Peru - Ancient cultures, mystifying ruins
Peru
Peru is located in the western central coast of South America. It borders with Ecuador in the north, Colombia , north east, Brazil in the East, Bolivia, south east, and Chile in the south. There are 4 major regions: the 200 miles of Peruvian Sea, a narrow coastal strip, the high Andes mountains and the vast and plain Amazon basin. Peru is the third largest country in south America with an area of 1,285,216 km².
| Facts & Figures | |
|---|---|
| Official Name: | Republic of Peru |
| Population: | 27,483,000 |
| Largest Cities: | Lima, Arequipa, Callao, Trujillo |
| Languages: | Spanish (official), Quechua (official), Aymari¡ |
| Official Currency: | New Sol |
| Religions: | Catholic (90%) |
| Land Area: | 1,280,000 sq km (494,208 sq miles) |
| Highest Point: | Huascaran (6,768 meters) (22,205 ft) |
Climate
Pacific coastal areas aremostly dry and mild. The Andes are temperate in the foothills withfrigid conditions at higher elevations. The eastern lowlands aretropical, warm and humid.
Currency
The currency is the NUEVO SOL. The sign used for Soles is S/.
The US dollar is the most popular currency after the Soles. Exchange can be made at banks, casas de cambio (exchange offices).
Credit Cards are widely accepted in the majority of cities. Visa, Mastercard, Diners, American Express. Travellers cheques are changed at banks and casas de cambio.
Telephones
The phone service is serviced by Telefonica del Peru and BellSouth/Tele2000. Payphones which operate with coins and phone cards are available in the streets. To dial direct from Peru to another country, first dial 00 + country code +city code +number.