GEOGRAPHY
Peru is the third largest country in South America with 1,285,216 square kilometres or 498,222 square miles. It is divided into an arid coastal strip reaching from the North to the south of the country, the Andes with their snow-capped peaks and fertile valleys, and the tropical rain forests of the Amazon basin in the East.

POPULATION
26 million in Peru, with around 8 million in and surrounding the capital, Lima. 50% of the population is Indian, 35% Mestizo, 15% Caucasian, Negroid and Oriental. The official language is Spanish, but in many areas native languages, such as Quechua and Aymara are spoken.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
You need a valid passport to enter the country. Tourist cards will be provided on the plane before landing. These must be kept with your passport for the duration of your visit, as they will be required upon departure. Some countries do need an entry visa. Please contact us or enquire at the nearest Peruvian Consulate.

CURRENCY
This is the Peruvian Nuevo Sol. US$ 1.00 = S/: 3.50 approx.

BANKING HOURS
09:00 / 18:00 Monday to Friday
09:00 / 12:00 Saturdays
(May vary in certain locations)

ELECTRICITY
220 volts, 60 cycles

TIME
GMT - 5

WEATHER AND CLOTHING
Because of Peru's varied topography, its climate is varied also. The jungle areas are always hot and humid with rains throughout the year. In the Andes, the temperature tends to be warm during the day but cold at night, with a rainy season between December and April. The temperature on the coast and in Lima rarely rises above 80ºF, 28ºC in the summer (December to May) or falls below 57ºF, 13ºC in winter (June to November). It seldom rains in Lima, but the city is often shrouded in a damp, grey mist during the winter months. Lightweight cotton clothing and sun and insect protection is recommended for the jungle, and plenty of layers of both warm and cool clothes for the Andes.

SHOPPING
Shopping hours are Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 20:00 hours. Shops and markets in Lima offer a selection of most of Peru's fine handicrafts, such as hand-woven textiles, alpaca and llama rugs, sweaters and shawls, pottery, straw and basketwork and elegant woodwork. The quality of the gold and silver jewellery is excellent. Arequipa, Puno, Cuzco and Huancayo specialise in alpaca and woollen goods, whilst in the jungle areas you can buy blowguns, stuffed animals, spears and necklaces.

FOOD AND DRINKS
Peruvian cuisine is delicious and diverse with jungle fruits, succulent fish and seafood, hot peppery sauces. There are traditional restaurants specialising in the famous "cebiche" -fresh fish marinated in lime juice-, or "anticuchos", shish-kebabs of spicy marinated meat cooked over charcoal, or Chifa restaurants which provide Peru's exotic alternative to Chinese cuisine. Or try Andean specialities such as roast guinea pig with peanut sauce, or the Pachamanca, where different meats and vegetables are roasted together in pits covered with hot stones. Peruvian beer is excellent and the wine very good, but the national drink, of course, is the "Pisco Sour", made from grape brandy with lime juice and egg white. Also try the delicious, non-alcoholic "Chicha" made from local purple corn.

TRANSPORT
Daily flights of the national airlines connect Lima with most major cities in Peru. Bus services are also available. The railway network operates on three major trunk lines, as follows: (Please request schedules).

· Tourist Trains Cuzco – Machu Picchu and return (3 hours one way), Urubamba – Machu Picchu and return (1 ½ hours one way) or Ollantaytambo – Machu Picchu and return (1 hour one way). Daily services.
· Puno – Cuzco and return, approx. 10 hours each way.
· Lima-Huancayo and return, approx. 8 hours each way. (restricted service)

MAIN LOCAL FESTIVITIES

January
18th - 20th Lima: Celebration of the founding of Lima by the Spaniards in 1535.

February
8th -14th Puno: Virgen de la Candelaria. Procession through the streets of the town and many local contests with musicians and colourful dancers. Cajamarca Carnival: Costumes, dances and music for a week. Lima: District of Surco, Procession.

March/April
Ayacucho: Easter week celebrations. Cuzco Easter: Procession on Holy Monday. Tarma: Night processions over carpets of flowers made by local people.

May
Feast of the Cross, all over the Andes region (First days of May)

June
Cuzco: Corpus Christi - Procession of the consecrated host, second week of month. 24th. Cuzco: Inti Raymi (Feast of the Sun) - The whole of Cuzco celebrates this ancient and colourful festival for a week. Contests and parades of dancers in native costumes. Much folk singing and dancing. The main event is held against the backdrop of the Inca fortress at Sacsayhuaman.

July
16th Paucartambo: Feast Day of the Virgen del Carmen. Festivities during the whole week.

August
2nd week Arequipa: The most important annual event in Arequipa with folk dances, handicrafts fair and fireworks.

September
23rd Trujillo: Spring Festival.

October
18th Lima:
Festival of the "Señor de los Milagros" (Lord of the Miracles), patron saint of Lima. Enormous procession followed through the streets of Lima by thousands of people.
Begins The Bullfighting Season at the ancient bullring, the Plaza de Acho.

November
Lima: Ends the Bullfighting Season at the ancient bullring, the Plaza de Acho.

December
24th Cuzco: Festival of Santuranticuy. Toy fair.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

January 1 New Year

March/April Easter Weekend starting with holiday on Maundy Thursday. Easter Monday is not a holiday.

May 1 Labour Day

June 24 Inti Raymi

June 29 St. Peter and St. Paul

July 28 & 29 National Holidays; Peru's Independence

August 30 Santa Rosa de Lima

October 8 Battle of Angamos

November 1 All Saints

December 8 Immaculate Conception

December 25 Christmas. Also half day holiday on the 24t