Facts About Peru History, Geography, Culture, People, Art, Climate and much more!

What do you know about Peru history? I’m willing to bet that you may know a little about the Inca or maybe even the Spanish conquistadors but not much beyond that. When did these people live and how did their cultures develop?

Peru History is one of the world's greatest when it comes to ancient civilizations. Their cultural, archeological and unique heritage impress visitors from all over the world.

I was lucky enough to live in Peru for 20 years and would love to share with you all the experiences and beautiful places I discovered during that time as well as my passion for Peru history and culture.

First, let me talk you through a few basic facts:

Peru is, of course, located in South America and is bordered by Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Chile to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west.

The diversity of its regions (coast, highlands and jungle) makes Peru a unique country. It has a population of more than 23 million people, mainly descendents of Spanish and Inca cultures. The most common language is Spanish. Quechua and Aymara are spoken by a minority of locals.

But enough with the basic stuff; let’s get to something a little more substantial about Peru History

Machu Picchu

One of the most visited historical monuments in Peru.

Nobody has been able yet to solve the mystery about how the transportation of huge blocks of limestone to the top of the mountain was made for the construction of the city.

Machu Picchu was built in the classical Inca style. It was declared a Peruvian Historical Sanctuary in 1981 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. It is also one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

The Incas believed the spirits of their creator resided in the natural elements—the sun, the moon, the earth, trees, etc—and they built nearly indescribable temples and other ritual places to honor these spirits, including many at Machu Picchu.

If you are planning to visit this marvel of Peru history, I suggest you go for more than one day if possible. You will NEVER forget it!

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The Inca Civilization

The Inca civilization began as a tribe in the Cusco area and it seems that the Incas came from an arid zone in the central Andes. For some unknown reasons, left their land searching for new territories in which to settle.

When they arrived in Cuzco, decided to settle there. The main reason was good fertile land and they felt protected among the mountains from potential enemies.

Cuzco is a rich Andean valley surrounded by impressive mountains that rise over 3,000 meters above sea level.

Find out more about the Inca Civilization

Geography of Peru

For nature fans, I can think of few places better than Peru to experience a wide range of climates and geographical features. How many places on earth can you trek through hot, humid jungles one day, and cold arid glaciers the next? The geography of Peru is truly a wonder. When it comes to location, this country has it all!

There are three natural zones:

The Coast

The region of the Coast, where the capital Lima is located, is a narrow coastal plain crossed by mostly desert and fertile valleys. Here are agricultural plantations of cotton, sugar and rice, as well as most of the country's oil.

The Highlands

The Highlands, part of the Andes, has some peaks above the 6,000 metres. In this area, there are the mineral resources of the country: silver, zinc, lead, copper and gold.

The Amazon forest

The Amazon forest located in the eastern part of Peru has vast natural resources, but due to the lack of communication and transport infrastructure meant that this region wasn't exploited until the seventies. In 1973 began the extraction of oil on a large scale.

Mountains, plains, jungles, valleys, unique habitats and an extraordinary variety of eco-systems that shelter a wide diversity of plants and animals are part of the beautiful geography of Peru .

Peru Geography details

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