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We can give you the experience and the knowledge that only those born on this land, identified
and compromised by the sustainable development of our people, ecological conscience, and
respect for the nature and our traditions, can give you. That plus our personalized attention, safe
performance and years experience are some of the reasons that we offer you and that will offer
as a result, an unforgettable experience.
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| One Earth Peru welcomes you !!! |
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| Peru is the third largest nation in South America.
The country extends 2,135 km from its northernmost point
to to its southernmost point, and 917 km from west to east
at its widest unbroken point. It is surrounded by Ecuador
on the northwest, Colombia on the northeast, Brazil and
Bolivia on the east, Chile on the south, and the Paific
Ocean on the west. It has a surface area of 1’258,216
square kilometers, and a population of about 27 million.
Lima is the capital. |
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GEOGRAPHY |
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Peru
can be divided into three main geographic regions: the coast
(Costa), the highlands (Sierra) and the Amazon basin east
of the Andes (Montaña or Selva). The Costa is athe
narrow coastal desert that goes form south to north and
contains the main cities of Peru. The Sierra consists of
that section of the Andean mountains in Peruvian territory,
and is divided into Cordillera Occidental (West Range),
Cordillera Oriental (East Range) and Cordillera Central
(Central Range), with average elevations of 2,750 to 5,800
meters above sea level. Mount Huascaran (6,768 meters) in
West-Central Peru, is the highest peak in the country. This
Sierra region varies in width between 95 to 320 kilometers.
The Montaña is the Peruvian portion of the Amazon
basin, with an altitude that goes from 80 to 1000 meters
above sea level, and it consists basically of tropical rainforest.
Lake Titicaca in the south, at 3,810 meters above sea level
and with an area of some 8,300 square kilometers is the
world’s highest navigable body of water. |
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BRIEF HISTORY |
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The
Peruvian culture, which comes basically from pre-Inca, Inca
and Spanish influence, is known by its remains found all
over Peru, but specially for that live museum which is the
city of Cusco, and the lost city of Machu Picchu, 113 kilometers
from Cusco and 2,350 meters above sea level among mountain
peaks. Peruvian folk culture is rich in elements from pre-Spanish
and mestizo traditions. The ancient Peruvians where good
builders, adapting their architecture to the landscape.
The oldest colonial structure is the Cathedral and the most
important one is the convent and church of San Francisco
in Lima.
The evidence of human habitation in Peru dates back to at
least 9000 BC. Pre-Inca culture developed all around Peru
until the 13th century. It was then that the Cusqueños,
about 1438 AD, started a period of about 50 years of conquest
which ended in the vast Inca empire that controlled the
present-day Peruvian territory, western Bolivia, Ecuador,
and northern Chile and Argentina. Francisco Pizarro, the
Spanish conqueror, landed on the Peruvian coast in 1527.
Having learned about the existence of the Inca empire and
its wealth, Pizarro came back in 1532 with a small army,
conquered the Inca empire, and killed Atahualpa, the Inca
emperor. Thus Peru fell under the control of the Spanish,
who remained in the country for about 300 years. Lima became
the capital of the viceroyalty, remaining loyal to the Spanish
crown until the very end. Lima was the last bulwark of Spanish
domination in South America. This liberating movement came
from both sides of sides of the continent: Argentine general
San martin and his forces came from the south, and Venezuelan
general Bolivar and his forces came from north, both determined
to end Spanish domination in Peru. Finally, it was San Martin
who arrived first and proclaimed the independence of Peru
on the 28th of July, 1821.
During the following 160 years, Peru saw a succession of
civilian governments and military juntas. In 1975, general
Morales Bermudez replaced the ruling dictator, general Velasco
Alvarado, taking the country, in 1980, to its current democracy.
However, in the 80s and 90s, the democratic government was
beset with skyrocketing inflation, unemployment, huge foreign
debt, violence and guerrilla groups. The neo-Maoist Shining
Path (Sendero Luminoso) and the Tupac Amaru revolutionary
movements, together with widespread coca farming and cocaine
trafficking, hampered economic reforms. In 1992, president
Fujimori took extreme measures, like suspending the constitution
and shutting down the national legislature and the courts,
and conducted the country to a stable political and economical
situation. Fujimori, who resigned in 2001, was replaced
by Paniagua in a transitional government, which led the
country to the present government of Alejandro Toledo. |
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PEOPLE |
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Quechua descendants constitute the largest ethnic group
of Peru, almost 50% of the total population; mestizos make
up 30%; the remaining population is made up of European
descendants and minorities, like Aymaras, blacks, and Asians
( particularly Japanese). The Spanish , Quechua and Aymara
languages have official status. As much as 90% of the population
speaks Spanish. Lima, the largest city, holds about one
third of the Peruvian population. Large-scale migration
to coastal cities has restricted second and third order
urban centers farther inland. About 70% of the population
is urban. |
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RELIGION |
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As
it is common in most Latin American countries, more than
90% of the population is Roman Catholic. In the older towns,
remarkable colonial Catholic churches may be found. The
native populations tend to blend Catholicism with their
own ancient traditional beliefs. |
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ECONOMY |
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The
Peruvian developing mixed economy is based largely on mining,
fishing, manufacturing, tourism and agriculture. The petroleum
industry and others considered strategic were nationalized
in the late 60’s and early 70’s, and the financial
system was nationalized in 1987, but in the 90s, during
the Fujimori administration, many sectors were privatized.
Unemployment and underemployment are widespread. Typically,
the gross national product (GNP) has not grown as rapidly
as the population, and the per capita GNP is about average
for a developing country. Peru is rich in mineral resources,
including copper, silver, gold, iron ore, phosphates, and
manganese. The Amazon basin, the northern coastal desert,
and the continental shelf have large petroleum and natural-gas
deposits. . Peru has also a great hydroelectric potential.
Agriculture accounts for approximately 14% of the gross
domestic product (GDP), and employs about 1/3 of the workforce.
Subsistence farming predominates in the Andes; in the valleys
of the coast, however, farming generally has high yields
and tends to raise crops for export. Less than 3% of the
country’s total land area is arable, however, and
harvests have not kept pace with the country’s population
growth. Peru is not self sufficient in agriculture. Droughts
are frequent, irrigation is inadequate, and the Land-reform
law of 1969 has benefited only a limited number of peasants.
Peru is the biggest producer of coca leaves, 90% of which
is used in drug trafficking. Sheep, llamas, alpacas and
a small number of vicuñas are raised for wool.
Peru is one of the world’s leading fishing nations.
The main catch is anchovies, basically used to produce fishmeal.
Mining accounts for approximately 10% of the GDP and employs
2% of the workforce. Peru is a producer of petroleum, but
the value of its petroleum exports is roughly 25% of its
copper exports. Rich deposits of uranium have been discovered
in the northern part of Lake Titicaca. The exports of minerals
represent about half of the total exports of the country.
Manufacturing accounts for about 1/4 of the total GDP, and
employs more than one tenth of the work force. Industry
is mainly located in Lima and Callao. |
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EXCHANGE RATES
Approximate Exchange Rates: |
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| American dollar |
S/. 3.25 |
| Australian dollar |
S/. 3.25 |
| Canadian
dollar |
S/. 4.00 |
| New
Zealander dollar |
S/. 4.19 |
| EURO |
S/. 4.19 |
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| WHAT TO PACK |
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| Please
check the climate section to decide what to bring in each
season of the year. If you are doing Inca Trail to Machu
Picchu, you will need a sleeping bag. You may bring it with
you or hire it in Cusco from our Inca Trail operator; the
price varies from US $8 to US $12 for the 4-day 3-night
trek. Good hiking shoes are also important, as well as rain
gear. And don’t forget warm clothing, especially for
the winter months. |
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| CURRENCY |
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| The Peruvian Nuevo sol is the currency unit, which is divided
into 100 céntimos. Traveler’s checks can be
changed at banks or exchange offices. Checka are best in
US dollars, issued by American Express. There are ATMs in
Lima, Cusco and Arequipa; if you have Visa, Mastercard,
or any card compatible with Cirrus or Plus, you may be able
to draw cash from ATMs. A mixture of traveler’s checks
in US dollars and a small amount of US dollars in cashis
the best way of carrying money. |
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| TIPPING |
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| Tipping
is not compulsory in this area of the world, although it
is appropriate if you are happy with the service in a restaurant
or of a local guide. Your tour leader will advise you in
this matter, although you can consider a 10% tip in a restaurant,
or US $1 per person per day for a local guide. The same
will be applicable for the driver of any private transport
you use. Tipping your tour leader is also appropriate; US
$1 per person per day is the guideline. |
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| CLIMATE |
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| The
climatic regions of Peru are diverse, and are defined by
land elevation. Average annual temperatures vary from 19º
to 2ºC on the coast, from 1º to 14ºC in the
Andes, and 24º to 35ºC in the Amazon basin. Precipitation
is heaviest in the east (1900 to 3175 mm) and very low in
the coastal region (50mm). |
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| Cusco |
Temp Max ºC |
Temp Mim ºC |
Raining days |
| January |
20 |
7 |
18 |
| February |
21 |
7 |
13 |
| March |
21 |
7 |
11 |
| April |
22 |
4 |
8 |
| May |
21 |
2 |
3 |
| June |
21 |
1 |
2 |
| July |
21 |
-1 |
2 |
| August |
21 |
1 |
2 |
| September |
22 |
4 |
7 |
| October |
22 |
6 |
8 |
| November |
23 |
6 |
12 |
| December |
22 |
7 |
16 |
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