Today, Machu Picchu is a designated United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation ( UNESCO) World Heritage Site. It was rediscovered in 1911 by explorer, professor and archaeologist Hiram Bingham. The Inca city was “lost” for over 400 years when Peru was invaded by the Spanish empire. Original image: Machu Pichu, Peru by YoTuT is licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0Įrected in the fourteenth century, Machu Picchu – a fortress built by the Incas – lies more than 2,000 metres above sea level in the Sacred Valley.

These communities have inhabited the land for over five centuries. This population is made up of groups from different cultures and backgrounds – including the Uros people, many of who live on islands built of reeds in Lake Titicaca, and the Mashco-Piro tribe, which lives in the Amazon rainforest. There are more than 33 million people currently living in Peru. 3) The population of Peru is over 33 million But, Lima has so much to offer to travellers, including the different architectural styles visible in the city centre. Most visitors to Peru will skip Lima in their excitement to get to Cusco and Machu Picchu. Today, Lima is home to a third of Peru’s population. In 1535, Francisco Pizarro – a sixteenth-century Spanish coloniser – established the city of Lima to serve as the seat of power for the Spanish colonists. Tahuantinsuyo was the largest empire in the Americas at that time, hence why the city was given its name. Prior to the invasion of Peru by the Spanish, Peru was known as Tahuantinsuyo (or the Inca Empire as it is known today), and the most important city in that empire was Qosqo (or Cusco), which means navel of the world. Original image: Lima by Christian Córdova is licenced under CC BY-SA 2.0 Impressive, right? 2) The capital city of Peru is Lima

Once you travel towards the Amazon Jungle, the people local to this region speak an additional 13 languages. Spanish is the most widely spoken of the three, with over 80% of Peruvians speaking this language.īut these languages are only the tip of the linguistic iceberg in this South American country. Spanish, Quechua and Aymara are all official languages in Peru. General facts about Peru 1) There are three official languages Here are some of the most interesting facts about Peru. Ready to learn more about this South American destination?ĭid you know that if you travel to Peru you could see some of the world’s most well-known historical architectural features, like Machu Picchu, as well as plant and wildlife species found nowhere else on earth – like the Peruvian sundew?Īll of this combined makes Peru one of the most interesting places to volunteer in Latin America. Peru’s history dates back thousands of years, which means that there are plenty of opportunities to learn more about local cultures. Peru is home to a vast array of landscapes, cultures and wildlife.

Dato curioso de peru