| location | |
 | |
| flag | |
 | |
| Short dates | |
| Capital | Lima |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Presidential Republic |
| currency | 1 Nuevo Sol (PEN) = 100 centimos |
| surface | 1.29 million km² |
| population | 31.1 million |
| languages | Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymará |
| Religions | Roman Catholic 90% |
| power grid | 220 V / 60 Hz |
| Phone code | 51 |
| Internet TLD | .pe |
| Time zone | CET-6h |
Peru is the third largest country South America. The country is characterized by a great variety of landscapes: between the snow-covered Andes, which reach heights of over 6,000 meters, the lovely Pacific coast, the hot and humid Amazon region in the east and the barren Altiplano highlands in the southeast, almost every nature lover will find their niche.
Peru is also a popular destination for cultural travelers. The world-famous archaeological sites, the colonial centers of the cities and the lively syncretistic folk culture with its colorful festivals have attracted numerous people from all over the world, especially since the end of the guerrilla war in the 1990s.
Regions
Cities
- Arequipa - the white city, near the Colca Canyon.
- Cusco - Former capital of the Incas.
- Iquitos - In the tropical rainforest on the Amazon.
- Lima - the capital.
- Nazca- Village near the famous Nazca Lines.
- Puno - City on Lake Titicaca.
- Trujillo - the first capital of Peru, also from the Moche culture & Chimu culture.
Other goals
- Camisea
- Caraz
- Huaraz
- Galera. America's highest train station.
- Inca path. A "pilgrimage" to the holy place of the Incas, the Machu Picchu, which today is hiked by many tourists from Cusco.
- Salkantay Trek. Alternative to the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - 71 kilometers with a maximum altitude of 4,630 meters.
- Machu Picchu. Sacred site of the Incas, which is very well preserved to this day.
- Colca Canon. Fourth deepest canyon in the world.
- Lake Titicaca. The highest navigable lake in the world, on which the floating islands are located. These are large islands woven from reeds, on which a tribe of indigenous people from the Andes has lived since the beginning of the Inca period.
- Nazca lines. Drawings scratched into the desert sand, some of which are over 100 m tall. They were made by the Nazca people (pre-Incas) and can only be viewed from the air or from a lookout tower. The purpose of the lines has not yet been clearly clarified. There are theories that range from works of art for the gods to calendars to runways for extraterrestrials. However, the most likely explanation at the moment is that they are ritual drawings. The lines represent a kind of map pointing to the mountains and rivers from which the water, which is so important for this extremely dry region, comes. According to current theories, the animal figures are processional routes, they are designed from a solid line without branches. By walking these paths, the ritual powers of the animals depicted should pass over to people and at the same time the gods should be tempered.
- Vinicunca. A mountain range at an altitude of around 5,000 meters, whose specialty is the nature of its rock. With layers of iron and copper oxide, sulfur and granite, among other things, they shine in good weather Mountains of different colors. Therefore, they are often called Rainbow Mountains designated.
- Huacachina. Near the city IcaThe Huacachina oasis is located 307 km south of Lima, surrounded by huge sand dunes. The city's hotels are very popular with backpackers as well as many Peruvians who spend their honeymoon there. A good place to relax for a few days. The main activity for tourists is climbing the dunes, Sand boarding and roller coaster-like desert tours on sand buggies.
- Paracas. Peninsula and Islas Ballestas, Peru's largest nature reserve.
background
geography
The country borders in the north Ecuador and Colombia, in the east Brazil and Bolivia, in the south Chile and to the west to the South Pacific.
The Andes mountain range divides the country into sharply defined eastern and western halves. While the western half has a dry climate and is largely shaped by the cold Humboldt Current (it is around 10 ° C cooler than usual at this latitude), the eastern half, with the exception of the extreme southeast (the Altiplano), is influenced by the Amazon. The Amazon region takes up most of the country but is sparsely populated. Most of the tourist attractions are also located in the western half or in the Andes themselves.
The highest Andean peaks are in the Cordillera Blanca in the Northern Sierra. The Huascarán (6,768 m) is the highest mountain in Peru.
history
Already since around 3200 BC. civilizations that left pyramids and other structures have been proven. So it was no coincidence that the Inca Empire, one of the most powerful states in pre-Columbian America, came into being here around 1200. The empire expanded south to 1500 and into the north of what is today Argentina and in the north up Colombia.
From 1532, however, the Inca Empire was quickly conquered by the Spaniards in the Conquista. These did Lima the capital of their first viceroyalty, which stretched over all of South America and was gradually divided up in the 18th century. At the same time, a first independence movement emerged in 1780, but it failed. It was not until 1821 that the Argentine freedom fighter José de San Martín also conquered Peru and thus made the country's independence possible.
The border region was long disputed Chile and Bolivia. The hostilities erupted in the saltpeter war around 1870, in which Peru supported Bolivia, but could not prevent the victory of Chile. After further border disputes, Peru temporarily had to cede the region around Tacna and Tarapacá to Chile after the peace treaty in 1883, but was able to get Tacna back in 1929.
Until well into the 20th century, Peru, like many other states in South America, was marked by great instability and constant change between right-wing and left-wing governments. In the 1980s, the guerrilla organization Sendero Luminoso came on the scene, which until 1993 also carried out acts of terrorism against the civilian population. During the reign of Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), the country was able to stabilize economically and guerrilla activity was curbed with very tough, controversial measures, but Fujimori got caught up in numerous corruption scandals, so that he was re-elected in 2000 shortly after his re-election, which was manipulated by the opposition Protests fled the country. He was arrested in 2007 and sentenced to prison for abuse of office and human rights violations.
Fujimori's successors Alejandro Toledo and Alan García were able to consolidate democracy even if they were also involved in various scandals. However, they put the country on an economic growth path. The poverty rate was halved in just a few years between 2003 and 2007.
getting there
Entry requirements
German citizens do not need a visa. The passport must be valid for at least six months. Upon entry there is a stamp in the passport, which is valid for up to 90 days. This can then be extended once in the country. After that the country has to be left. But after only a short stay abroad, you get a 90-day stamp when you enter the country.
By plane
There are flights to Peru from many major cities in Europe, America and Asia, but not from Germany. The main airport in the country is Jorge Chavez Airport in Lima. There are other important airports in Arequipa, Cajamarca, Cusco, Chiclayo, Iquitos, Pisco, Pucallpa, Tacna and Trujillo. There have recently been regular flights from Arequipa to Arica, Chile. Other international connections are only available from Lima.
From Europe you can reach Lima with the Dutch airline KLM from, for example Amsterdam, with LAN or with the Spanish Iberia from Madrid. The cost of a flight ticket is usually around € 1000, the flight time is around 20 hours. Other options are flights via the USA, São Paulo with LAN / TAM or via Caracas / Venezuela and Bogotá / Colombia. Lufthansa flies regularly to Cararas and Bogotá. Connecting flights are always Avianca (Star Alliance member).
An advantage, besides the disadvantage of the controls, when traveling via the USA is that the traveler can take 2 x 32 kg of luggage with them. Since May 2008, Iberia has also allowed 2 pieces of luggage weighing 23 kg each. This has been lifted again since 2012 at the latest. The KLM still only allows 20 kg for free.
When leaving the country by air, an airport tax of currently Pay $ 30.25 in cash at the airport. This airport tax has mostly been included in the ticket price since 2011 and therefore does not have to be paid.
By train
There are currently no rail connections abroad.
By bus
Almost all major cities in Peru are served by long-distance buses. There are many bus companies in the country; Tepsa, Oltursa and Cruz del Sur are particularly popular with tourists due to the modern bus fleet. The buses with their "cama" or "semi-cama" seats usually also allow a good night's sleep. Tickets can almost always be booked directly at the bus terminal or through the accommodation one day in advance. For a first price comparison is also the page https://www.redbus.pe/en/ very helpful. Such an overview page is very rare in other backpacking countries.
In the street
The Panamericana - a network of expressways that runs from Alaska to fire land enough. The road leads to the north of Ecuador coming through Macará / Zapotillo / Tumbes and leaving Peru in the south towards Chile Tacna. From Ecuador you can also take the route Loja (Ecuador) - Piura enter. From the Bolivian city La Paz above Desaguadero direction Puno enter.
By boat
The main port for cruise ships is Callao (at Lima), some also steer the ports of Salaverry (Trujillo) and Chimbote (Ancash) in the north, or San Martin (Ica) and Matarani (Arequipa) in the south of the country. On the Lake Titicaca there is a connection after Bolivia. Private ferry services offer a ride across the Amazon from the cities Leticia (Colombia) and Tabatinga (Brazil) to Iquitos at.
mobility
In Peru, it is common to travel by bus. You often have the choice between three different classes, whereby the most expensive is usually the one with which tourists prefer to travel. For non-night trips it is advisable to take the cheapest category, as you can get into conversation with locals and learn something about "real" Peruvian life. On certain sections of the route you can also take the train, but this is with a view safety and comfort is not recommended. Shorter cross-country routes and trips within cities can be made with a so-called Collectivo. It is a private minibus (sometimes a normal car) that drives to a specific destination and only as soon as there are enough people on the bus. The slightly more expensive alternative is a taxi. Within cities (except Lima) the trip usually costs three sols. It is important that you always agree the price before starting the journey. Tip: If someone should ask for more than three sols, you shake your head and make an effort to approach another taxi driver, the taxi driver will then immediately say the "real" price.
language
The official languages are Spanish and Quechua. Spanish is spoken by around 70 percent of the population and Quechua by around 24 percent. Quechua and the somewhat less common Aymara are indigenous languages, around 43-60 of which are spoken in Peru today. It is possible to communicate in Spanish in almost all areas that are important for the visitor; Most of the indigenous people also have at least basic knowledge. English is understood almost exclusively in the tourist centers.
to buy
money
The currency is the Peruvian Sol (PEN).
- € 1.00 is approx. 3.84 PEN (as of 08/2017).
Act
It is common to trade in markets (not groceries) and in small shops. If you don't do this, you pay an amount in addition to the "foreigner's surcharge" that the traders have added for negotiation reasons. The market in Cuzco is extremely touristy, so you even have to trade for the price of fruit and food there - 100% tourist surcharge are not uncommon.
kitchen
The cuisine in Peru varies from region to region. In coastal regions it is Ceviche Recommended (raw fish or seafood) marinated with lime juice, red onions and parsley (the sharpness of the limes means that the fish is cooked, so to speak). It is served with sweet potatoes and corn on the cob. Of course you can also get "normal" food in Peru, the beef is very good, juicy and usually very tasty, and chicken is also very common, e.g. aji de gallina, or simply pollo a la plancha (fried chicken fillet). Rice and potatoes with a classic Peruvian meal are a must. Chopped red onions with lime juice are often served with the meat, which is very tasty. The starters also often consist of potatoes and are also highly recommended: papa a la huancaina (boiled potatoes, egg and olives poured over with a kind of paprika sauce), Cause (mashed potatoes mixed with lime juice, filled with tuna and onions), papa rellena (mashed potatoes stuffed with meat or tuna, baked in the oven). Also palta rellena (stuffed avocado with chicken or shrimp and vegetables), or tallarines verdes (green noodles, with a kind of spinach sauce) are often found. There is hardly any real butter, only margarine, but white bread with olive oil and salt or bread with fresh avocado (palta) can be highly recommended.
In the Amazon regions, e.g. in Iquitos, you can also find the so-called "Suri" (a delicious type of maggot), "Lagarto" (caiman), or the "Paiche" (http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arapaima) eat. These are typical local dishes.
There is mainly to drink gaseosasWhat we would call lemonades (i.e. Cola, Fanta, etc.), there is also lemonade, which is simply lemon juice with water and sugar. A special "gaseosa" is Inka Cola, a bright yellow unusual drink. Drinking milk is not recommended, there is only long-life milk (at least in the cities), sometimes even in cans (thickened milk that has to be diluted with water). The fresh fruit juices that you get especially at markets are fantastic. Water is only available in bottles and it often tastes like chlorine.
Mate de Coca (dried coca leaves that have been poured over with hot water) is highly recommended and can be drunk anywhere.
Fruit is in abundance, apples and strawberries are hard to find, but pineapples, cherimoyas, papayas and other fruits.
Pisco sour is made from Pisco, a grape brandy probably originally from the Pisco area. It is mixed with limes and whipped egg whites.
A typical ice cream that tastes really good is the Lucuma flavor [1]
nightlife
Peruvians like to go out, especially dancing! In most Discos Salsa and Merengue are danced, you can also find some where "normal" music is played. Beer is mostly drunk (e.g. Cusquena or Pilsen Callao).
In Lima The Barranco quarter is to be recommended, there are countless bars and discos and you have to go over the puente de los respiros there, the wish you have when you cross this bridge for the first time comes true!
Cinemas only exist in the big cities.
The "capital of the Inca", Cusco, offers numerous small discos, in which both locals and tourists from many different countries (mainly backpackers and individual tourists, who are usually on the road for several months) cavort. Beer (e.g. Aguila) and the national drink Pisco Sour (a kind of simple cocktail) are also popular here. Many discos are located on the first floor of larger houses, so that there are often several discos in the same building. Admission is usually free. Taxis are often waiting in front of these houses to bring the tired night folk safely back to the hotel. The music in the bars and discos includes a colorful mix of Latin American sounds, pop and jazz. Earthquakes occur relatively often in Cusco, but sometimes they go unnoticed by the dancers "trampling" on the wooden floors. If you haven't been there for a long time, however, you should avoid strenuous activities such as dancing on the first evening to allow your body to get used to the high altitude of the city. It is recommended to go to bed early on the first evening and to take it easy.
accommodation
Learn
To learn Spanish you can visit a local language school. Corresponding institutions can be found in numerous cities.
Work
public holidays
| meeting | Surname | importance |
|---|---|---|
| January 1st | Año Nuevo | New Year |
| February March | Carneval | (every Sunday) |
| March April | La Pascua | Easter Maundy Thursday (Jueves Santo) to Easter Sunday |
| 1st of May | Dia de los Trabajadores | Labor Day |
| May June | Dia del Corpus | Corpus Christi |
| 14th June | Dia de los Campesinos | Day of the Peasants |
| June 29th | El Día de San Pedro y San Pablo | St. Peter and Paul |
| July 28th | Fiestas Patrias en el Perú Independencia del Perú | Independence day |
| 29th of July | Fiestas Patrias en el Perú Fuerzas Armadas y Policía Nacional del Perú | National holiday |
| 15th of August | Virgen de la Asunción | Assumption Day |
| August 30th | Santa Rosa de Lima | Day of Saint Rosa of Lima |
| 8th October | Combate Naval de Angamos | Navy Day |
| 9th October | Dia de la Dignidad Nacional | National Dignity Day |
| 1st of November | Día de todos los santos | All Saints Day |
| November 2 | Día de los Fieles Difuntos | All Saints' Day |
| December 8th | Virgen de la Concepción | Feast of the Immaculate Conception |
| 25 December | Navidad | Christmas |
| December 31 | Noche Vieja | ? |
security
health
No vaccinations are required for Peru. However, there should be vaccination protection at least against tetanus and rabies. Malaria infections can occur below, i.e. in the regions near the coast. However, it should be noted that some countries require proof of vaccination when entering from Peru. For example, Brazil requires proof of a yellow fever vaccination. (Status: 2006)
 | These medical notices have been carefully researched, but they are made no guarantee. A conversation with the person responsible Family doctor or one travel medicine or tropical medicine advice center is recommended in case of health problems or uncertainties. Also note: Note on health issues |
climate
In Peru, despite the location near the equator, a clear change of season can be felt, it is winter during the European summer. The rainy season lasts from late November to early April.
The coastal region has a dry, but very cloudy and foggy climate. In the winter half-year (May to October) there are only a few sunny days, especially in the central region, and despite the tropical latitude it usually stays below 20 ° C during the day. Summer and early autumn, on the other hand, are very dry and pleasantly warm. Because of the cold Humboldt Current, the water temperatures are significantly lower than one might expect for the tropics, they only reach values suitable for bathing in summer.
In the Altiplano in the south-east it hardly rains at all in winter, but very often in summer. The temperatures fluctuate greatly between day and night (15 ° -25 ° C).
The climate of the Amazon plain, on the other hand, is evenly hot and humid all year round; In Iquitos the "dry season" only lasts from June to September and it also rains frequently during these months.
respect
Post and Telecommunications
literature
For traveling on your own, the "Travel Know How" Peru / Bolivia is a valuable advisor, as is the "Footprint" Peru (English). Another book is of course Lonelyplanet, which is now also available in German. All of the books mentioned are updated regularly.
- Johann Indmann: Peru - explore privately, ISBN 978-1502322098
Web links
Peru - in the news
- Welcome to Peru (Commission for the Promotion of Peru)
- The portal que une a los Peruanos en el mundo
- Safety instructions from the Federal Foreign Office
