PERÚ

A MAP OF PERÚ

LIMA

• The capital of Perú is Lima, a city on the country's arid Pacific coast. Founded in 1535, Lima is one of the largest cities in South America, with a population of almost 10 million!

FAMOUS LANDMARKS

• One famous landmark, if not the most famous, in Perú is Machu Pichu, an Incan temple to the Sun God high in the Andes Mountains. Although it was built in the 15th century, it was later abandoned. However, now it is a famous tourist attraction in Perú.

FAMOUS LANDMARKS

• Another famous landmark in Perú is the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Along with Machu Pichu, the Sacred Valley was formed at the heart of the Incas. Stretching at nearly sixty kilometers, this valley is used for fertile farmland and Spanish colonial villages.

FAMOUS LANDMARKS

• A third famous landmark is Plaza Mayor in Lima, Perú. Plaza Mayor is the birthplace and core of the city of Lima. People from all over the world come to visit Plaza Mayor, as it is a popular tourist attraction.

RELIGION IN PERÚ

• The dominant religion in Perú is Roman Catholicism, which has remained a powerful influence after nearly 460 years in Perú. Two holidays that are celebrated by Roman Catholics are Ascension Thursday (40 days after Easter), and the Feast of St. Anthony of Paula (June 13).

THE BEST TIMES FOR TOURISM

• The most popular time to visit Perú is during the Peruvian Winter, May - September. During this time, the weather is dry. However, for those who like rain on vacation can travel during Summer, December - March. During this time, the weather is wet and you can expect many showers.

COLONIZATION OF PERÚ

• Peru was colonized by the Europeans from 1532-1572. The Europeans forced Roman Catholicism onto the Incas and took over their culture. However, they were still under Spain's control. It wasn't until July 28, 1821 when Perú gained their independence.

GOVERNMENT IN PERÚ

• The government in Perú is a presidential representative democratic republic with a multi-party system and 3 branches. Those 3 branches are Executive, Legislative, and Judicial, similar to the U.S.

POPULATION

• As of 2016, the population in Perú is about 31.5 million people, which is more than Chile and Bolivia combined! Like most places, the population continues to grow each year.

Here is a graph from 2011-2016

POPULAR FOOD ITEMS

• Probably the most popular food item is the "Lomo Saltado". This food dish consists of sliced beef stir-fried with red onions, tomatoes, yellow Peruvian chilies, soy sauce, vinegar, and cilarro. It is often served with french fries and rice.

POPULAR FOOD ITEMS

• Another popular food item is "Ají de Gallina", a popular Peruvian spicy chicken stew usually served on cold days. Thin chicken strips in a creamy yellow sauce made up of milk, bread, parmesan cheese, and yellow Peruvian chilies make up this popular dish.

POPULAR FOOD ITEMS

• The most popular fast-food item is "Salchipappas", and it's exactly what it means: sausage fries. This is french fries mixed with various meats and sausages topped in different kinds of sauces.

SPORTS

• The most sought out sports in Peru are Soccer and Volleyball while traditionally, they played cockfighting, bull-fighting, and racing. The Peruvian National Football team has played in the FIFA World Cup four times, and has won two Copa America trophies. The country also won in Women's Volleyball.

CURRENCY

• The currency used in Perú is the Sol. $1 of US currency is equivalent to $3.24 of Sol in Perú.

TOURIST INFO

• Mealtimes: Breakfast is usually between 7-9 a.m., lunch is between 12-1 p.m., and dinner is between 8-10 p.m.
• Greetings: Men greet each other with a handshake while women greet both men and women with a hug and a "kiss" on the cheek.