{"id":5906,"date":"2023-04-25T23:57:28","date_gmt":"2023-04-25T23:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.salkantaytrekking.com\/blog\/?p=5906"},"modified":"2026-01-14T11:48:33","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T16:48:33","slug":"60-interesting-facts-about-peru-that-you-must-know-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.salkantaytrekking.com\/blog\/60-interesting-facts-about-peru-that-you-must-know-part-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Interesting Facts About Peru That You Must Know [Part 2]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Here is the second part of interesting facts about Peru<\/strong>. Continue marveling knowing each one of them and explore every corner of this country from beginning to end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Facts About Peru:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  1. The world\u2019s tallest bromeliad (in the pineapple family) at 30 feet tall is native to Peru<\/strong><\/a>. It\u2019s called the Puya Raimondi or the Queen of the Andes. Its thousands of flowers bloom only once, after 80-150 years of growth, and then the plant dies. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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    \"The
    The Puya Raimondi | @linareskaryn<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    1. Peru produces gourmet, fruity dung coffee in partnership with long-nosed, raccoon-like coati animals from the jungle. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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      1. Peruvian coffee<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> in general, is an absolute delicacy raved about by professional cuppers around the world!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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        1. Peru has a native dog breed, the Peruvian Inca Orchid<\/strong> sighthound. They\u2019re usually black\/gray or pink and hairless, except for a mohawk and tail puff!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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          \"Peru
          Peru native dog | @ikimono.nawi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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          1. Camu Camu<\/em> is one of the world\u2019s most potent superfoods and native to the Peruvian rainforest. For example, it has more vitamin C than any other edible plant, up to 60x more than oranges.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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            1. Actually, Peru produces around 40 superfoods<\/strong><\/a>!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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              1. San Marcos University in Lima<\/strong><\/a> is the oldest in the Americas, established in 1551. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                1. The queu\u00f1a<\/strong> tree native to the Andean highlands is an essential yet endangered part of the ecosystem. It\u2019s one of the highest-growing trees in the world, thriving at up to 16,400 FASL (5000 MASL).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                  1. Kids finish high school at 16 years old and often only go in the morning or in the afternoon, not all day.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                    1. Peru has more than one Rainbow Mountain. The 3 discovered so far are Vinicunca<\/strong><\/a>, Palccoyo<\/strong><\/a>, and Pallay Punchu<\/strong><\/a>. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                      \"Collage
                      Rainbow Mountains in Peru<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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                      1. The challenging Huayhuash Circuit <\/strong>near Huaraz is considered one of the best and most beautiful treks in the world, often compared to the Himalayas<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                        1. Peruvian music<\/strong><\/a> is extremely diverse and catchy! It developed as a fusion of various cultures – native highlands, jungle, Latin, African, and Spanish.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                          1. At the World Travel Awards 2021, Peru was named the World’s Leading Culinary Destination<\/em> for the 9th time, more than any other country ever!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                            1. We have penguins! Find them on the Ballestas Islands<\/strong><\/a> in Paracas National Reserve. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                              \"Penguins
                              Penguins in the Ballestas Islands in Paracas @k.rieger_photographer._.d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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                              1. Most of Peru\u2019s rural population still cooks over a fire, sadly often in enclosed spaces, causing a high risk of lung cancers. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                1. Peru\u2019s divine natural landscapes nurture the practices of jungle shamans and mountain shamans – each with unique knowledge and traditions. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                  1. We have 2 of the world\u2019s deepest canyons, both near Arequipa – the Colca<\/strong> and Cotahuasi<\/strong> Canyons.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                    \"Colca
                                    Colca Canyon Arequipa<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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                                    1. The national cocktail is the pisco sour<\/strong>,<\/a> made with a grape liquor developed in Pisco, Peru. Peru and Chile have an endless feud over who invented it, but the town of Pisco is in Peru, so\u2026<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                      1. Wearing yellow underwear on New Year\u2019s in Peru<\/strong> will give you a lucky year.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                        1. Vicu\u00f1as<\/strong><\/a> are an important symbol of Peru. They\u2019re graceful, non-domesticated camelids who thrive in Andean altitudes above 11,500 FASL (3500 MASL). They\u2019re on the coat of arms, the flag, and every citizen\u2019s ID card.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                          1. Over 70% of the world\u2019s alpaca population lives in Peru<\/strong><\/a>!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                            \"Wildlife
                                            Wildlife Alpaca Lamas<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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                                            1. The minimum wage is 1025 soles a month, which now equals $262. That\u2019s an annual salary of only $3144.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                              1. Mining, fishing, agriculture, and manufacturing are the Peruvian people’s top income sources.  <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                                1. Peru currently has 13 UNESCO <\/strong>World Heritage Sites!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                                  1. The national dance is the flirty marinera<\/strong>, a mixture of the Spanish fandango, the African zamacueca, and the traditional Andean courtship dancing of the highlands. <\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                                    \"THE<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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                                                    1. July 28th is Independence Day – Fiestas Patrias<\/strong> – in Peru<\/strong><\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                                      1. In the highlands, old wives\u2019 tales are respected. If someone\u2019s startled, they should have egg white hovered over them so it passes. If it\u2019s about to rain, you can send a firecracker up into the air to stop it. A potato shaped like an animal is a good luck.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                                        1. We have the Walking Palm<\/strong>, a tree that gives you goosebumps. Its above-ground roots stretch like legs or stilts, and the tree can move up to 2 cm per day!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                                          1. The capital city, Lima<\/strong>, has 3 restaurants in the world\u2019s top 50!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                                            1. In the Amazon, you can try eating suri<\/strong> – grilled grub!<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
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                                                              \"Suri
                                                              Suri @bonllovidiaz_fotografo<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

                                                              The End!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

                                                              There you have it! All the interesting facts about Peru you ever wanted to know about my favorite country. Did you buy your plane ticket yet?? There\u2019s no way you could be disappointed by a trip to<\/strong> Peru<\/strong>. It\u2019s got some of the most spectacular panoramic views in the world, a bunch of stunning hikes, and historical significance unlike anywhere else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                              Check us out in Cusco<\/strong><\/a> to make your adventure travel dreams come true!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                              See you soon!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                              Written by: Bethany Iversen Marrou<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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