Thinking of Visiting Peru? Peru is one of the most beautiful destinations in the World that is why thousands of tourists decide to visit this magnificent country which is full of traditions, color, and unforgettable sites; in fact, Machu Picchu one of the New 7 Wonders of the World is located in Cusco Peru.
These 10 short facts could help you to learn more about it before your visit in 2014.
Lima Peru (Capital of Peru)
1. Peru is the 3rd largest country in South America, with 1,285,216 km2 of territory.
2. Peru’s capital and largest city is Lima, with about 10 million people. Other cities are Trujillo, Arequipa, Iquitos, Cusco, Tacna, and Puno.
3. The area that is now Peru was inhabited by many indigenous groups, and eventually many were conquered by the Incas. The Incas in turn, were conquered by the Spanish in 1532. Peru then became independent in 1821.
4. Peru’s current president is Ollanta Humala. Presidential elections are held every 5 years.
5. Peru is divided mainly into 3 different regions, coast, mountains, and rainforest.
6. The main language in Peru is Spanish, and Spanish is spoken by about 80% of the population. Indigenous languages like Quechua and Aymara are also spoken.
7. The word Peru comes from a tribal chief named Biru in what is now Panama. His possessions were visited by the Spanish and at that time it was the southernmost part of the new world known to Europeans. When the Spanish started to explore further south, the area became to be called Biru or Peru.
8. Peruvian food has been rated the best in the world. There is a great variety of food here, and it is different in different parts of the country.
9. Some words in English that come from Quechua are llama, puma, coca, condor, and jerky, among others.
10. The population of Peru is currently about 30,500,000.
Do you know any other short fact about Peru? Why not share it with the world? Write your comments below in the comments box. Also, in case you are interested or know someone who is, you can contact our travel experts for more information on our varied tours in the varied destinations of Peru and travel packages which combine these destinations.
