Country Guide • Peru

Flag of Peru

Peru is situated in western South America. It is bound by Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east, Chile to the south east and the Pacific Ocean to the south west.

Official NameRepublic of Peru
Area1,285,215km² (496,224mile²)
Population28,410,000
ContinentSouth America
Population per mile²57
Capital CityLima
Religions93% Roman Catholic, 5.5% Protestant
LanguageSpanish and Quechua (official), Aymara
GovernmentDemocracy
CurrencyNuevo Sol
GDP$132 billion
GDP per Head$4,800
Natural ResourcesCopper, silver, gold, petroleum, timber, fish, iron ore, coal, phosphate, potash, hydropower, natural gas
Land UseArable Land 3%
AgricultureCoffee, cotton, sugarcane, rice, wheat, potatoes, corn, plantains, cocoa, poultry, beef, dairy products, wool and fish
IndustryMining of metals, petroleum, fishing, textiles, clothing, food processing, cement, auto assembly, steel, shipbuilding, metal fabrication
TourismPeru has some of the most spectacular and varied scenery in South America. The Amazon basin occupies half of Peru and is one of the worlds top 10 places for its ecology. The tropical rainforests are awash with species of every type. Peru offers diversity with its history, archaeology, sports, beaches, mountains, medicinal springs, nature, fantastic landscapes and friendly people
Natural HazardsEarthquakes, tsunamis, flooding, landslides, mild volcanic activity
Health RisksAltitude sickness, cholera, hepatitis, malaria (in the lowlands), rabies and typhoid. A yellow fever vaccination is essential if you plan to visit the eastern slopes of the Andes or the Amazonian Basin
ClimatePeru has a temperate climate along the coast. There is a rainy season from June - October and conditions are cooler in the Andes with the rainy season from October - April while the Selva has a tropical climate with humid and hot conditions from October - March. Average annual rainfall varies from 100 - 150 inches depending on the area. Average temperature ranges in Lima are from 13 to 19°C in August to 19 to 28°C in February
TimeGMT/UTC-5 hours
National DaysJuly 28
VisasVisitors upon arrival are given permission to stay for up to a maximum of 90 days. Extensions for a further 60 days can be obtained
British EmbassyEmbassy Details

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