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Peru at a glance
Location: In the central and western part of South America facing the Pacific
Ocean on the West side.
Area: A total of 496,220 square miles, divided into three main geographic areas:
the Coast, the Highlands and the Jungle. Peru Travel Agency, Tour Cusco
Population: 24.5 million of the following ethnic strains: Europeans, Oriental,
African, Indoamerican. In Lima: 7.5 millions. Peru Travel Agency, Tour Cusco
Language: Spanish with 80% literacy rate.Quechua is also an official language.
Aymara is spoken by people around the lake Titicaca and a dozens languages are spoken
by the native inhabitants of the Amazon basin. Peru Travel Agency, Tour Cusco
Religion: Roman Catholic: 95%. Protestant and others: 5%.
Climate:
- Coast:
Winter (May-October) average: 14ºC / 57ºF
Summer (November-April) average: 27ºC / 81ºF
- Highlands:
Temperatures range from 18ºC / 64ºF during the day to 3ºC / 37º F
at night. The rainy season lasts from December to March.
- Jungle:
Hot and humid, with sporadic rains all year round.
Currency: The Sol, broken down into 100 centimos. US Dollars are accepted in
Peru's largest cities. Credit cards widely accepted: VISA, Diners, Master Card,
American Express. Travel checks may be cashed in main hotels. US Dollars exchange
can be made at hotels and banks. Peru Travel Agency, Tour Cusco
Entry Requirement: Valid passport; some countries require visas. Yellow
fever vaccine is required for those visiting some areas of the Amazon basin.
Passengers traveling through Peru to Brazil also require yellow fever vaccine. Peru Travel Agency, Tour Cusco
Voltage: 220 volts. Major hotels have 110 volts outlets.
Government: Democracy where the President and Legislative Chamber are elected
every five years. Peru Travel Agency
Entertainment, Gambling, Eating: Some Lima hotels have casinos, while hotels
in Cusco often feature folklore shows.Restaurants of Lima's districts of Miraflores
and San Isidro offer a variety of cuisine ranging from traditional Peruvian "Criolla",
to International. Bars and night clubs with live music, criollo, black and Andean
music are a specially popular in the bohemian district of Barranco. Peru Travel Agency, Tour Cusco
Time: GMT-5 hours (No change during the Summer).
Holidays:
- New Years day, January 1
- Good Friday
- Easter Sunday
- Labor day, May 1
- Inti Raymi, June 24, (Cusco only)
- St. Peter and St. Paul, June 29
- Independence day, July 28 and July 29
- Santa Rosa's day, August 30
- Battle of Angamos, October 8
- All Saints, November 1
- Immaculate Conception, December 8
- Christmas day, December 25
Festivals:
Highlands of Peru's main festivals include:
- February:
La candelaria (Puno). The best of Peruvian folklore and dance, including the
spectacular "Devils Dance".
- Easter:
Holy Week, celebrated throughout the country, especially in Ayacucho, the city
of churches and famous for its religious processions.
- June:
Inti Raymi (Cusco).
Corpus Christi (Cusco).
- July:
Celebration of Virgen del Carmen (Paucartambo, Cusco).
- October:
Great Commemoration of Lord of Miracles (Lima).
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