Peru travel tourist information,travel tips,peru hotels

Hotels in Peru, Peru Hotel Reservation

Edition 2010

	Mon-Fri 9 Am to 6 Pm ET please allow pop-ups
	Home Peru Travel Information Lima Hotels Cusco Hotels Machu Picchu Hotels Sacred Valley Hotels Arequipa Hotels Puno Hotels Puerto Maldonado Hotels Nazca Ica Hotels Trujillo Hotels Chiclayo Hotels Cajamarca Hotels Huaraz Hotels Piura Tumbes Hotels Iquitos Hotels Contact Us

PERU TRAVEL INFORMATION

Peru is located in the west central part of South America. It encompasses an area of 498,222 square miles (1 `285, 215 km2) and can be compared in size to Spain, France and former West Germany combined. In South America, only Brazil and Argentina are larger. Peru is the 19th largest country in the world. Peru is bordered to the north by Ecuador, to the south by Chile and Bolivia, to the east by Colombia and Brazil and to the west by the Pacific Ocean.
Peru is a varied and diverse country due to the climatic, natural and cultural diversity of its regions. It is 1,554 miles (2,500 km) long, and has 3 natural regions: coast, sierra and jungle.
The climate of Peru varies widely, ranging from tropical in the montaña to arctic in the highest mountains of the Andes. Average temperatures decrease about 1.7 Celsius degrees (about 3 Fahrenheit degrees) with every 450-m (1,500-ft) increase in elevation. Permanent snow and ice fields cover peaks more than 5,000 m (16,500 ft) above sea level, and the highest elevation at which the land is suitable for agriculture is about 4,400 m (14,500 ft).

Coast
The coastal region accounts for 10.6% of Peru's territory 52,639 square miles (136,334 km2). It is a narrow strip 1,554 miles long (2,500 km), but only 12 to 62 miles wide (19 to 100 km). The altitude along this strip varies from zero to 3,281 feet above sea level (1,000 m). Although the coastal strip is mainly arid, seasonal rains occur in the north, especially during periods of El Niño climatic phenomena. Along the coast, less than 1 million hectares of the total 15 million are irrigated, Some of the 52 valleys are arable and they are farmed using a combination of ancient Peruvian methods and modern technologies The Peruvian coastal region has been home to several important cultures. Visitors can find many well-known archaeological sites here, including Chan-Chan, Nasca and Sipan. In the coastal plain the temperature is normally equable, averaging about 20° C (about 68° F) throughout the year. The coastal climate is moderated by winds blowing from the cool offshore current known as the Peru, or Humboldt, Current. The coast receives less than 50 mm (less than 2 in) of precipitation each year, largely because the cordilleras receive most of the rain carried by the trade winds from the east. Mist-laden clouds known as garúa shroud many of the slopes of the sierra from June to October, providing enough moisture to support grasslands.

Sierra
Sierra is the name given to the Andean highland region, where the Andes mount range runs through the country north to south like a backbone, dividing the coastal region from the jungle. The sierra offers a wide diversity of landscapes which vary according to the altitude. The Sierra makes up 30.5% of the nation's territory 151,304 square miles (391,876 km2) and is between 52 and 155 miles wide (83 to 250 km). The average altitude is 14,108 feet above sea level (22,705 m). The Peruvian Andes have more than 174 snow-capped peaks over 16,000 feet (4,877 m) in height and 39 peaks over 19,600 feet (5,974 m) in height. The highest and most formidable of them all is Mt. Huascaran at 22,205 feet (6,768 m). High plateaus, at altitudes ranging from 12,500 to 14,100 feet (3,810 to 4,298 m) above sea level, contrast sharply with deep canyons such as those formed by the Apurimac, Cotahuasi and Colca Rivers. The sierra region has both arid areas and fertile valleys. Vivid blue skies form a stunning backdrop to the soaring peaks and are reflected in many glittering lakes. The world's largest navigable lake, Titicaca, is an incredible tourist resource for Peru thanks to its scenery, history, archaeological sites and beautiful colonial towns. In the sierra the temperature ranges seasonally from about -7° to 21° C (about 20° to 70° F). Rainfall is usually scanty, but in some localities heavy rains fall from October to April. In Cusco, in the southeastern sierra, annual rainfall averages some 815 mm (some 32 in). The exposed eastern slopes of the Andes receive more than 2,500 mm (100 in) of rain annually, but sheltered locations receive much less. Rainfall amounts diminish rapidly southward, causing many changes in the vegetation.

Jungle
The jungle is the country's largest region, covering 58.8% of Peru's national territory 292,150 square miles (756,665 km2). Tropical rain forests extend from the eastern Andean foothills to Peru's borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, and Bolivia. There are two separate and distinct types of jungle, the highland and the lowland. This region is extremely hot and humid, although at higher altitudes it is less so. The prevailing easterly winds blowing across that region gather moisture that is later deposited on the eastern Andean slopes. Annual rainfall in some districts averages as much as 3,810 mm (as much as 150 in). Most of this rain, which principally falls from November through April
The Highland Jungle
The highland jungle, known locally as "ceja de selva", is located on the eastern flank of the Andes. Its average altitude is between 1,600 and 9,200 feet above sea level (487 to 2,804 m). A variety of tropical and subtropical products (coffee, tea, cocoa, citrus fruits, bananas, pineapples, etc.) grow amidst its luxuriant vegetation. This region, unlike the sierra, has a temperate and humid climate and it is also the smallest region in the country. Machu Picchu, our most important tourist destination, is located in this environment.

The Lowland Jungle
Also known as the Amazon plain, this region, the largest in the country, is made up of lush tropical vegetation and a vast network of rivers. Peru's largest volume of natural resources, and most important ones, are concentrated here. The lowland jungle lies, on average, between 250 and 1,300 feet above sea level. The two most majestic rivers in Peru are found here; the Marañon River (1,025 miles long) and the Ucayali River (1,240 miles long). Both flow into the Amazon River, which eventually crosses the borders into Colombia and Brazil. Although the lowland jungle is the least inhabited of the regions, it offers a vast array of attractions and resources, particularly for eco-tourism
El Niño
Peru’s climate periodically experiences a weather pattern known as El Niño. El Niño occurs every three to seven years when unusually warm ocean conditions appear along the western coast. During El Niño the wet weather conditions normally present in the western Pacific move to the east, bringing heavy rains that can cause extensive flooding.

Rivers and Lakes
Peru has three main drainage systems. One comprises about 50 torrential streams that rise in the sierra and descend steeply to the coastal plain. The second comprises the tributaries of the Amazon River in the montaña region. In the third the principal feature is Lake Titicaca, which drains into Lake Poopó in Bolivia through the Desaguadero River.
The Napo, Tigre, and Pastaza rivers rise in Ecuador and flow into Peru. The latter two streams are tributaries of the Marañón River, and the Napo empties into the Amazon River. The border between Peru and Colombia is delineated by the Putumayo River.

Lima

Lima, the capital of Peru, is located on the west central coast of South America, 150 m/427 ft.a.s.l.
Climate: Seasons are opposite to those of the United States and Europe. Summer is from December through April. The average temperature is between 25ºC in summer and 15ºC in winter.

Trujillo		Diego de Almagro founded the city of Trujillo in 1534 as an express assignment ordered by Francisco Pizarro. He founded the city on the Moche River Valley to tatake advantage of the political prestige of its Caciques.

Nazca		This is Nasca, a unique place due to the mysteries of its marvelous lines and figures, drawn with spectacular perfection, by the gods... by aliens... by giants or by ordinary people? The beauty and magnitude of the lines must be observed from above.

Puno		Puno, on the banks of Lake Titicaca - the world highest navigable lake - displays the reminiscences of its origin through cave paintings and spearheads, testimony of our highland ancestor's life.

Arequipa		A branch the South Pan-American road leads up from the coast to Arequipa connecting it with Lima and Tacna. There are 1,020 krn (632 miles) between Arequipa and Lima and 400 km (248 miles) between Arequipa and Tacna.

Puerto Maldonado		This is the least populated territory in Peru, with only 600,000 people living in its 80,000 kM2 (30,880 sq miles) of jungle area. Its capital Is a riverside city known as Puerto Maldonado with 25, 000 Inhabitants.


Iquitos		It is advisable to spend some days in one of the different lodges, built in the style of the area, that are found on the banks of tributaries in the jungle. There you may visit indigenous tribes, take walks in the jungle and appreciate the varied flora and fauna.

Directory - Contact Us - Site Map