Peru: holidays, events, climate
Public holidays
Date | Public holidays |
January 1 | New Year (public holiday) |
6th January | Holy Three Kings |
March April | Easter: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday (public holidays) |
1st of May | May Day (public holiday) |
June | Corpus Christi |
June 29 | St. Peter and Paul |
July 28 | Independence Day (public holiday) |
29th of July | National holiday (public holiday) |
15th of August | Assumption Day |
August 30 | Day of Saint Rosa of Lima (public holiday) |
8th October | Battle of Angamos (public holiday) |
November 1 | All Saints’ Day (public holiday) |
December 8 | Feast of the Immaculate Conception (public holiday) |
25 December | Christmas (public holiday) |
Source: Countryaah – Peru Holidays
Cultural events
Fiesta de San Sebastián (suburb of Cuzco)
On January 19th and 20th there will be a religious ceremony, a mass and a procession. Folklore dances are then performed in the church square of San Sebastián and typical dishes are offered for consumption. The climax of the festival is the storming of a tree decorated with gift packages.
“Fiesta de la virgen de la Candelaria” (Puno)
From February 1st to 14th, traditional dances and numerous processions through Puno take place in honor of the patron saint of Puno.
Carnival
especially in the surrounding villages of Cuzco with folklore dances, market stalls
Open-Air-Festival de la Cerveza Cusqueña (beer festival in Cuzco)
On a weekend in the second half of May, the large international music festival “Cerveza Cusqueña” takes place with a music show with numerous Latin American music groups (salsa, Latin, pop, folklore, etc.).
Señor de Qoyllur Riti (Cuzco – Quispicanchis)
Pilgrimage to the Ausangate Glacier from Trinity Sunday to the following Tuesday. It is considered a ritual in honor of the mountain god of the Inca, the “Apu”, to ask him for his blessings, prosperity, a good harvest, work and health.
Feria Agropecuaria Huancaro (agricultural fair in Cuzco)
Agricultural fair with regional, national and international exhibitors on June 18th to 30th
Inti Raymi (Inca solstice festival)
An important ceremony from the Inca era on June 24th
Procession in honor of the patron saint of Lima
The procession takes place in Lima every year on August 30th in honor of Saint Santa Rosa de Lima (1586 – 1617). Rosa von Lima ‘s real name was Isabel de Flores. She entered the Third Order of the Dominicans and earned her living by weaving and gardening. In 1671 she was canonized by Pope Clement X, making her the first saint in America.
Military parade in Lima
On July 28th in the Plaza Mayor on the occasion of the national holiday (Fiestas Patrias)
“Santuranticuy”
Christmas market in the main square, Plaza de Armas, in Cuzco on December 24th. Artisans offer figures of saints for nativity scenes in churches and apartments, items made of fired clay, wood carvings and ceramics.
Sporting events
The popular sport in Peru is football. Bullfights in the Plaza de Toros de Acho Arena in Lima from October to March
Peru: climate
Travel times
The idea of what is meant by a particularly favorable travel climate depends on various factors. Pure cultural travelers certainly see the climate differently than people planning a beach holiday. Health status and age can also play a role in the experience of the climate.
For sun seekers: The coast For
people who like to enjoy a lot of sun and for whom higher temperatures do not cause problems, the following seasons are particularly recommended for a stay on the coast: Summer from December to March.
You should definitely pay attention to sun protection and headgear because of the high solar radiation. Although there is little rain on the coast overall, fog and drizzle are possible between April and October.
For visitors to the highlands
Travelers to the highlands of the Andes should equip themselves with warm clothing, sun protection and sturdy shoes. The nights can get chilly. The best travel time is: May to September.
For travelers to the rainforest
Travelers to the tropical Amazon Valley or the milder mountain forest should equip themselves with light, light-colored clothing, sun protection and sturdy shoes. Most of the rain falls between January and April. However, rain showers can be expected all year round. The best travel time is: April to October.
Climate table
The following table shows climate data for Peru. It should be noted that the climatic conditions in different regions of the country can differ considerably from each other and thus also from the values shown. In addition, the monthly temperature averages have little informative value with regard to the minimum or maximum temperatures. It is possible that at average temperatures of around 20 ° C maximum values of 30 °C or more occur. The table therefore only provides a general overview of the climatic conditions in Peru; it relates to the coastal region near Lima. The amounts of rain are much higher inland, and almost zero on the coast.
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) |
January | 04 – 05 | 30 – 31 | 14-15 |
February | 04 – 05 | 29-30 | 14-15 |
March | 06 – 07 | 28-29 | 14-15 |
April | 05 – 06 | 27-28 | 10-11 |
May | 04 – 05 | 26-27 | 09-10 |
June | 03 – 04 | 24-25 | 08 – 09 |
July | 03 – 04 | 22-23 | 08 – 09 |
August | 03 – 04 | 22-23 | 09-10 |
September | 04 – 05 | 21-22 | 11-12 |
October | 05 – 06 | 22-23 | 12-13 |
November | 05 – 06 | 26-27 | 09-10 |
December | 05 – 06 | 27-28 | 12-13 |
El Ñino
Even in the annals of the conquistadors there are records of a special, recurring climate event:
In normal years, a stable high pressure system forms off the Peruvian coast at the turn of the year. A simultaneous low pressure system in Southeast Asia corresponds to this and attracts air masses. The so-called trade winds drive cold surface water (eg the Humboldt Current) in front of them and warm it up on their way west. Evaporation increases and rains occur in Asia (monsoon rains). The water cycle drives cold and nutrient-rich water below the surface water to the east. This water rises to the surface off the coast of Peru.
In the years of El Ñino no high pressure area forms off South America. The consequences are droughts, forest fires and crop failures in Southeast Asia and huge fish deaths in Peru. The causes of the weather phenomenon have not yet been clearly clarified. Experts assume that global warming will shorten the El Ñino cycle from 15 to seven years.
National customs
Taking photos of people without asking for permission is particularly not welcome in the countryside. Overly revealing clothing is not appropriate either in churches or in everyday life. However, casual clothing is accepted, only in the evening you dress a little more festively. In Peru, business people wear shirts without ties in summer. Shorts and swimwear are only worn on the beach.
Life in Peru is rather leisurely, being unpunctual is an integral part of appointments and is often excused with “La Hora Peruana”, the “Peruvian time”. You shake hands in greeting.
In restaurants, bills usually include a tip of 15% for the waitress, another 5% is expected. Taxi drivers are generally not tipped.
Attractions
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that PE stands for the nation of Peru as a two-letter acronym.
UNESCO World Heritage Sites
Qhapaq Ñan
The approximately 6,000 km long Andean road Qhapaq Ñan connected the city of Quito in the north of the Inca Empire in today’s Ecuador with the city of Santiago in today’s Chile in the south.
The road almost always runs at an altitude of around 3.5 km. Along the road the Inca set up checkpoints, set up storage facilities and there were hostels for travelers to stay overnight.
The Inca built suspension bridges to cross ravines and rivers and cut steps in the rocks when it was necessary to get ahead. The Andean Strait passes through six different countries:
Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador and Peru.
The road touches the dry Maranon forest, runs through the rainforest of Chile and crosses valleys that connect the highlands of the 4,000 m high Andes and the tropical Amazon rainforest.
However, the road is threatened with disintegration, so only small parts are currently to be walked on. This includes the Sacred Valley from Cusco to Machu Picchu. In Ecuador there is the Ingapirca, an important Inca site.
It is about 50 km from the city of Azogues, and in Bolivia is Tiahuanaco – a pre-Inca ruins near the city of Tiawanacu.
The Inca-Andean Road is transnational and was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for the countries concerned in 2014
Inca mountain fortress Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is one of the largest tourist attractions in all of South America and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1983. The “Old Summit” is a well-preserved ruined city of the Incas. This is located at an altitude of 2,360 m on a mountain peak in the Andes above the Urubambatal and about 75 kilometers from Cusco. According to one theory, the city, which was built around 1450 by the Inca ruler Pachacútec Yupanqui, once stood in 216 stone buildings. These were connected to each other by a system of stairs, of which 3,000 steps are still preserved today. The outer walls of the partly multi-storey residential buildings can still be viewed. Pachacútec Yupanqui ruled from 1438-1471. Since the city was barely visible between thickly overgrown mountains, it was not discovered by the Spanish conquerors and thus escaped destruction. The city was surrounded by terraced buildings that prevented it from “slipping” over the steep mountain slopes. In addition, drainage and irrigation systems were found that supplied and disposed of the city with water and also prevented flooding. The skeletons of men, women and children found under the city are now in Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.
Machu Picchu was “discovered” on July 24, 1911 by Hiram Bingham (1875-1956), a sergeant in the Peruvian army and a native child of around 10 years. But Europeans were probably already here in 1902, but they did not provide any information about their discovery – they were probably not even aware of the immense importance of this ancient city
The old Inca city is located in a difficult-to-access area to which no roads lead. Meanwhile there is a railway line from Cusco to Aguas Calientes, which is now called Machu Picchu village. This village is located at the foot of the “Old Summit”, the mountain on which Machu Picchu spreads. The most convenient way to get to the world cultural heritage site from this village is with the help of a bus that goes up to Machu Picchu over an approximately 8-kilometer serpentine route. If you want to get closer to the incomparable place, you can cover the same route on foot along small footpaths with steps. Those who are too exhausted after visiting Machu Picchu can spend the night in the hotel “Sanctuary Lodge” right in the entrance area to the ruined city.
Tip!
Machu Picchu can be reached in an authentic way via the “Camino Inca”, the “Inca Trail”. However, this path requires a multi-day hike over high passes – but it is an incredible experience!
City of Cuzco (Cusco)
Cusco is located in the center of the Peruvian Andean highlands at an altitude of 3,000 m and is the capital of the former Inca empire and was called “house and home of the gods” by the Incas. There are numerous attractions in the vicinity of the city: Sacsayhuaman, a ruin site; Tambo Machay (bath of the Inca), a water sanctuary in which the water pours in canals over four terraced levels; Machu Picchu, the hidden city, etc. The city was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1983. You can find a comprehensive representation of the city at goruma here >>>
Sanctuary of Chavín de Huántar
The sanctuary of Chavin is an ancient Peruvian cult site of a culture that probably dates back to around 900 BC. Was built and until about 500 BC. Existed. The remains of this still enigmatic culture are not far from the city of Huaraz, about 500 km from Lima – in northern Peru at an altitude of over 3,000 m. The complex is considered to be the oldest stone structure in Peru. It comprises numerous buildings with various platforms and courtyards, some of which are connected to one another by underground passages. The main structure is a three-story, square pyramid. In the center of Chavín there is a 4.5 m high monolith “El Lanzon” – an image of God in human form. The site was first explored in 1919 by Julio Tello – the founder of Peruvian archeology – and most of it was excavated by 1945. A huge mudslide then buried everything under itself again. It was not until 1953 that parts were exposed again, but they are repeatedly threatened by floods and mud. The Chavín culture extended over a length of 800 km in a north-south direction and stretched from the coast of the Pacific over the Andes to the lowlands of the Amazon. In the latest excavations, a settlement site was found on the site with stone tools that came from the people who lived here around 8,000 years ago.
The sanctuary was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985.
Huascaran National Park
The Huascarán National Park is located in the Andean region and has an area of 3,400 km². The national park includes the highest mountain in Peru – the 6,768 m high Nevado Huascarán – as well as mountain lakes and deep valleys. The puya plant (puya bromeliad), a very rare plant that can grow up to 10 m high, grows at an altitude of 4,000 m. If it bears flowers, it dies. The Andean hummingbird pollinates the puya, but it is critically endangered and so the survival of the puya bromeliad is dependent on the survival of the hummingbird. The national park was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1985.
Chan Chan ruined city
The ruined city of Chan Chan is unfortunately very poorly preserved due to erosion. It is located on the Pacific coast in northern Peru, west of the city of Trujillo. It was once the capital of the former Chimú Empire, a pre-Columbian culture that emerged around 1300. The ruins of the buildings are made of dried bricks (adobe bricks) made from sand and clay. Today attempts are being made to conserve the ruins in order to preserve them. The ruined city was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1986.
Manú National Park
The Manú National Park is located in the southeast of the country between the eastern foothills of the Andes and the Amazon lowlands and has an area of approx. 18,800 km². The difference in altitude within the park is 4,000 m. Only about 20% of the park can be entered, only the small Indian tribes that live there are allowed to move freely. The flora and fauna could be preserved. The park has three different landscape zones – rainforest, mountain rainforest and high mountains. In the high mountains there are forest landscapes with dwarf reed grass, which often grows in the Andes. In the rainforest you can find trees over 60 m high and 3 m in diameter, it is very dark on the ground, the light no longer reaches the ground due to dense tree growth. In the mountain rainforest the biodiversity is much higher than in the rainforest, here orchids grow, Lichens, mosses and ferns. The species diversity of the birds is great, at least 150 different birds are at home here. There are over 150 species of mammals such as pumas, jaguars, spectacled bears, coatis, coiled bears, ocelots, tapirs, various types of deer and many other animals. Numerous bat species live in tree hollows. There are still animals in the park that have become extinct in other regions, such as the black caiman or the giant otter. The national park was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1987. Numerous bat species live in tree hollows. There are still animals in the park that have become extinct in other regions, such as the black caiman or the giant otter. The national park was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1987. Numerous bat species live in tree hollows. There are still animals in the park that have become extinct in other regions, such as the black caiman or the giant otter. The national park was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1987.
Rio Abiseo National Park with archaeological park
The town of Pataz, which lies in the mountains of La Libertad, was founded by the Spaniards in 1564. Even the Incas found gold here and traded with it. The Spaniards also continued to look for gold here and mine it. By chance the mayor of the city discovered in 1963 at the edge of the jungle in north-south direction running stone platforms that belonged to the way of the Inca (Camino del Inca) and while exploring this way they found ruins at a height of 2,800 m in the department of San Martin. They were called the ruins of Gran Pajatén.
These ruins are connected to lower lying ruins by stairs. The buildings, made of stone blocks, are also often connected by laid roads. The bases of the buildings are decorated with figures such as B. with flying condors. It is believed that the archaeological city is connected to the culture of the Chachapoyas Indian tribe (more under: Historical mountain fortress Kuélap), which was subjugated by the Incas in 1475. The area of the ruin area is approx. 0.4 km². The ruins are surrounded by primeval forest, which has been declared a national park, its area lies at heights of 400 m to over 4,000 m.
The animal and plant wealth is great, it is estimated that there could be over 4,000 plant species in the park. Animals in danger of extinction also live here, such as B. the spectacled bear and the yellow-tailed monkey. Over 100 different bird species have found their habitat here.
The national park was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1990 and was expanded in 1992.
Franciscan monastery and old town of Lima
Lima was founded in 1535. The city of Lima was one of the most important Spanish bases in South America. In 1551 the “Universidad Mayor de San Marcos” was founded as the first university in South America by Benedictine monks. The magnificent baroque buildings surrounding them date from colonial times and give the old town quarter with its markets and lively streets a special flair. The cathedral is built in the Baroque style and has hand-carved choir stalls from 1623. Next to the cathedral is the archbishop’s palace, built in 1924, with wonderful wooden balconies. But the heart of the old town is the Franciscan monastery, which was built in 1535. The dome ceiling of the staircase, carved from cedar wood, and the arcades with tiles from Seville are of incredible beauty. The library of the monastery is an immeasurable treasure, it houses more than 25,000 leather foils and 6,000 parchments.
The capital of Peru with numerous interesting museums, lively markets and a beautiful old town with magnificent buildings from the colonial era was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1988 and expanded in 1991. You can find more about Lima here >>>.
Lines and floor drawings of Nasca and Pampas de Jumana
The Nazca Lines are huge geoglyphs (large-scale drawings of the earth) – such as B. Figures or geometric shapes. You can only recognize them from afar, it wasn’t until 1920 that these shapes were discovered from aircraft. They are in the desert near the city of Nazca. The area of the geoglyphs is approx. 500 km² on the straight lines with a length of up to 20 km. Furthermore, geometric shapes and figures such. B. to recognize humans, monkeys, birds and whales. They stand out from the reddish desert rock through their color. The age of the petroglyphs is estimated to be 2,800 years. The interpretations of the engravings in the desert rock vary widely, one suspects connections between the directions of some lines and the solstice points, the depictions of animals are said to have served for offerings. In addition, it was found
The lines and floor drawings were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1994.
Historic city center of Arequipa
Arequipa is the capital of the province of the same name in southern Peru. The “white city” is surrounded by volcanoes such as the 5,822 m high conical Misti, the 6,057 m high Chachani and the Pichu Pichu. The town’s hallmark is sillar, a white stone of volcanic origin from which many houses were built. The Convento de Santa Catalina is exemplary of the colonial architectural style. The Casa Ricketts is worth a visit as is the Colca Canyon. The historic city center was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2000.
Holy city of Caral-Supe
Caral-Supe is north of Lima in the central Andes, it was founded around 3000 BC. Built in the valley of the Supe River with masterful and sophisticated architecture. The site has an area of about 6 km² on which houses, circular squares, burial mounds, pyramids, temples and palaces can be found. During the excavations, cotton threads of various lengths with knots were found. These were mathematically based writings. The holy city was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2009.
Historic sites
Historic mountain fortress Kuélap
The historic mountain fortress of Kuélap in northern Peru was built by the Chachapoya people – even before the time of the Incas. There are around 420 stone houses within a 20 m high city wall.
According to the latest research, the construction of the huge fortress of Kuélap probably started as early as 400 AD. The fortress city has recently been made more accessible to tourists with a new cable car.
The 4 km long cable car leads from the village of Tingo to the historical site at an altitude of 3,000 m. The Chachapoya were an earlier people who lived in the Andes and were organized in a loose association of states.
Your name comes from the Incas and means translated from Quechua into German: “Cloud people” or “Fog warriors”. The Chachapoya were subjugated by the Incas around 1475, with a large part of the approximately 500,000 people of the people being abducted or killed.
In 1535 the remnants of the people had allied themselves against the Incas with the Spanish conquistadors who had come to the country around 1532.
But by 1549 the total population had dropped to less than 90,000 due to measles and smallpox, and a little later they were practically extinct.
Choquequirao (or Choqek’iraw)
This partially exposed ruined city of the Incas (40% of the 1,800 hectare complex has not yet been excavated) is located 3,085 meters high in the region of Cusco and has such a remarkable architectural similarity to Machu Picchu that it is also theirs “Sister” is called. Though far fewer tourists flock to Choquequirao than Machu Picchu, the ruins are hardly any less breathtaking. There administrative and residential buildings as well as terraces can be viewed, which extend at different levels. The highest one contains a stone ring that forms a platform that is 30 x 50 meters in size.
Tip!
Several companies offer tours to Choquequirao. But it is also possible to visit the old Inca city on your own. The most convenient way to get there is from the village of Cachora (4 hours by car from Cusco) over 35 kilometers to the ruins. There are some modest campsites along the marked trail. Huacachina It is the only oasis on the American continent. Located in the south of Peru, near the city of Ica, it is surrounded by sand dunes with an area of around 450 ha 0 4.5 km². These sand dunes are a dream for sandboarders, who can be transported in all-terrain buggies to the up to 300 m high peaks of the dunes, from where they can swing down the long sandy slopes. Moray
About 50 kilometers northwest of Cusco is Moray, a city known for its large complex of Inca ruins. Outstanding are the enormous hollows, which were used for studies of the effects that different climatic conditions could have on the crop yield. The deepest of these troughs is a full 30 meters deep and has a temperature drop of more than 15 ° between the bottom of the pit and the head end.
Ollantaytambo
The city with the name “Memory of my God” extends about 60 kilometers west of Cusco at an altitude of 2,792 meters and is the only surviving example of what urban planning must have looked like in the Inca period. In addition to the buildings and the Inca terraces, the narrow streets are still in their original state.
Pikillaqta
In the east of Cusco ruins from the war culture can be visited. These are located on a range of hills at a very narrow point in the Urubamba River.
Puca-Pucará (or Puka Pukara)
This small mountain fortress, which was equipped with towers and stairs, is located near Cusco. The castle was used, among other things, as a base for the relay runners. These acted as the Inca communications system.
Písac
The Peruvian village of Písac in the Sagrado Valley is known not only for the market every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, but also for the Inca ruins that spread out on a hill at the entrance to the village. The ruins contain numerous bath buildings, temples and a citadel. In addition, the mountain side is covered with agricultural terraces, which are still in use.
Valle Sagrado
The “Sacred Valley of the Incas” is a fertile valley in the north of Cusco and consists of flat alluvial areas that extend between steep cliffs and are surrounded by small villages and Inca ruins.
Vilcabamba
Vilcabamba was a city founded by Manco Inca in 1539 and the last retreat for the fighters of the Inca Empire until it fell into the hands of the Spaniards in 1572. It is located about 130 kilometers from Cusco in a forest called Espíritu Pampa.
Special structures
Calle Hatunrumiyoc in Cusco
The translation of the name of this wall is “with the big stone”. It is the wall of the former palace of Inca Roca, the sixth ruler of the Kingdom of Cusco. He was the first to bear the title Inca. The wall shows how the Incas used the technique of seamlessly blocking huge stones. The most famous stone of the palace wall has 12 corners.
House Aliaga in Lima
Erected above the temple of the gods of Kaziquen Taulichusco.
Palais des Torre Tagle in Lima
beautiful residence from 1735; Colonial architecture.
Presidential Palace in Lima
The Presidential Palace was built in 1938.
Qoricancha in Cusco
This is the Inca sun temple. The word “Qoricancha” means something like “Golden Court” and describes the most important temple of the entire Inca Empire. The Church of Santo Domingo was built by the Spaniards on this work of art with sloping walls, trapezoidal niches and the famous 20-sided stone (see below).
Lima City Hall
built 1939 – 1944 based on designs by E. Harth-Terré; Neocolonial style
Sacsayhuamán in Cusco
This Inca fortress is located about 3 kilometers above the city center of Cusco and is one of the most important sights of the city. According to a well-known theory, it was once built to protect access to the city. It was also used by warriors during the Spanish conquest. Unfortunately only about 1/3 of the once imposing building has survived because the castle was destroyed by an earthquake. In addition to the ruins of three towers, which are connected by underground passages, a large square can also be visited, which is hidden behind the ramparts and is still the place of the Sun Festival (= Inti Raimi) celebrated on June 24th. The Peruvian President even comes to Cusco for the occasion.
Tambo Machay in Cusco
The “bath of the Inca” is a water sanctuary from the time of the Inca. Through the artificial system, the water pours in canals over four levels, which have been laid out in terraces. In order to be able to fulfill this purpose, the Inca hewn the natural rock and then incorporated artificial masonry. The water is brought to the water features via various rock niches.
El Nacional Stadium in Lima the
most important stadium in Peru; the Peruvian national team plays here; inaugurated in 1952; Space for 45,000 spectators
Huaca del Sol (Temple of the Sun, Pyramid of the Sun)
pyramid in the Moche Valley near the city of Trujillo in northern Peru; built by the Moche, a culture that lived in Peru from the 1st to the 7th centuries; the system is 41 m high and stands on an 18 m high step terrace; is considered the largest massive structure in America; opposite the sun pyramid is the Huaca de la Luna (moon pyramid).
Museums, mummy Juanita
Museo Santuarios Andinos in Arequipa
This museum houses the well-preserved mummy of a young Inca woman who was found at the summit of the Ampato volcano and was given the name Juanita.
Huaca Pucllana (Huaca Juliana) in Lima
An archaeologically interesting park with a museum. This was the ceremonial center of the Lima culture between the years 200 and 700.
Museo Historico Regional in Cusco
Inside the house of Garcilaso de la Vargas, a well-known writer who wrote a lot about the Inca culture, there are many paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Museo Inka in Cusco
The Inka Museum shows many exhibits from the time of the former Inca Empire. These include pieces of jewelry, ceramics, fabrics and everyday objects, as well as skulls and mummies.
Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporáneo in Cusco
Housed in the Municipal Palace on Plaza Regocijo, this museum of contemporary art offers numerous exhibitions.
Rafael Larco Herrera Museum in Lima the
world’s largest private collection of pre-Hispanic art from the collections and finds from the excavations of Rafael Larco Hoyle
National Museum (Museo de la Nación) in Lima
Exhibitions on the history and geography of Peru; shows, among other things, three-dimensional models of archaeologically interesting places such as Machu Picchu, Nazca lines, Chavín de Huántar
Opera houses and theaters
Teatro Municipal/Lima
The theater building was completed in 1920 by the architect Alfredo Víale. More than a decade later, the construction of the classic facade was finished. Operas as well as musicals and plays are presented in this theater.
Teatro Peruan- Japonés/Lima
Opened since the early 1990s. This theater belongs to the Peruvian-Chinese Cultural Center. Ballet and international theater.
Teatro Segura/Lima
The theater is an impressive building from the colonial era. Theater and dance festivals take place from May to February.
Churches and monasteries
Arequipa Cathedral
Construction began on the cathedral in 1629.
Santa Catalina Convent near Arequipa
Novice Convent; is considered one of the most important religious buildings from the colonial era; built in 1579
Iglesia de la Compañía in Arequipa
The church was built from 1595 to 1698 for the Jesuits; the architectural style is a mixture of baroque and mestizo style elements
Lima
Cathedral The cathedral was built between 1535 and 1625; partially renewed after the severe earthquakes of 1687 and 1746; houses a glass coffin, in which the founder of Lima, Francisco Pizarro (1476 – 1541), is said to lie
Iglesia de San Francisco in Lima
Founded in 1535; one of the largest monastery complexes in Latin America; houses three churches (Baroque San Francisco church from 1672, La Soledad and El Milagro) with cloisters, courtyards and monastery buildings, library and important art collections
Santo Domingo Monastery in Lima
with church from 1549
La Merced Church in Lima
built 1697 – 1714; in the Churrigueresque style
La Compañía de Jesús in Cuzco
Between 1552 and 1668 the church of the Jesuit order (Spanish “Compañía de Jesús”) was built. The Christian sacred structure built on the foundation walls of the palace of Huayna Cápac impresses with its richly decorated interior.
Santo Domingo & Qoricancha in Cusco
This church is especially famous for the Qoricancha, the Inca sun sanctuary that was exposed by the devastating earthquake of 1950. The word “Qoricancha” means something like “Golden Court” and describes the most important temple of the entire Inca Empire. This was once dedicated to the sun god Inti and has an inner courtyard that was full of golden statues. The Spaniards built their Santo Domingo church directly on top of the temple, so that the visitor to the complex can see a very good example of how the stone constructions of the Inca were incorporated into the structures of the colonial buildings.
Important universities
San Marcos University in Lima
The San Marcos University in Lima was founded in 1551, making it the oldest university in South America. About 30,000 students are currently studying at it. The university currently has the following faculties:
- administration
- Accounting
- Natural sciences
- Engineering
- Social sciences
- Communication science
- law Sciences
- Educational sciences
- Humanities and human sciences
Universidad Nacional Daniel Alcides Carrión
The Peruvian State University of Cerro de Pasco was founded in 1965 and currently has around 8,000 students. The university currently has the following faculties:
- Dentistry
- Health science
- Educational science
- Agronomy
- Engineering
- Economics
Pontifical University in Lima
The university was founded in 1917. Around 18,000 students are currently studying here.
Callao
National University The Callao National University was only founded in 1966. Nowadays the university has the following faculties:
- Engineering
- chemistry
- Economics
- mathematics and physics
Pacasmayo
Pacasmayo is located around 90 km north-northwest of the city of Trujillo on the Pacific coast. Pacasmayo is known for its fishing industry and its unique location in the middle of the coastal desert. Surfers are of the opinion that the longest wave in the world breaks here at El Faro with a length of around 1.5 km.
natural beauties
Parque Universitario (University Park) in Lima
one of the most famous parks in Lima; Start of construction in 1870; a 30 m high clock tower plays the national anthem of Peru every day at 12 noon.
Zona Reservado de los Pantanos de Villa in Lima
In the south of Lima, approx. 400 hectares of water protection area with numerous bird and plant species
Nazca lines
huge geoglyphs in the desert near Nazca. On an area of 500 km², they show straight lines, triangles and trapezoidal surfaces up to 20 km long, as well as animal figures from ten to several hundred meters in size (images of monkeys, birds, etc.). Because of their size, the images can only be seen from the air.
Huascarán
National Park in the Andes beyond the 4,000 m altitude; National Park since 1975 and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. Here is the highest mountain in Peru and the fourth highest mountain in South America, the Nevado Huascarán (6,768 m). One of the rarest plants on earth, the Puya raimondii from the bromeliad family, grows in the park and can grow up to 10 meters high and 100 years old.
Manu National Park
on the eastern slopes of the Andes near Cusco; Area of 18,812 km²; Biosphere reserve since 1973 and UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. The core zone of the national park is not accessible to visitors. The park is said to be home to Paititi, the “lost city of the Incas”, the mythical refuge of the Incas that has not yet been found. Numerous Indian tribes live in the park.
Isla Taquile
24 km away from Puno, is a delightful island in Lake Titicaca. Prehistoric terraces, hiking trails and some ruins keep the visitor busy. Accommodation is mostly private. You won’t find great luxury here, however.
Rio Abiseo
National Park with archaeological excavations
Belmond Andean Expolorer
The new luxury sleeping car called Belmond Andean Expolorer has been running from Cusco to Arequipa in the south-west of the country since the beginning of May 2017 – two places that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1983 and 1990.
The train runs on one of the highest railway lines in the world and makes a stopover at Lake Titicaca, among other places. The price for the shorter route with two days and one night on the train from Cusco to Puno on Lake Titicaca starts at 480 US dollars.
For the route from Cusco to Lake Titicaca and on to Arequipa with two nights on the train, you pay from 1,450 US dollars per person in a double cabin.
The operator of the train is the British Belmond Ltd. from London, which currently operates 50 hotels, luxury trains, houseboats, cruise ships and safari lodges. These include the famous Venice-Simplon-Orient-Express, which runs from London to Venice.