Do you plan a trip to Peru and you want to know your face less famous and visible? In this post we will tell you some of the many curiosities of Peru, data and eye-catching rarities are originated both in its pre-columbian culture as in its current usage and its people. You'll see that some of them will surprise you...
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1. Peru is the third largest country in South america, after Brazil and Argentina, and has one of the largest biodiversity around the world (with more than 2,000 species of fish, more than 1,500 of birds and about 20,000 species of plants). It is estimated, moreover, that the territory of Peru, has dozens of microclimates different... we go, on the same trip you will spend a cold and heat safe.
2. One of the more curious you can visit in Peru are the Nazca linessome geoglyphs giants that can be clearly seen from the air, in a light aircraft flight. Some of the well-known figures are the hummingbird, the monkey, the spider, etc... To this day its origin and meaning remains a mystery. They were drawn by the Nazca culture that developed between 700 to.C. and the 200 d. C. and are not discovered until the year 1927. They are so special, which in 1994 were declared a Unesco world Heritage site. By the way, are not the only ones of this style in the country.
3. Many tourists do not know, but “not all alpacas are alpacas”. We have explained, there are 4 camelids americans different: llama, alpaca, vicuña and guanaco. All are similar, but there are some basic differences:
- Called, it is larger and with pointy ears. Tends to be a pet.
- Alpaca, smaller and with ears rounded, has a fur woolly.
- Vicuna is a wild animal, the teeth of a rodent and a brown color. It is the camelid smaller and our favorite!
- Guanaco, also wild, has the face to grey and the coat shorter.
4. Another typical animal of Peru, is the viringoa puppy without hair! What is most curious is that this animalico, considered National Heritage, as he rolled on these soils in pre-columbian times and is qualified as “primitive”, that is to say, never crossed with any other species. We, that is a pure “work” of the Pachamama.
5. What language is spoken in Peru? The question should be: dowhat languages are spoken in Peru? There are 3 official languages: Spanish, quechua and aymara, although there are other unofficial dialects that are spoken among both indigenous tribes of the Amazon as in ¡Lima! Yes, yes, they told us that in Lima, speak a kind of language only.
6. Did you know that near Arequipa you can visit one of the deepest canyons in the world? We talk about the Cotahuasi canyonwith 3.535 meters of depth. To give you an idea, the Grand Canyon of the Colorado just 1.829 meters at its deepest point. Yes, the Cotahuasi is enanito compared with the Canyon of Yarlung Tsangpo (China), that reaches the 5.590 meters (there if he has to give the shade).
7. Although if we talk about guns, the most visited, it's another one: Colca canyon. One of the big reasons to travel here is admire the flight of the andean condor, a bird of prey so majestic that the incas considered immortal. Did you know that the size of its wings can reach more than 3 meters?
8. In the inca culture the condor was one of the 3 sacred animalsnext to the puma and the snake. Each one had its symbolism in the universe:
- Condor, on top, makes reference to the upper world of the gods.
- Puma, in the intermediate step is the one that represents the earthly world of the living.
- Snake, the animal of the underworld, connected with the world of the dead.
9. The Incas they were a civilization exciting and ahead of its time, for example in social organization (hierarchical, with The Inca to the head), in values of coexistence (based on 3 premises: llancay – work, yachay – education and sonkoy – respect for others, to society and nature), development of agriculture...
10. And in communication: they managed to create a road network (qhapaq ñan) so extensive that exceeded even that of the Roman Empire (I was going from Colombia to Chile, and it is estimated that there was about 60 thousand kilometers). In these ways is placed on top runnersone of the most important figures for the proper functioning of the Tahuantinsuyo. They were messengers trained from childhood to walk long distances carrying messages without falling dead.
11. Arequipa not only is it one of the most beautiful cities in Peru, but it is also the home of the mummy Juanitaone of the best preserved of the whole world. Although in reality it was not by any process of mummification (addressed only to the higher classes of society), but, as it seems, was an offering to the god of volcanoes and due to the cold of the peaks of the andes mountains, could not be kept in an excellent way. It is found in the nevado Ampato in the year 1995 and today can be seen in the Museum of Andean Sanctuaries.
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12. The archaeological site best known of Peru are, without a doubt, Machu Picchuconsidered on its own merits as one of the wonders of the modern world. However, it is not far from the only archaeological zone that forms the historical heritage of Peru. Other of the most spectacular, are the Kuelap, Sacsayhuaman, Chan, Chan or Choquequirao that can only be reached on foot. And those that continue to be discovered in the present...
13. Although there is another that stands out for its historical importance. We talk about the Sacred city of Caral, considered to be the remains of the oldest settlement in America. According to studies, has an age of about 5,000 years, a madness. That would mean that the caral culture he was a contemporary of civilizations such as the egyptian, sumerian, etc, but with a detail that makes it even more special: it was the only developed in isolation (the others had contacts with each other).
14. The Waterfall In Three Sisters located in the Parque Nacional Otishi, in the Junin region, is the third highest in the worldwith 914 meters. Its name refers to its shape, is divided into 3 waterfalls. Currently you can only visit via air.
15. Another of records natives of Peru is in its southern border. Shared with Bolivia, the Lake Titicaca it is the highest navigable lake in the world (full 3,812 meters). By the way, according to tradition, it was here where was the origin of the Inca Civilization, when the god Viracocha emerged from its waters, and created all the elements of the world. Therefore, it was considered a sacred place. Here we talk about more about Lake Titicaca.
16. The altitude sickness (or soroche) is one of the big disadvantages of travel to high elevations and in Peru... are not few. One of the local remedies which come directly from the incas is chewing coca leaves, that are not only legal, but can be found in almost any local market. In actuality, there are also teas and candies made from this substance.
17. Although it is known that surfing was invented in Polynesia, there are some who ensures that in Peru there were already “caballitos de totora” for more than 3,000 years. What are they exactly? Are a few boats elongated which are constructed with stems of reeds, and the old fishermen used to go deep in the sea and be able to withstand the surf. And if you are a fan of the surf, the Coast of Peru will be your paradise, especially the town of Chicama: here they are the longest waves in the world (come to 2-2,5 km).
18. The peruvian dish more well known is the ceviche (which can also be written cebiche, seviche or sebiche), which combines the japanese influence of the raw fish with traditional flavors. Just as important is the ceviche to the peruvians that each of the 28 of June is celebrated on the day of the ceviche.
19. In Urubamba, in the Sacred Valleythere is a hotel with capsules glazed. So far, so normal, the typical glamping... Well, no, in this sleep suspended at a height of 400 metres! Would you dare? It is the Skylodge Adventures Suites.
20. And we ended up in a site then you probably already saw on Instagram: the Mountain of the 7 Colors, formed by layers of different colors depending on the composition of the minerals in each one. In the indian language is known as the mountain Vinicunca. The funny thing is that his "discovery" is recent, and that, having regard to the smash hit cheap, occurred rifirrafes between the villages of the area to see who got more slice. For a time remained closed until everything was fixed. How? Enter now costs 25 soles instead of 10 hehe.
Here are some of the many curiosities of Peru we have come across in our journey. And you, what do you know of any of the information surprising and curious about this country?
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