Peru is a South American country that borders Ecuador and Columbia to the North, Brazil, and Bolivia are bordered on the East and to the very south is the country of Chile. This South American country is 469,200 square miles, making it slightly smaller than Alaska and has a population of 32.17 million, as of 2017.
The Peruvian people are descendants of the mighty Inca’s, a historically well-known tribe that existed, ruled and thrived in the 14th and 15th centuries. There is also a mix of Amerindians (native people), Europeans, Africans, and Asians. Spanish is the main language that is spoken in this country with many people speaking Quechua (language that was spoken by the Inca) or other native languages.
When you travel in South America you should definitely know the climate that you are going to be visiting. The country of Peru is split up into three different areas and each region has its very own weather/climate.
The Northern Coast is known for extreme heat with temperatures between 86.0 to 100.4 °F or 30 °C to 40 °C. In the summer you can end up with light rainfalls in the evenings and sometimes in the afternoons, the rain levels don’t usually pass 8.3 inches or 21 cm. Winters are only different that it rains less and the temperatures aren’t as warm.
The Central and South Coasts have similar weather because of the way the coastline is formed in these areas. The temperatures can range from 46.4 to 86.0 °F or 8 °C to 30 °C. You will see even less rain here than in the Northern Coast and rainfall doesn’t usually go over 150mm. The temperature usually only reaches above 84.0 °F or 30 °C just 12 days out of the year. Winters are known for being cool and damp.
In the Andes the temperatures can vary depending on the elevation that you are at within the mountain range. The valleys can have an annual temperature of 64.0 °F or 18 °C and the higher elevations can be a chilly 32.0 °F or 0 °C.
Rainy season starts in September but is at its height between January and March. May to August is known for colder temperatures and a dry climate. In the higher elevations, there is snowfall, during the rainy season the snowfall happens at 16,404 ft or 5000 meters, or above and during the dry season the snowfall happens at 12,467 ft or 3800 meters and above.
This is the area of the Amazon Rainforest; you are dealing with hot and rainy weather here and temperatures that can range from 64.4–96.8 °F or 18–36 °C. The rainfall can vary anywhere between 39.4 – 157.5 inches or 100 – 400 cm to per year.
Top things to do
- Machu Picchu – This historical site is an ancient Inca Citadel that was built in the 15th century, this is the most known Incan site from civilization. This is the most visited Peruvian site, in 2007 it has become one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. In 2017, Machu Picchu had 1,411,279 people visit.
- Colca Canyon – This canyon is the third most visited Peruvian location for tourists and it receives over 120,000 people per year. The canyon is 10,730 feet or 3270 meters deep. You can see creatures like the Andean Condor, the giant hummingbird and the vizcacha in this area.
- Peruvian Amazonia – The Amazon Rainforest is known to have some of the most beautiful plants, flowers, and wildlife in the world. You can travel along the Amazon River and go fishing. Or you can take a Riverboat cruise. You can go swimming with the Pink Dolphins. You can go looking for caymans or stay in a Treehouse hotel room.
- Nazca Lines– These are geoglyphs that are carved into the desert sands. The desert art is made up of over 10,000 lines and is around 300 different designs. The geoglyphs are said to have been created between 500BC and 500AD. The best way to view these figures is from the air.
The Peruvian Food Scene
Have you ever had Ceviche? If you have then you already have enjoyed a Peruvian dish. You can’t travel in South America without eating the local food! Across America many different Peruvian restaurants are popping up in major cities but why not get a chance to taste this amazing food in the country of Origin?
This is a country that food-wise has a mixture of Incan, West Africa, Spanish, German, Japanese, Italian and Chinese cuisines. All those different types of food cultures give the Peruvian food a familiar but also unique taste all its own. As the Peruvian cuisine has such diverse connections there is also the fact that each Region and the city of this country have their very own spins and tastes when it comes to Peruvian food.
If you are interested in visiting some of the hottest restaurants while you are visiting Peru, here is a list of some of the hottest Peruvian chefs and their restaurants.
- Palmiro Ocampo is a sustainable chef who competed in the Bocuse d’Or competition in 2016. He is the head chef of 1087 Restaurante, which is a Bistro that serves Peruvian, Latin, Spanish and Contemporary foods.
- Mitsuharu Tsumura, who is known for being a Nikkei chef, which is a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisine. Mitsuharu is the head chef of Maido, which was selected as #2 in the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2016 and was ranked #8 in the World’s 50 Best Restaurants awards of 2017.
- Rafael Osterling is an award-winning chef who has been featured in Latin America best restaurants of 2018. He is the head chef of three restaurants which are Rafael, Felix Brasserie and El Mercado. Chef Osterling is known for modern Peruvian-Italian fusion with Nikkei influences.
- Gaston Acurio Jaramillo is known as the ambassador of Peruvian cuisine. He has 7 restaurants, with each offering something a bit different. Madam Tusan has a mix of Peruvian and Chinese cuisine. Tanta is a casual eatery with sandwiches and coffee. La Mar is all about fresh foods and seafood. Panchita has Creole-inspired foods. Astrid & Gaston features traditional Peruvian cuisine, with a bit of a contemporary flair. Papacho’s is a place to find good burgers. Chicha is traditional Peruvian cuisine with a flair.
Cities to Visit
Cusco is in the southern part of the country and is located in the Andes mountains. The city has a population of 428,450 and Cusco was the capital of the Incan civilization. The city of Cusco has over 2 million people visit it every year, making it one of the top destinations to travel in South America and it is the location of Machu Picchu.
Tourism is the main source of income in this area bringing in billions of dollars every year. There are many Incan sites in Cusco and the Sacsayhuaman complex, built by the Killke culture in the 10th century.
Where To Stay
There are a lot of inexpensive places to stay while you are visiting Cusco. If you go to Airbnb you will find many places for under $100 a night.
If you are looking for a nicer place and don’t mind spending a bit of money then there are the chain hotels like Hilton Garden Inn Cusco or the different luxury hotels like Palacio del Inka.
If you aren’t interested in much more than a place to sleep and a shower then there are many hostels in Cusco. You can get a room for as little as $12 a night and get free wi-fi in most place and also a free breakfast.
Lima is the largest city and is the Peruvian capital. It is a coastal city with a population of over 9 million. Lima is known as the Gastronomical Capital of the Americas with its mix of Andean, Spanish and Asian culinary scene. Lima is known for its restaurants, beaches, museums, and beautiful cathedrals.
WHERE TO STAY
If you are looking for a 5-star hotel there are different well-known chain hotels in Lima like the Westin Lima Hotel & Convention Center, the JW Marriot Hotel Lima, the Sheraton Lima Hotel & Convention Center, and the Hilton Lima MiraFlores. Other 5-star hotels include Country Club Lima Hotel, Melia Lima, and Belmond Miraflores Park.
Less expensive places to stay include the Pool Paradise Lima, Hotel Hacienda Lima Norte, and Selina Miraflores Lima. Some of these places are hostels you can stay at for under $20 a night and offer free Wi-Fi.
Ica has a population of over 282,407 and is mainly a desert area. This is a region that is known for producing Pisco brandy. In Ica you can see the Nazca Lines, Peruvian mummies and the desert oasis Huacachina.
WHERE TO STAY
The majority of the hotels in the Ica area are fairly laid-back to go with the atmosphere of the area. The most interesting hotel in Ica is the Ecocamp Huacachina, it is in the desert and you are staying in permanent tents and it’s less than $75 a night.
The least expensive place to stay is Ica Adventures 2, which is a 4-star hotel that is actually a hostel that you can stay in for $8 a night.
Arequipa has a population of 861,145 and has the second-highest Peruvian population after Lima. Arequipa has many different monuments dedicated to the Military, civil-domestic, civil-public and religious monuments. In The Old Town, there are 5817 properties and 500 are known as heritage properties that were built in the 19th century on the same site as previously existing Colonial structures.
WHERE TO STAY
Arequipa has many 4- and 5-star hotels like the Hotel Costa del Sol Arequipa (has a spa, free breakfast and airport pick up) and the Casa Andina Premium Arequipa (built-in 1794, has a restaurant, sauna, and free breakfast).
There are some 3-star hotels like the Hotel Corregidor Arequipa, Casona Solar, Casagrande and Casa Consuelo that have casual atmospheres and offer free breakfast and Wi-Fi.