GENERAL
Official name of the state
Republic of Peru.
Capital
Lima.
Geography
As a country located in South America according to hyperrestaurant, Peru is a mountainous country on the Pacific coast, south of the equator. The country borders with Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil and Bolivia to the east and Chile to the south and is divided into four regions: Costa, Sierra, Montaña and Selva. The capital Lima is located in the Costa region, which consists of a narrow coastal strip that has a desert character and is partially irrigated. The majority of the Indian population lives in the Sierra region. The Andes reach an altitude of over 6000 m. The Montaña region lies between the Andes and the jungle in eastern Peru. The fertile subtropical area has hardly been developed so far. The international motorway under construction can already be used in some sections. The Selva region, the Amazon jungle in the eastern part of the country,
The population consists mainly of Indians and Mestizos. European (mainly Spanish), Chinese and African settlers have also settled here.
Government
Presidential republic since 1980. New constitution from 1993. Parliament with 120 members. Independent since 1821 (former Spanish colony).
Head of state
Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, since July 2016.
Head of government
Fernando Zavala, since July 2016.
Electricity
220 V, 60 Hz; in Arequipa 220 V, 50 Hz and Talara 110/220 V, 60 Hz; American plug.
Time zone
Peru Time: CET -6
COMMUNICATION
Phone
Dial-up remote service. There are public coin and card phones. Telephone cards are sold in kiosks and supermarkets. The card must match the phone company to which the phone belongs. Information can be reached at 103 (service in Spanish).
Cellphone
Tri-band network, GSM 1900. The network operator is TIM Peru (Internet: www.tim.com.pe). Cell phones can be rented from Telefónica del Peru in Lima and larger cities for a limited time.
Internet
There are internet cafes in the bigger cities.
Post Office
Airmail to Europe takes up to two weeks on the way. Outside of Lima, the post is less reliable. Airmail items addressed to PO boxes within Peru take about four days, but delays must be expected. Opening times of the main post office in Lima: Mon-Sat 8 am-6pm and Sun 8 am-12pm.
Radio
Since the use of shortwave frequencies changes several times over the course of a year, it is advisable to contact Deutsche Welle customer service directly (Tel: (+49) (0228) 429 32 08. Internet: www.dw-world.de) to request.
SHOP
Overview
Woolen items and carpets made from alpaca and llama wool, masks, hand-woven ponchos and replicas of old Inca jewelry, items made from silver, gold, leather and wood.
Shop opening times: Mon-Sat 10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4 p.m.-8 p.m.
NIGHTLIFE
Introduction
There are numerous bars, discos and casinos in the holiday resorts. Peñas are the traditional sites of Peruvian nightlife. There you can listen to the criolla (folk music) and order smaller meals. The nightlife in Lima and Cuzco is very varied, the discos, peñas, pubs and karaoke bars are open until 3 or 4 a.m.
CULINARY
ACCOMMODATION
Hotels
Hotels of international standard can be found in Lima, Cuzco, Arequipa, Trujillo, Iquitos, Cajamarca, Chiclayo, Ica and Tarapoto. Numerous hotel projects are planned for the near future, and the infrastructure outside the capital is to be improved. Quite inexpensive pensions can be found in all larger towns in Peru. In the rural areas the standard of accommodation is quite different, hotels are usually well equipped. 18% for taxes (IGV) are included in the bills. In the case of hotels of the higher class, a service charge of 1-13% may also be added.
Categories:1-5 stars. A law requires special signs to be displayed: H (Hotel), HR (Hotel Residencial), HS (Hostal Residencial) or P (Pension). Details from the Hotel Association: Asociación Peruana de Hoteles, Restaurantes y Afines (AHORA), Av. Larco 730, Of. 302, Miraflores, PE-Lima 18. Tel: (01) 445 27 62. (Internet: http://www.ahora-peru.com/)
Camping
No official campsites.
Other accommodation options
Around 40 youth hostels with dormitories, double or single rooms, cooking facilities, a bar or cafeteria and sometimes also swimming pools are available. Details from the Youth Hostel Association: Asociación Peruana de Albergues Turísticos Juveniles, Avenida Casimiro Ulloa 328, San Antonio, Miraflores, PE-Lima 18. Tel: (01) 446 54 88. (Internet: www.limahostell.com.pe)
CULTURE
Religion
81.3% Catholics. Protestant minority as well as followers of natural religions.
Social rules of conduct
Manners: Shake hands to greet you. Life is leisurely, and the Peruvians laughingly justify their lack of punctuality with La Hora Peruana – the Peruvian time.
Clothing: Casual clothing is accepted, but in the evening you dress more festively. Many business people wear guayaberas (traditional shirts without ties) in summer. Shorts and swimwear belong on the beach.
Tip: Bills include i. General 15% for service. An additional tip of 5% is expected. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
COUNTRY DATA
Area code +51 Area (square km) 1 285 220 Population 30 444 999 Population density (per square km) 24 Population in 2015 Member of the EU No main emergency number 117
