Interesting Facts About Peru That You Must Know [Part 1]

Hey, you. I’d like to introduce you to Peru!

IMO, it’s the coolest place in the world. It should definitely be at the top of your bucket list! Here are some interesting facts about Peru:

What are interesting facts about Peru?

1. Peru has mountains, a coast, a jungle, and a desert.

2. There are 90 different microclimates, and it is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.

3. The Amazon River originates as a trickle of water running off of the Mismi Mountain Glacier near Arequipa, a city in southern Peru.

4. It’s geographically the 3rd biggest country in South America, after Brazil and Argentina.

5. The Andes Mountain Range that crosses through Peru is the most extended range globally.

6. We have one of the 7 Wonders of the Modern World – Machu Picchu (you probably already knew that).

7. Pink dolphins live here! You can see them in the Peruvian Amazon jungle.

8. The highest navigable lake in the world is between Peru and Bolivia – Lake Titicaca in Puno!

9. Guinea pigs are native to Peru and were domesticated to be eaten (and still are today – it’s a delicacy!).

10. On that note, the painting of The Last Supper hanging in the Cusco Cathedral includes a central guinea pig as the central part of the meal.

11. The oldest city in the Americas is Caral, just north of Lima.

12. Peru has almost 4000 types of potatoes, 55 varieties of corn, and 350 kinds of chili peppers.

13. The world’s 2nd tallest sand dune is near Nazca: Cerro Blanco at 3858 feet tall (1176 meters) from bottom to top.

14. Chicha de jora is the countryside’s favorite drink – homemade from sprouted, fermented corn since the Incas.

15. The Incas established constellations based on the dark shadows in the Milky Way, not just the lights.

16. Some believe that aliens have a landing strip in Peru for their ships within the Nazca Lines.

17. A German-Austrian settlement in the central Peruvian jungle still carries out their European traditions. It’s called Pozuzo.

18. Ancient Peruvians were surfing the waves on caballitos de totora (reed fishing kayaks) long before Hawaii

19. Speaking of surfing, Peru was represented in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics by 4 surfers. 

20. The country has almost 50 indigenous languages still in use. The most common is Quechua in the highlands, the language of the Incas. 

21. The Peruvian Amazon Rainforest houses about 20 uncontacted tribes who live in isolation from the outside world as hunter-gatherers.

22. Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire that spanned 6 of today’s countries. They called it the navel of the world. 

23. The Inca Trail was in South America, and the Silk Road and Roman roads were in their respective cultures. 

24. During the 80s, The Shining Path communist terrorist group used to abuse and oppress to recruit military forces among the rural population and force coca farmers to operate cocaine processing plants to fund their activities. 

25. Chewing those same coca leaves alleviates symptoms of altitude sickness.

26. The jungle city of Iquitos can only be reached by airplane or riverboat. It’s the world’s largest city unreachable by car!

27. Inca Kola became more popular in Peru than Coca-Cola, so the Coca-Cola Company bought out 49% of Inca Kola and joined forces with them.

28. Tomatoes are native to Peru and were thought to be poisonous by Europeans until the invention of pizza in Italy. 

29. The Atacama Desert that stretches along the southern coast of Peru is the driest place in the world, besides the poles. 

30. Peru is home to the highest inhabited town in the world: La Rinconada near Puno at 16,700 feet (5090 meters) above sea level. 

Written by: Bethany Iversen Marrou