15 fascinating facts about Peru

Did you know that the largest bird on Earth is the Andean Condor, which may be found in Peru? or that Peru is home to three-quarters of the world’s alpaca population. Or possibly that you could go swimming in the Amazon with stunning pink dolphins? Continue reading to learn more fascinating details.

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Peruvian weaver by Zoe Francis

1. Peru is home to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World
   Machu Picchu, Peru’s most famous landmark, was voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the world in 2007. Its spectacular setting is sure to impress even non-archaeologists. This Lost City of the Incas is a place everyone must see at least once.
2. There are 43 native languages spoken in Peru
   Peru’s official language is Spanish, but the country has 43 native languages, including Quechua, Aymara, Shipibo, Ashaninka, and Agurauna.
3. Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world
   At an elevation of 3,812 metres Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world. The reed boats made by the indigenous people and many of their ceremonies are popular sights for tourists. The Andean people refer to the lake as “The Sacred Lake” due to a legend claiming it was where the great god Viracocha appeared walking across the waters.
4. The Amazon Rainforest covers almost two thirds of Peru
   The Peruvian Amazon is quite literally Peru’s biggest tourist attraction – taking up a whopping 60% of the country! It is rich in biodiversity, with more than 700 types of ferns and 7,300 different species of flowering plants. Quite unlike any other place on earth, it’s easy to see why it is a tourist hotspot!
5. ‘Alien Skulls’ have been found in Peru
   Back in 1928, native archaeologist Julio Tello discovered a mass grave on the desert peninsula of Paracas, of what was thought to be aliens due to their abnormally elongated skull shape compared to normal human skulls.  Nowadays, most historians say it was caused by artificial cranial deformation, a practice common to many South American tribes. Believed to have been done for aesthetic reasons and to symbolise nobility, they would press newborn’s heads in between wooden boards to create this long skull shape.
6. Three-quarters of the world’s alpaca population live in Peru
   With the total global population estimated at 10 million, that means there are more than 7.5 million alpacas in Peru. No wonder there are so many at Machu Picchu!
7. The Andean Condor is the largest flying bird on Earth
   The Andean condor has a wingspan of up to 3.2 metres and stands at up to 1.2 metres high! Their huge size makes them quite heavy (up to 15kgs), which is why they prefer to live in windy areas, like Peru’s Colca Canyon, where they can glide on the air currents for hours with minimal effort.
8. The ‘White City’ of Arequipa is built from volcanic stone
   Surrounded by four imposing volcanoes, Arequipa is known as the ‘white city’ due to it’s unique architecture, consisting mostly of a white volcanic stone called sillar. After a devastating earthquake in the 19th century, the city was rebuilt using plenty of the same white stone to maintain it’s beauty and name of the ‘white city’.
9. Guinea pig is a local delicacy
   The guinea pig, or cuy as it is known in Peru, is a traditional Peruvian dish which is served crispy complete with head, legs and eyes. While not something you would usually see in Australia, it is something you may want to try at a local chicheria along with a glass of chicha (a popular local drink) when visiting Peru.
10. The Spanish built on top of the Incan buildings
    When the Spanish conquistadors came to Peru in the 1530s, the Spaniards took over most of the Inca people’s cities and literally built their churches and homes directly on top of the Inca’s temples and homes.  It is for this reason there is such contrast in the Architecture today, with many buildings having a stone bottom floor thanks to the Incas, and then featuring Colonial-style second floors with stucco and archways thanks to the Spaniards.
11. It can take up to 600 hours to create a traditional Peruvian poncho
    Weaving is one of the oldest traditions in the world, and has been an important part of Peruvian culture for as long as it has been around. It’s estimated to take around 500 to 600 hours to spin, dye and weave a traditional Peruvian poncho, which is generally given to a local when entering adulthood and expected to last a lifetime. The style, colour and woven designs are distinctly different between communities, and can be used to identify where someone is from at just a glance.