PERU HISTORY TODAY 

The multiple layers of culture and civilization found in Peru is just one of the many things that make this such a fascinating country.  Whether spending time sightseeing in any number of colonial cities or visiting the lost city of Machu Picchu, you will be impressed at how beautiful everything is.  For thousands of years, Peru has been a complex but culturally rich country, offering some of the most stunning and varied landscape in all of South America. 

When in Peru, you will find yourself mesmerized by the Peruvian Andes, and Amazon Basin, which takes up about 50% of Peru and one of the top 10-biodiversity hot spots of rich tropical forest, or the coastal deserts.  Unfortunately, like some of the neighboring countries in South America, Peru comes with a warning.  Car bombs and other threats too often carried out by local militant groups are real. 

Even with some of the area of Peru under a United States warning, many regions to include Cuzco and Machu Picchu are considered safe.  Just keep in mind that when traveling to Peru, you want to use good, common sense.  That means avoiding large crowds, any type of political gathering, and working with a local guide who is aware of the areas considered off limits due to drug lords and Shining Path guerrillas. 

History tells us that the first people to settle in Peru were Nomadic hunters and gatherers.  Living in caves along the various coastal regions, today you can find one of these called Pikimachay, which is considered the oldest inhabited cave dating back to 12,000 BC.  To live, the early settlers grew cotton, squash, chili peppers, and beans.  However, by 4,000 BC, Chavin had introduced other ways of life such as agriculture, weaving, and religion.  When Chavin suddenly disappeared in 300 BC, several other types of culture over the following centuries were discovered. 

By the 15^th century, a large part of Peru was under the control of the Inca Empire, which also had influence on Chile and Colombia.  Then between 1526 and 1528, the Spanish conquistador, Francisco Pizarro came to explore the land of Peru, specifically around the coastal regions.  Upon his arrival, he discovered the many riches of the Empire, pushing him to return to Spain so he could raise enough funds and recruit enough workers to return for further exploration.  Marching proudly into Cajamarca, he captured the current Inca emperor, Atahualpa in 1533.  However, after placing a ransom on his head, the emperor was executed.  Just two years later, Lima was founded but in 1541, Pizarro himself was killed. 

For the next 200 years, Peru remained a peaceful country with the city of Lima settling in as a major center for the Andean nations.  Unfortunately, Indians were exploited by their masters, which lead to a horrible uprising in 1780 under the direction of Tupac Amaru II.  While this rebellion was short lived, most of the leaders were captured and killed.  The country remained loyal to Spain until 1824 when two outsiders by the names of Jose de San Martin and Simon Bolivar liberated Peru. 

From that time forward, the country of Peru has gone through the War of the Pacific, battled with Ecuador over a border dispute, and fought to keep Cuban-inspired guerilla uprisings under control.  Today, Peru is a magnificent country but it continues to struggle with both poverty and unemployment even with a growing economy.  Even with a difficult beginning and ongoing struggles, Peru is beautiful.  To the south is Chile, Bolivia is to the southeast, Brazil to the northeast, Ecuador to the northwest, and to the north is the country of Colombia. 

Peru is divided into three primary regions.  First, you have the narrow, coastal belt, followed by the Andean mountains, and finally, the Amazon Basin.  The coastal belt consists mostly of desert but also major cities.  In the Andes, you see two major ranges, the Oriental and the Cordillera Occidental, as well as the Huascaran, which stretches upwards to 22,200 feet, the tallest mountain in Peru.  Finally, you have the Amazon Basin, which is spectacular tropical lowland, draining into the Ucayali and Maranon Rivers. 

With such diversity of the land, marine and bird life are in abundance.  You will commonly see sea lions, penguins, the Chilean flamingo, pelicans, the brown booby endemic, and the Inca tern.  Birds in this part of the world vary as well to include the incredible Andean condor, small hummingbird, and puna ibis.  However, if you head to the slopes of the Andes, jaguar, tapirs, and bear are common.  Just as Peru offers such an abundance of animals, it is also home to magnificent flora.  Interestingly, most of the wildlife and birds are protected by reserves and national parks, covering about 7% of the land. 

The climate of Peru is broken down by two seasons that include wet and dry.  Keep in mind that “wet” and “dry” does vary depending on geographical regions.  As an example, the western Andean slopes and coastal areas are typically dry with the summer months starting in December and ending in April.  Unfortunately, from May to November, you generally see what is called Garua or “coastal fog” whereby seeing the sun is a rare treat.  On the other hand, you have the eastern side of the Andes, which has a dry season from May to September and a wet season the remainder of the year. 

If you love celebrations and festivals, you will quickly discover that the people of Peru love life, which is often seen in amazing pageantry.  For instance, during the months of February and March, you have Carnaval, which is an incredible Inca festival with lots of dancing and colorful parades.  Then in July, Peru’s Independence is celebrated, in November, there is Souls Day, where you will enjoy delicious food and drink, or Puno Day, where locals dress up in outrageous, colorful costumes and dance in the streets. 

Of course, the cities of Peru offer tremendous history and culture.  Lima, which is the capital city, is a bustling city that is very crowded, noisy, and polluted.  Even so, you will find the nightlife, food, and people there to be incredible.  Then you might take a trip to an important fishing port called South Coast.  There, you can sip on white grape brandy, enjoy an abundance of wildlife, or visit several burial sites.  Other cities to consider include Arequipa and Lake Titicaca, areas surrounded by majestic mountains, colorful volcanic rock, colonial religious buildings, and Colca Canyon, the world’s deepest canyon, Cuzco, the oldest, continuously inhabited city on the continent with streets lined with Inca built stonewalls, numerous ancient churches, and wonderful ruins.  However, a trip to Iquitos and the Huaraz area is also wonderful, which are amazing places for people who love to backpack, climb, and trek.