Cusco, Huaraz, Lima, Puno

CAPITAL CITY OF Peru: Lima
LANGUAGE OF Peru: Spanish
CURRENCY OF Peru: Nuevo Sol
COMMENTS ABOUT Peru:
Peru , is a country in western South America.
Cities : Lima, Pisco, Ica, Nazca, Tacna, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura, Tumbes, Chimbote, Huancayo, Ayacucho, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cusco, Qosqo, Machu Picchu, Huaraz, Caraz, Chachapoyas, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Moyobamba, Tarapoto, Iquitos, Amazonas, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado
Visa / Passport Tourists from North America, Australia, Japan and the European Union (and many others, see link below) receive a visa upon arrival for up to 90 days.
DrinkInca kola, Pisco Sour, Emoliente, Chicha, Chicha morada, Coca Tea, Coffee
Electricity : 220V/60Hz (North American plug)
Calling code : +51
Time zone : PET (UTC-5)

CLIMATE OF Peru: varies from tropical in east to dry desert in west; temperate to frigid in Andes
RELIGION OF Peru: Roman Catholic 90%
POPULATION OF Peru: 27,544,305 (July 2004 est.) Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%>>>
HISTORY OF Peru: Ancient Peru was the seat of several prominent Andean civilizations, most notably that of the Incas whose empire was captured by the Spanish conquistadores in 1533. Peruvian independence was declared in 1821, and remaining Spanish forces defeated in 1824. After a dozen years of military rule, Peru returned to democratic leadership in 1980, but experienced economic problems and the growth of a violent insurgency. President Alberto FUJIMORI's election in 1990 ushered in a decade that saw a dramatic turnaround in the economy and significant progress in curtailing guerrilla activity. Nevertheless, the president's increasing reliance on authoritarian measures and an economic slump in the late 1990s generated mounting dissatisfaction with his regime. FUJIMORI won reelection to a third term in the spring of 2000, but international pressure and corruption scandals led to his ouster by Congress in November of that year. A caretaker government oversaw new elections in the spring of 2001, which ushered in Alejandro TOLEDO as the new head of government.
ECONOMY OVERVIEW OF Peru: Peru's economy reflects its varied geography - an arid coastal region, the Andes further inland, and tropical lands bordering Colombia and Brazil. Abundant mineral resources are found in the mountainous areas, and Peru's coastal waters provide excellent fishing grounds. However, overdependence on minerals and metals subjects the economy to fluctuations in world prices, and a lack of infrastructure deters trade and investment. After several years of inconsistent economic performance, the Peruvian economy was one of the fastest growing in Latin America in 2002 and 2003, growing by 5% and 4%, respectively, with the exchange rate stable and an annual inflation lower than 2%. Foreign direct investment also was strong, thanks to the ongoing Camisea natural gas pipeline project (scheduled to begin operations in 2004) and investments in gold mining. Risk premiums on Peruvian bonds on secondary markets reached historically low levels in late 2003, reflecting investor optimism and the government's fiscal restraint. Despite the strong macroeconomic performance, political intrigue and allegations of corruption continued to swirl in 2003, with the TOLEDO administration growing increasingly unpopular, and local and foreign concern rising that the political turmoil could place the country's hard-won fiscal and financial stability at risk. Moreover, as of late 2003, unemployment had yet to respond to the strong growth in economic activity, owing in part to rigid labor market regulations that act as an impediment to hiring.