UNESCO Heritage Sites »

The Nazca Lines are an exceptional collection of geoglyphs in the southern desert of Peru. There are about 300 figures among them including geometric shapes, animal like figures, straight continuous lines, humans and plants. The exceptionality of these geoglyphs rest in the fact that they can only be seen from the air.

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Inca Civilization

The Inca civilization was the largest Pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas and Cusco was its capital. The best kept example of its architecture is Machu Picchu.

Machu Picchu

The Sacred City is one of the most significant archeological sites left by the Incas

Culture

Fascinating culture and Inca heritage of this beautiful country

Lake Titicaca

Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. It occupies an important place in Inca mythology.

Animals of Peru

Animals in Peru have specialized and adapted to the conditions of its geography. At higher altitude levels, few animals and plants can survive because of the lack of oxygen.

War of Independence

The economic crises, the loss of power of Spain in Europe, the war of independence in North America and native uprisings all contributed to a favorable climate to the development …

Tupac Amaru-Inca Renaissance

The eighteenth century brought the recovery of the local native population that saw its numbers plunge from disease during the . Some curacas achieved important social and economic positions in …

New reforms

At the beginning of the eighteenth century there was a change of dynasties in the Spanish Crown after the last Habsburg King of Spain, Charles II, left the throne to …

New colonial settlements

During their long journey to , it became visible that the conquerors presence was not welcome by all the inhabitants. An act of resistance …

Viceroyalty of Peru

Conflicts of power and disagreements over jurisdictional rights broke out among two groups of conquistadores led by Francisco Pizarro and Diego de Almagro. In 1541 Pizarro was assassinated by Almagro’s …

Colonial Economy

The Habsburg dynasty ruled Spain during the 16th and 17th centuries, the Golden Age, when Spain was the most powerful country in the Europe. King Charles I who inherited the …

In search of gold

During the fifteenth century the Portuguese, and later the Spanish, sailed the seas searching for alternative routes to the Mediterranean. In 1492 the Spanish arrived to America under the command …

Conquest and Colony of Peru

Map of the conquest of Peru

The conquest of Peru is the historic process of the assimilation of the to the Spanish Empire; it represented a profound social, economic and cultural transformation. These two distinctive …

Society

Cholita

Peru’s complex social system and its hierarchical values were inherited from colonial times and continue as guidelines and principles that regulate social and interpersonal behavior that have become part of the culture of Peru. Before the arrival of Europeans the territory was populated by Peru’s ethnic population known as Amerindians. Colonization brought slavery and the decline of the local population due to foreign diseases. Today Peru’s ethnic composition is mixed.

Peruvian Economy

Cerro de Pasco mine

Peru has a market oriented economy. Growth from 1997 to 2006 averaged 4.5%, in 2007 the economy grew 9% and in 2008 9.8% making it the fastest growing economy in …