There is a Peru for everyoneâ&#x20AC;Ś

Just when you thought you knew it well

Peru is one of the countries with the best

One thing is sure: if you run out of time on

enough, you ﬁnd there is much more to

economic growth in the world. The resulting

your ﬁrst visit, don't worry. We can assure

discover. This is the eﬀect that Peru has on

modernity leads to an original combination

you that you will leave the country having

its visitors.

of the traditional and the avant garde,

already decided to return.

especially in its cuisine, music, fashion For adventurers, Peru oﬀers experiences

design and popular art. No other country

full of adrenaline and emotion. For culture

can oﬀer this unique mix.

lovers, a legacy that reveals itself in hundreds of historical monuments and

Creativity is an innate attribute of the

thousands of festivities, dances and culinary

Peruvian people, and that is why it is

delicacies. And for those who are looking to

essential to come to Peru with all ﬁve senses

calm their spirits, an abundance of natural

fully charged. But, above all, it is necessary

beauty and places where the whole concept

to come totally prepared to marvel and to

of relaxation takes on a new meaning.

conﬁrm that it is exactly what you needed.

There is a Peru for everyone… Are you looking forward to the incomparable experience of ﬁnding your Peru?

The tourist attractions in this country appeal

enormous variety of eco-systems, where

are still visible today in over 5,000

to visitors from all around the world and

the ﬂora and fauna can ﬁnd the conditions

archaeological

with a wide range of diﬀerent interests.

they need to carry on living and growing

continues to rise as new discoveries are

Peru boasts a multitude of natural areas:

in freedom. It has six terrestrial types

made. Peru promises its guests a thoroughly

mountains and snowy peaks, deserts,

of biomass, two marine types and three

revealing stay: a past that is still alive and

beaches,

forests,

jungles

and

sites.

And

this

number

inﬁnite

freshwater types. Its geography also

pulsating, an immense and varied culture that

diversity. The state, aware of how important

contains 28 of the 32 types of climate in

smiles towards the future, a sense of pride writ

it is to preserve this natural wealth, has set

the world.

large, and a happy, friendly character that

up National Parks that cover almost 20% of the country.

shows itself in thousands of dances and songs. Ten thousand years of history are present in Peru: it is one of the main original centres of

This is why everyone who comes to Peru

Peru is one of the twelve mega diverse

ancient culture. The Pre-Incan civilisations

ends up taking some part of it away in

countries in the world because it has an

and the Incan Empire have left marks that

their heart.

Peru is divided into three distinct regions: coast, mountains and Amazonia

Coast The Peruvian coast, which borders the Paciﬁc

But it also has so much more to oﬀer.

Ocean, is over 3,000 kilometres in length. Its

This region is perfect for indulging in

beaches, bays and inlets are noted for their

numerous activities such as surﬁng,

beauty, the quality of their climate and the

windsurﬁng, sports ﬁshing and kite

abundance of ﬁsh, which translates into

surﬁng. Alternatively, you can simply

dishes of indescribable ﬂavour.

enjoy moments of relaxation, as the coastal scenery exudes a sense of peace and tranquillity. Pre-Incan cultures of enormous importance settled on the Peruvian coast and it is still possible to see in their remains how the Peruvian people of old lived in these lands.

Surﬁng on the Peruvian coast. Gonzalo Barandiarán / PromPerú

Mountains

The Andes form the backbone of Peru. Their

The Peruvian mountains are perfect

majestic mountains and their valleys full

for adventure sports such as trekking,

of peaceful life fortify the spirit and ďŹ ll the

canoeing,

senses. But it would be wrong to think of this

downhill skiing and mountaineering. As

as a region of monotonous landscapes. On

with the coast and the jungle, the scenery

the contrary; each area has its own particular

will take your breath away, especially the

attractions accentuated by distinct cultural

lakes: there are more than 3,000 of these

expressions. The cuisine, music, regional

and each one has its own distinct colour.

dress and even the archaeological sites in each place oďŹ&#x20AC;er their own unique charm.

climbing,

mountain

biking,

Climbing Mount Huamashraju, Cordillera Blanca - ﾃ］cash. Koky Castaﾃｱeda

Amazonia Amazonia, a natural wonder of the

Anyone who visits the Peruvian jungle

world, is the largest natural region

will find a new world, full of colour

in Peru, noted for its low density

and vibrant sounds. The rivers and

population and its high diversity of

watercourses that criss-cross the region

animal and plant species. It has been

give it a refreshing touch that only

estimated that the majority of the flora

serves to intensify the beauty of the

and fauna of the region has still not

surroundings. Remember that a journey

been discovered, which makes it the

in this region will only be complete if

ideal place for exploring minds.

your itinerary includes visits to the native communities and tastings of the rich and varied cuisine.

Amazon River. CĂŠsar Vega

In Peru, everyone ďŹ nds what they are looking for. And more...

How about you? Why aren't you here?

History The cultural wealth of the ancient Peruvian

Visit:

civilisations is never better expressed than through

archaeology.

Climbing

among

the terraces of Machu Picchu or along the

Moche Route Lambayeque - La Libertad

Inca Trail is a way of connecting with the powerful Empire and the extraordinary way it adapted its architecture to its natural surroundings. And strolling through the 14

Machu Picchu Cusco

streets of Cusco is to discover an unrivalled combination of native and Hispanic inﬂuences, especially in the churches, many housed in former Incan temples.

Kuélap Amazonas

The Pre-Incan legacy is equally astonishing. The treasures buried with the Lord of Sipán speak of the sumptuous life led by the Moche

Chinchero Cusco

aristocracy while Chavín de Huántar or Pachacámac, both centres of pilgrimage and oracles, show that the spirituality and mysticism that characterise the Peruvian people have been forged over centuries.

Nasca lines Ica

External wall of the fortress of Kuélap – Amazonas. Beatrice Velarde / PromPerú

Fiesta Virgen de la Candelaria - Puno. Renzo Giraldo / PromPerĂş

Live culture The legacy of the past survives in the

Visit:

Peruvian people of the present. Around three million speak Quechua, the language of the Incas, and hundreds of thousands

Porcón Cajamarca

more communicate in some of the 46 other native tongues. Visiting rural communities and taking part in local activities will help you to understand the fact that respect and community work are essential elements of

Feast of Saint John the Baptist Festival de San Juan Bautista

Madre de Dios

living together in harmony. And the oﬀering ceremonies to Pachamama, Mother Earth, will make you realise how important it is to

Uros Island Puno

give thanks. After obeying the gods, everything is ready for the grand celebrations. There are over

Feast of the Virgen de la Candelaria Puno

3,000 festivities during the year, most of them paying homage to the patron saints. Get lively and get involved, because even if you lack the skill, you will be one more person sharing in the sheer joy with which the Peruvian people move their feet, their waists, their hips and their shoulders.

Marinera Festival La Libertad

Popular art 18

Of course: you can take away a small piece of

The handicrafts are an essential element,

Peru that will stay with you always. It could

providing you with a wealth of detail about the

be a piece of ceramic ware from Chulucanas, an

places you have been, and the experiences that

altarpiece from Ayacucho, some ﬁligree silver

have moved you. In the city shopping centres

earrings from Catacaos, a blanket from Taquile

and town and village markets you will ﬁnd

or a multi-coloured woolly hat… or all of the

everything you need to adorn your house and

above. The Peruvian artists have an inﬁnite

yourself or to take home as a gift for your friends

capacity for creativity, and the force that drives

and family (making them love you even more).

this talent is a mixture of inherited tradition and good taste.

Handicrafts. Renzo Tasso / PromPerĂş

Emperor Tamarin. Parque Nacional del Manu - Madre de Dios. Enrique Castro-Mendívil / PromPerú

Natural beauty Peru is home to 84 of the 117 zones of life found

Visit:

on this earth. Captivating ﬂora and fauna come together in natural habitats divided among all the diﬀerent types of physical geography

Pacaya Samiria National Reserve Loreto

of Peru, from the dry forests and mangrove swamps of the coast to the peaks and canyons of the Andes and the immense plains of the jungle regions. In Peru, the natural beauty

Manu National Park Madre de Dios - Cusco

captivates the senses and deepens awareness. 21

But what does it actually oﬀer? More than 3,000 species of orchid and over 1,800 species

Paracas National Reserve Ica

of bird, which as we know is a match made in heaven. That's why birdwatching has become an unmissable activity in Peru

Colca Valley Arequipa

The species of mammals and reptiles can be counted in their hundreds and those of insects in the thousands. Amazonia has the largest number and variety, which is why we recommend that you increase the memory of your camera and enjoy every moment.

Pómac Forest Lambayeque

Adventure Restless souls ﬁnd Peru to be a land of

You can try:

challenging and energetic adventures, full of adrenaline, where the combination of extreme sports and magniﬁcent natural

Paragliding in Miraﬂores Lima

scenery ensures that every visitor feels, with good reason, that they are having the journey of their dreams. 22

Surﬁng All along the coast

Surﬁng, paragliding, hang gliding, canoeing and trekking are just some of the activities that you can do if you are looking for true sensation - and all against a backdrop of utterly beautiful landscapes. Don't even

Mountaineering in the Cordillera Blanca Áncash

stop to think about it because the Peruvian countryside was made for adventure and once there, with the help of expert guides,

Trekking in the Colca canyon Arequipa

you will know how to ﬁnd your way…

Trekking on the Inca Trail Cusco

Paragliding in Lima. Carlos Ibarra / PromPerĂş

Cebiche. José Cáceres / PromPerú

Cuisine Peru has more native dishes than any other

You can visit:

country in the world. It can oﬀer hundreds of

diﬀerent

ﬂavours,

aromas,

textures

and colours, all of which are waiting to

Pisco Wineries Ica

demonstrate that what the most renowned gourmets of the world are saying is no exaggeration. Go crazy with our famous ceviche and be amazed by the inﬁnite varieties

The beaches of the north Tumbes - Piura

of potato (there are more than 3,000), peppers, fruit and maize. Remember these names, because you will

Chiclayo Lambayeque

end up loving them: Anticucho, chupe de camarones, pachamanca, causa, inchicapi… And to ﬁnish, desserts that will convince you that Peru has its sweetness too, causing you to exclaim with delight. Remember that a Peruvian meal is only truly complete with a bottle of authentic Pisco – invented here over 400 years ago – and a glass of pisco sour or some other cocktail made with the national drink of Peru.

Lima: Gastronomic capital of Latin America

Urban life Beyond all its natural beauty, Peru also has

You can visit:

some modern, cutting edge cities. Shopping centres, art galleries, museums, cinemas, theatres and bookshops are growing in number,

The historic centre of Lima Lima

which means there is also an even wider range of cultural and entertainment options. Furthermore the typical charm is maintained 26

MiraďŹ&#x201A;ores and Barranco Lima

in the traditional "barrios", the pubs and bars and, above all, in the "peĂąas", the music clubs that are home to the folkloric shows. The night life in cities like Cusco, Arequipa and Iquitos is particularly original. Lima, too, has its own charms and is growing increasingly cosmopolitan. As you see, there are many possible paths to follow. Choose which one you wish to travel.

Arequipa city centre Arequipa

Concert. Josip Curich / PromPerĂş

Cruises on the Amazon river – Loreto. Alex Bryce / PromPerú

Comfort The warmth of the Peruvian people is

You can visit:

legendary. When a guest announces his departure the ﬁrst response is: “When will you be coming back?” Embracing foreigners

Cruises in Amazonia Loreto

and making them feel at home is in the blood of this people. Hospitality, attention to detail and a

The city of Cusco Cusco

dedicated eﬀort to making sure your stay 29

is a pleasant one: these traits are universal. Whether you stay in a super luxury hotel, an exclusive boutique establishment, a lodging house, a family hostel or a community house, all your hosts will show you with enthusiasm how they live and how they look after their own. Peru is ready to receive you and win your love. With astonishing places, singular activities and fascinating people. For as you already know, there is a Peru for everyone.

Paracas Ica

peru.travel

Twilight in Amazonia. Carlos Ibarra / PromPerĂş.

A publication by the Peru Export and Tourism Promotion Board – PromPerú Av. República de Panamá Nº 3647, San Isidro, Lima - Perú Phone: (51-1) 616-7300 Fax: (51-1) 421-3938 postmaster@promperu.gob.pe www.promperu.gob.pe First Edition Hecho el Depósito Legal en la Biblioteca Nacional del Perú N° 2014-00233 Printing: WƵŶƚŽ Θ 'ƌĂİĂ ^͘ ͘ ͘ ; ǀ͘ Ğů ZşŽ ϭϭϯ Ͳ WƵĞďůŽ >ŝďƌĞͿ Lima, january 2014 Free distribution, not for sale