Fun Facts About Peru

Interested in learning some fun facts about Peru? Flick through our latest SlideShare for cool information on Peru's top destinations!

1. Peru is an incredibly diverse country with stunning landscapes and changing climates . Explore each region and experience the magic of this ancient world wonder . FUN FACTS PERU

2. Paracas , also known as the ‘poor man’s Galapagos’ is a little seaside town best known for its surrounding landscapes and marine life. PARACAS

3. The Ballestas Islands are home to an array of wild life including sea lions, penguins and over 500,000 different species of birds . The stunning Paracas Natural Reserve boasts 330,000 hectares of protected land and is the oldest marine reserve in Peru . This stretch of coastline is one of the country’s best beach destinations hosting yearly aquatic sports such as kite surfing, surfing, fishing, diving and plenty of photography . Playa Roja , one of the most beautiful beaches in Paracas , is famous for its red color due to the erosion of nearby cliffs . Within the Paracas Natural Reserve, you can find the Candelabra, a huge geoglyph in the shape of a candlestick that dates back to pre-Incan time . PARACAS

4. Tucked away in the middle of the desert located near the city of Ica is Huacachina , a town built around a natural, emerald green oasis surrounded by massive sand dunes. HUACACHINA

5. The Huacachina desert oasis is the only natural oasis in all of South America . The rolling sand dunes that surround this town attract many visitors for the extreme sport of dune buggies and sandboarding . The hot climate of this region is the perfect temperature for vast vineyards to grow for the production of Peruvian wine . Pisco , a Peruvian brandy and also the national drink of Peru, is mainly produced in the city of Ica. HUACACHINA

6. The city of Nazca is well known for its famed Nazca lines , 500 square miles of huge ancient geoglyphs that adorn the desert floor. NAZCA

7. The Nazca lines were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. A flight tour allows you to see the etchings that were created by removing the top layer of the red-colored gravel to reveal the White Stone underneath. The mysterious theories surrounding these depictions makes this one of the most visited sites in Peru . There are many archaeological remains of the ancient Nazca culture that can be seen in museums such as the Marie Reich Museum and the Municipal Museum . NAZCA

8. The city of Arequipa is one of the most beautiful cities in Peru and is home to two of the deepest canyons in the world. AREQUIPA

9. It is called ‘ The White City ’ because most of the buildings were built with volcanic ash. Temples, colonial houses, cathedrals and baroque buildings that make up the city of Arequipa lends an old world feel to it. Arequipeño food is rich and varied and its local cuisine make it a famous gastronomical destination in Peru. The Cotahuasi Canyon , also known as ‘The Wonderland Canyon’ is 3,535 meters and takes six hours to get to the bottom. The Colca Canyon is the second deepest canyon in the world and is almost twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. AREQUIPA

10. Cusco is the third largest city in Peru and is most famously known as being the Gateway to the most visited place in Peru, Machu Picchu . CUSCO

11. Although it is the Gateway to Machu Picchu, Cusco is a beautiful architectural gem in its own . In Cusco you can visit the beautiful Rainbow Mountain aka the Vinicunca , a 7 colored mountain surrounded by glaciers and snow-capped mountains. Cusco is known for it’s festivities and festivals , celebrating hundreds of them in a year ranging from religious to magical beliefs . The surrounding landscape in Cusco make it perfect for many outdoor activities : biking, rafting, hiking, horse back riding, paragliding, fishing, hang gliding, and mountain climbing . CUSCO

12. The famous Inca citadel is one of the new seven wonders of the world . Machu Picchu

13. Machu Picchu , the most famous site in Peru, was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 and was named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007. The Inca Trail , the most famous hike in the world, takes travellers through several days of arduous trekking through stunning views of mountains and valleys. Machu Picchu is located on Machu Picchu Mountain. At the bottom of the hill you can find the small town called Aguas Calientes or Machu Picchu Pueblo . Machu Picchu was discovered in on the 24th of July , 1911 by explorer Hiram Bingham . MACHU PICCHU

14. The city of Puno is on the Peruvian side of the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca. PUNO

15. You can visit the famous Floating Islands of the Uros , inhabited, man-made islands built out of buoyant Totora reeds and rafts, which are unique in this part of the world. 33 kms from the city of Puno is the Sillustani cemetery where mummified corpses were found from the pre-Incan era. The climate in Puno is cold and dry all year round with an average temperature of 10 degrees. Puno is the most popular stop for travellers on their way to Bolivia as it is located right at the Peruvian-Bolivian border . PUNO

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