Area: 1.285.216 sq. Km (496,225 sq. miles)

Population: 23,531,701 (1995 estimate). The population is largely Indian and Mestizos with a noticeable influence from European (mainly Spanish), Asian and African settlers.

Population Density: 18 people per sq. km

Capital: Lima: 6,386,308

Geography: Peru is a large, mountainous country on the Pacific coast of South America. It has borders with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east and Chile to the south. The Pacific Ocean lies to the west. There are three natural zones running roughly north to south: Costa (Coast), Sierra (The Highlands) and Selva (Amazonian Jungle).

The Costa region, which contains Lima, the capital, is a narrow coastal plain consisting of the large tracts of deserts broken by fertile valleys. The cotton, sugar and rice plantations and most of the oil fields lie in this area.

The Sierra contains the Andes, with peaks of over 20,000', most of the country's mineral resources (silver, zinc, lead, copper and gold) and the greater part of its livestock. Potato is one of the best known principal crops of this zone.

The Selva, an area of fertile, subtropical uplands, lies between the Andes and the jungles of eastern Peru. Sections of a proposed international highway are presently being built through it and some sections are already in use. The Amazonian Jungle of eastern Peru has vast natural resources. The absence of land communications, however, left the area largely uncharted until full scale oil exploration began in 1973.

The Peruvian waters are rich in fish and sea-food and is the fourth economic sector.

Language: Spanish and Quecha are the official languages. The Aymara is spoken in some areas of the department of Puno. Many other dialects exist in the jungle regions. English is spoken in in major tourist areas.

Religion: 90% Roman Catholic.

Time: GMT - 5 (NY - 1)

MONEY

Currency: Nuevo Sol: 100 centimos. Bill notes are in denominations of 100, 50, 20, and 10 Nuevos Soles. with coins in 5, 2 and 1 denominations as well as centtimos of .055, 0.20, 0.10 and 0.05 .

Currency exchange: Banks, hotels and shops easily accept US Dollars, but changing currencies other than US Dollars can be difficult. The best places to change money is at Casas de Cambio which are recommended for their good rates, speed and security.

Credit Cards: American Express, Mastercard, Diners Club and Visa are all accepted and be used easily in the main cities. Check with your credit card company for details on merchant acceptability and other services which may be available.

Travelers Checks: All major banks in Lima will cash travelers checks. So will American Express at the Lima Tours Office in Lima at Belén 1040. Cashing traveler checks outside of Lima is a more difficult and slower process.

Exchange Rate: 1 US$ = about 3.5 Soles

Banking Hours: Most banks are open from 9:30am to 4:00pm Monday - Friday. Some banks are open on Saturdays from 9:30am to 12:30 pm.

Entry requirements: You need a valid passport and a return ticket. Visas are not required except for some countries of Asia, Africa and the Middle Est. Check with your travel agent

Electricity: 200 volts AC, 60 Hz. Appliance plugs are compatible with both US and European type.

Climate: Varies according to the area. Winter on the coast lasts from June to September. During this period the mountain areas are often sunny. December to April brings heavy rains in the mountains and jungle areas.

COMMUNICATIONS

Telephone: International Direct Dialing
Country code: 51
City codes:
Lima: 1
Arequipa 54
Puno 54
Cusco 84
Chiclayo 74
Iquitos 94
Outgoing international code: 00

Fax: Telefonica del Peru offers a fax service throughout the country. Main hotels also have facilities and in the country, small public booths and services are found in commercial areas.

Telex/Telegram: Facilities are available in Lima and main hotels. Telefonica del Peru provides these services and they are open from 7:00a to 22 pm. with offices at Av. Bolivia 347, Jr. Cusco 303 in Lima and at the airport. These offices are open every day of the year.

Mail: Postal facilities are limited outside of Lima. airmail to Western Europe takes up to one week. First-class airmail from Europe or North America and addressed to PO boxes in Peru usually takes four days or longer. The main post office (Correo Central de Lima) is near the Plaza de Armas and is open Monday through Saturday from 8:00am to 8:00pm and Sundays 9:00am to 2:00pm.

Newspapers: Newspapers are in Spanish.Among the most important are El comercio, Ojo, Expreso, La Republica, El Peruano, El Mundo, Gestion and Sintesis. The Lima Times is published once a month in English and may be obtained from main hotels or bookstores.

International radio:
BBC MHz 17.84 15.26 15.22 9.915
Voice of America Mhz 15.21 11.58 9.775 5.995

TV-Cable: There are nine TV channels in Lima are broadcast in Spanish. Major hotels also have international cable TV.

The following items may be imported into Peru without incurring customs duty: 400 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grs of tobacco, 3 litres of spirits or 3 litres of wine, a reasonable amount of perfume for personal use.

Public Holidays: Jan 1: New Years Day. March or April: Holy Week. May 1: Labor Day. June 29: St. Peter and Paul. July 28 - 29: Independence Day. Aug. 30: St. Rosa of Lima. Oct. 8: Battle of Angamos. Nov. 1: All Saints Day. Dec. 8: Immaculate Conception. Dec. 25: Christmas Day

Health: Drinking bottled water is recommended. Public water is chlorinated and relatively safe but may cause mild stomach upset. Eat well-cooked meats and fish, preferably served hot. Avoid pork, raw salads and mayonnaise as well as uncooked vegetables and unpeeled fruit. Avoid the food served by street vendors.

Medical insurance is recommended. Health regulations and requirements are subject to change and the traveler is advised to contact their doctor well in advance of the intended departure date. If traveling in the Highlands, we such to check your blood pressure.

Yellow Fever a vaccination certificate is required for travelers over six months of age arriving from an infected area. For travelers arriving from non-endemic zones, vaccinations are recommended for travel outside urban areas.

Malaria almost exclusively exists in the benign vivax form, and can be found throughout the year in rural areas below 4,922 ft. Falciparum malaria occurs sporadically in areas bordering Bolivia (Madre de Dios), Brazil (Yaravi and Acre River) and in Zarumilla Province (Tumbes Dep.) and in areas where petroleum deposits are being exploited.

Tourist Protection Service: The purpose of The Tourist Bureau of Complaints is to protect visitors consumer rights by helping them solve any problems that may arise regarding the services they hire. There is a 24 hour hot line: 224-7888.