Geography and Economy
The Republic of Peru is an Andean State located in the central and western part of South America between the 81°19'34.5" and 68°39'27.0" of west longitude and from 0°01'48.0" to 18°21'0.30" of south latitude. Peru is bounded at north by Equator having a 1,529 KM long border and by Colombia with a 1,506 KM long border at south by Chile, with a 169 KM long border; at the east by Brasil, having a 2,822 KM long border, and Bolivia, with a 1,047 KM long border, and at the west side its coasts are wetted by the Pacific Ocean 3,080 KM long.

According to the census performed in 1993, its population reachedup to 22,639,210 inhabitants. Currently, its population is known to be 23,465,000 inhabitants, and a population of 27,952,100 inhabitants is expected for the year 2000. The population density now is 16.5 inhabitants per Km2 with a 2.0% growing rate per year. So at this rate, the peruvian population increases at 500,000 inhabitants per year with a life expectancy of 60 years for 1993; the urban population is equivalent to 71% and the rural population is equivalent to 29%, the main capital cities are those located in the shore (coast) from which the cities of Arequipa, Callao, Trujillo, Chimbote, Chiclayo and Piura (in the coast), Cusco and Iquitos in the highlands and jungle respectively are among the most remarkable ones.

The peruvian territory has 1,285,216 Km2 surface; 52.0% of the peruvian population live in the Coast, that is, more than a half of the whole population; 36.0% is found in the andean region whereas the amazonian plain holds only 12.0% of the whole population.The Republic of Peru has a presidential, unitary and decentralized governmental system; it also has its respective
Congress of the Republic.Regarding the political division, Peru is made up by 24 departments and one Constitutional Province called El Callao; likewise departments are made up by provinces which are 192 (including El Callao) up to 1995; these are in turn made up by 1,808 districts.The most recent Political Constitution was issued on October 31, 1993 being Alberto Fujimori Fujimori as Constitutional President of the Republic of Peru.The capital of the Republic is the city of Lima located in the department of Lima with an altitude of 153 m.a.s.l.
The State Government is divided into three branches: The Executive managed by the President of the Republic who is electedfor a five year-period and is in charge of assigning his ministers; The Legislative which resides in the Congress and has a unique chamber made up by 120 members of the Congress who are elected for a five year-period; The Judiciary, made up by the Supreme Court, whose headquarters are located in Lima; the Superior Courts which work at departmental level and the Judges of the Primary Courts of Claims who perform jurisprudence at provinces' capital cities level. The authorities of departments, provinces and districts (prefects, subprefects and governors) are assigned by the Executive; and local governments (province and district majors) are elected by universal suffrage for a three year period. Currently, the regionalization process is being implemented which looks for the end of Lima's centralism considered as a negative phenomenon for the development of the country, this process also looks for the transference of the decision power to the new autonomous entities (regional entities) over the territory that makes up the region.

Surfase
There are three geographically well-defined environment zones in the peruvian territory: the coast, a 80 to 150 KM width shore strip; the highlands made up by the andean altiplano zone, and the Jungle which is a large amazonian area currently scarcely populated.The Peruvian Andes extend from the border with Chile and Bolivia, by South, to the border with Equator by north. The following sectors are distinguished:a) The South Andes or Southern Andes comprised between the borders of Peru and Bolivia and the Vilcanota Knot in the boundary between Puno and Cusco.b) The Central Andes comprised between the Vilcanota Knot in the south and the Pasco Knot in the north.c) The North Andes, also called Septentrional Andes which extend from the Pasco Knot up to the border of Equator.The South Andes are made up by two mountain chains: the Western Chain also called Volcanic Chain extends between Tacna, Moquegua and Arequipa departments. This chain has several snow capped mountains and volcanoes like the Omate and Ubinas in Moquegua,the Tutupaca in Tacna and the Pichu Pichu, Misti and Chachani in Arequipa. The Eastern Chain extends between the border of Bolivia and the Vilcanota Knot, this chain is also called the Carabaya Cordillera. A Plateau extends between these two chains whose northwest part holds the Titicaca lake.The Central Andes extend over between the Vilcanota and Pasco.

Knots and comprise three chains; the Western Chain which is known under several names according to where it runs; the Central Chain which has also several names and the Eastern Chain. The most important peaks are the Coropuna and Solimana (Arequipa), Sara Sara (Ayacucho) and Monte Meiggs (Lima) which correspond to the Western Chain; the Salcantay (Cusco) and Huaytapallana (Juná¡án) correspond to the Central Chain. The Plateau of Bombon or Juná¡án extends over the south of the Pasco Knot whose central part holds the Chinchaycocha Lagoon.The North Andes are comprised between the Pasco Knot and the border with Equator, they have three chains: The Western Chain with the Yerupajá á peak, which splits into two cordilleras; the White Cordillera located at the East and which has an everlasting snow capped peak, the Huascaran, considered as the highest of the country (6,768 m), and the Black Cordillera, less higher than the previous one, which extends to the western Ancash. The famous
Callejá¢án de Huaylas is located between both of these cordilleras, considered as one of the most beautiful landscapes of the country. The Central Chain splits the waterflowing coming from the Maraá¤áá¢án and Huallaga rivers and the Eastern Chain decreases in height while it approaches the Equator.

Hidrography
It is made up by two hydrographic systems; the Pacific System and the Atlantic System, to which the Titicaca Lake's watershed system is added.The Pacific hydrographic system is made up by the rivers that flow into the Pacific Ocean; these are characterized by temporary freshets, mainly in summer, and they are short run rivers which have their origins in the andean region, most of these remain as dry rivers most of the year. The Saá¤áa, Ica, Piura, La Leche, Chincha and Mala rivers have an irregular regime, thus some years they become dry before reaching the Pacific Ocean. In this system, the Tumbes is a navigable river while the Zarumilla, Chira, Santa, Ocoá¤áa, Reque, Jequetepeque, Chicama, Fortaleza, Pativilca, Huaura, Chancay, Chillá¢án, Caá¤áete and Camana rivers have an almost constant volume during the year showing remarkable freshets from December to March.The Santa is the most copious river running down up to 370 KM and it has an annual rate between three and five million cubic meters.Another important river is the Rimac which originates in the Ticlio Snow Capped Mountain over 5,000 m.a.s.l. and which has the rivers Santa Eulalia, by its right bank, and the Yuracmayo or Rio Blanco by its left bank as tributary rivers. The Rimac river forms a very large valley in which settles down Lima and Callao urban population. In this watershed, there are thirteen (13) hydroelectric power plants using waters from the Rimac river and its tributaries from which Huinco, Barbablanca, Moyobamba, Huampani and Pablo Boner with a generation of 600,000 KW/H are among the most remarkable ones.This watershed's longest rivers are the Tambo, 535 KM long and the Colca-Majes-Camana, 450 KM long, a valley located in Arequipa in which the Majes project (irrigation) is being built.The Atlantic hydrographic system is made up by very copious rivers which give their waters to the Atlantic Ocean by means of the Amazonas river crossing the Bolivia and Brasil territories.

These rivers have a great volume of water mainly downstream where their rates increase because of the rainfall in the Amazonian plains. These rivers have a long extent as well as a deep and well defined bed and are fast in the Higlands and High Jungle, whereas they wander slowly in the Low Jungle adopting a muddy coloration produced by the clay concentration they carry.
Likewise, these rivers form narrow and impressing canyons upstream, and then in their mid run, passing away, they give rise to terraces, which have been used for the settling of population; then downstream, that is, in the Low Jungle or Omagua, there are a lot of lakes or "cochas" and meanders. Almost all of the rivers are navigable, being these the most used conveying mean in the Peruvian jungle. The 1,800 KM long Maraá¤áá¢án river is one of the most important. The Ucayali is formed by the confluence of the Tambo and Urubamba rivers with 3,000 KM in lenght. Another important river of this watershed is the Huallaga which originates in the Huascacocha lagoon in the eastern slope of the Andes.Finally, we have the Amazonas river which has a longitude of 713 KM in the peruvian side, its watershed covers the 70% of the national territory, and the Madre de Dios and Putumayo rivers are added to this basin.The Titicaca Lake's watershed system is made up by short lenght but plentiful rivers which have an irregular regime and register floods in the areas near to the lake. The Huancane, Ramis, Coata and Ilave are the most important rivers of this watershed and the Desaguadero river moves water from this lake to the Poopo lake in the southern Republic of Bolivia.

Weather
Because of Peru's geographical location, it should have a eminently tropical weather with abundant rainfalls and high temperatures as well as exuberant vegetation; however, this feature is affected by the presence of the mountainous system of the Andes which crosses it in a longitudinal way, the Peruvian Current, the South Pacific Antyciclone are also added to these features giving rise to a diversified weather. In this way, the Coast (Pacific Ocean shores and western spurs of the Andes) shows little rainfalls which sum up an average of 50 mm yearly excluding the north zone of the country where the 500 mm are exceeded in the years of the Equatorial Countercurrent invasion in which intense rainfalls are registered.There is a diversity of weathers in the Highlands or High Andea zone showing local characteristics which depend on the surface shapes, the temperatures depend on the altitude of the place and rainfalls vary between extreme limits going from 100 to 1,000 mm per year.It is characterized by a tundra dry cold weather (Black Cordillera), whereas the White Cordillera has a perpetual snowfall weather proper of the high mountain. Passing through the high crests of the Andes to the east, there is anothe arrangement of the climatic zones, so we have a moderate and temperate climate in the Alto Maraá¤áá¢án and Huallaga valleys with rainfalls in summer instead of the dry weather proper of barren plains and then, we have also the permanently humid climate showed by the tropical jungle.

Flora and Fauna
The vegetal covering is very diversified. In the Coast is seen the presence of seasonal vegetations limited to the rainfall months like the Atiquipa hills in Arequipa or the Pachacamac and Lachay hills near to Lima. Other areas of vegetation are made up by the beds of valleys, the association forest between Sapote and Algarrobo (Piura and Tumbes) are added to these areas.The Higlands shows the presence of underbrushes, cactus and small plants resistant to the drought, that is Puna's vegetation, from which the ichu is the most representative one and which extends up to the zone of snow capped mountains.The Jungle vegetation is represented by tropical forests where wood trees or useful resin trees are alternated with the presence of palm trees and Orchidaceae plants.The Peruvian fauna is represented by native animals about to disappear in spite of the measures taken in order to avoid the extinction. The Coast does not have many species, outstanding the deer, iguana, skunk and gigant turtle. There are great diversity of fish in the rivers with an abundance of common prawns. The Highlands are characterized by the presence of alpacas and vicuá¤áas which economic usefulness is to supply wool and meat for the population. Likewise, there are deers, chinchillas and viscachas in this region. In the lakes, there are birds like seagulls, parihuanas, patillos and dabchicks.In the Jungle, there is a diversified fauna like the jaguar, big snakes, crocodiles, wild boars, papagayos, parrots and other kind of birds. It is possible to catch caimans and turtles in the rivers; the Peruvian Sea is recognized by its production of corvinas, lenguados, anchoveta, bonito, crustacean and shellfish.
It has also sharks, sperm whales and whales.Birds have an economic importance because of the guano deposite in the shore which makes possible the guano deposits used as fertilizer in the agriculture.

Agriculture
It is influenced by the climatic diversity, soil distribution and the surface relief of its territory. In the Coast, it is practiced in the beds of the valleys where the highest agricultural production is obtained due to the technical orientation, mechanization and investment of large capitals.
The Andean region is characterized by an extensive agriculture using traditional tools and the lack of permanent a technical and credit assistance, aditionally this region has as disadvantage the low quality production of its soil where food plants like papa, trigo, quinua or corn are mainly cultivated.The Jungle is by itself a settlement area and, therefore, i represents the shelter for migrant populations who are introducing the rice cultivation with excellent results.

Livestock
It is accomplished along with the agricultural activity. In the North coast is emphasized the goatlike breeding as well as the stable animals, having registered in this zone also an elevated production of meat and milk. In the Andean region, the cattle breeding is accomplished in zones where there are natural pastures and also in those interandean valleys from which the departments of Cajamarca, Arequipa, Cusco, Juná¡án and Ancash are the most remarkable ones.
The Amazonian region, which comprises the High Jungle and the Low Jungle, is influenced by the soil quality and its surface relief, the valleys of the Jaen High Jungle, Bagua, Central Huallaga, Satipo and Oxapampa are the most remarkable ones; while the cebu livestock and the amazonas livestock are breeded in the Low Jungle due to the excellent ecological conditions for their development.

Mining
It is the principal source of foreign currencies for the country and it is also the extracting activity that generates more than 71% of the foreign currency coming into the Peruvian State and which gives a job opportunity to an important sector of the population. The country has a large variety of metals from which cooper, iron, gold, lead, mercury, zinc and tungsten are the most remarkable metals while the non-metallic minerals are represented by the phosphates used in the agricultural activity, building materials like sand, coarse sand and concrete are added to them.Regarding fuels, it is remarkable the production of coal, petroleum and natural gas.

Economy
It is not different from those characteristics showed by developing countries. The Gross National Product experimented a constant 8% increase yearly up to 1995.From its active population, only 45% is engaged to the agriculture and cattle, the total Economically Active Population is 9,972,913 people followed by the manufacturing industry and commercial stores which represent the 11.6% and 13.3% respectively out of the total E.A.P. It is believed that food production will provide to feed only 60% of the population, the deficit is covered by imported foods. The commercial balance shows a positive annual variation of 20.4% up to 1995 being the main exportation items the fish, cottom, sugar and coffee, and regarding minerals which are the main source of holdings, copper, iron, refined silver, lead, zinc and petroleum

Industry
This is being impeled since some decades ago, having arisen an industrial descentralization policy by means of promoting the creation of industrial parks inside the country with specialization lines. Outstanding are the production of foods (oils, vermicelli, crackers, bread, cheese, sausages, canned foods and beverages).The textile industry is concetrated in Lima city while the chemical pharmaceutical industry is present not only in Lima bu also in Arequipa and Trujillo.The iron and steel industry is located in Chimbote cit transforming the steel into wires, pipes and rolls. Besides the metal-mechanic industry, there is also a production of sodas and alcoholic beverages like beer, wine, pisco and champagne; th production of potatoes is also added to this industry as well a the naval industry through the Navy's Industrial Service.

Population:
Currently, the total Peruvian population is about 23 million 465 thousand inhabitants. The population, in the first 50 years of this century, increased in 3.8 millions of inhabitants; in the remaining 45 years the population increase was almost 16 millions people. Between 1990 and 1995, the population increased in 2.1 millions inhabitants.
The 71% of population lives in urban areas and the 29% at rural areas. As per sex, the national population is divided in equal parts. 52% of national population lives in the coast, 36% in the highlands and 12% in the jungle. Around 6 millions inhabitants live in the Capital, Lima, including Callao's population.
For the 1995-2000 period, the annually births average figure is thought to be 613 thousand and the average number of children per woman, 3.
The annually deaths figure is thought to be 158 thousand, the men's life expectancy, 65 years and women's, 71 years; the children's death rate in 45 per one thousand born alive.

Production:
The total production for the year 1994 in current values, reached to 108.5 billion of nuevos soles, that is, 50 billion US dollars. This is equivalent to almost 2,200 US dollars per person.
After experimenting negative growing rates, the GDP increased to 6.5, 13.6 and 8% in 1993, 1994 and 1995, respectively.
A little more than a half of national production is performed by service sector (commerce, transport and communications, tourism, financial services, commonalty and personal services). Approximately the fourth part is performed in the manufacturing industrial sector, and the 12% by the construction sector. Mining, by its own, contributes in 1.7%, fishing in 1.1% and agriculture and cattle sector in 7.2% of total GDP.

Employment and earnings:
The employment's situation in the country is serious. The main part of population at working age, from 14 years old and more is unemployed or subemployed, being the women population the most affected. The greater unemployment rates are given in Arequipa, Chimbote, Piura and Trujillo.
In 1994, the number of strikes in the private labor activity increased in 11.3% and the number of affected workers, in 50%; however, the number of lost hour-men decreased in 10.7%, with respect to 1993.
In 1994, the earnings on the public and private sectors kept on recovering its purchase power. Real base payments in 10 and more workers job sites in Metropolitan Lima increased in 19.5%, salaries in 14.5% and government workers' salaries, in general, in 37%.

External Sector:
The balance of the balance of trade, in 1994, was positive and reached to 1,979 million US dollars, more than 200% of that registered in 1993. This balance is explained by the significative income of private capital which equilibrated deficit in current accouunt.
The deficit of the balance of trade in 1994 reached to 1,109 million US dollars, 537 million US dollars more than that of last year balance.
Exports increased 30% with respect to 1993, whereas imports increased 38.6%.
The real money exchange rate keeps under its level on August 1990. In 1994, it was registered a 10% decrease at the end of period. In the middle of 1995, its value recovered in approximately 4% with respect to late 1994, however, it still is 17 points under its value on August 1990.
At 1994 closure, the total external debt balance reached to 25,321 million US dollars, an amount higher in about 1,455 million US dollars to the 1993 level and in 4,613 million US dollars with respect to the 1991 amount.

Province of Cuzco

Capital: City of Cuzco
Altitude: 3.399 m.a.s.l.
Distance:
Cuzco to Lima 1.153 kilometers
Cuzco to Ayacucho 597 kilometers
Cuzco to Arequipa 623 kilometers
Cuzco to Puno 389 kilometers

The province of Cuzco is in the Oriental region of Peru, passing through the oriental and central mountain ranges of the Andes.
The city of Cuzco, known as the archeological capital of America contends with Mexico for the honor of being the oldest city of America.

Economical and military capital of the Peruvian vice-royalty received the name of "La Muy Noble, Muy Leal Cabeza de los Reinos del Perú, Santiago del Cuzco" (The very noble, very loyal head of the Peruvian royalties). In the 20th., century it was honored as the Archeological Capital of South-America and Cultural Patrimony of Humanity.

The city of Cuzco is a living museum of America’s history.

¿How to arrive?

By land: Many roads communicate Cuzco with the different cities of the country. The most recommendable routes are:
- Lima-Arequipa-Cuzco (1494 kilometer) the trip takes by car 24 hours approximately
- Lima - Arequipa: Panamericana south, by the coast.
- Arequipa - Juliaca 10 hours approximately
- Juliaca - Cuzco 12 hours approximately (highest point 4318 m.a.s.l. La Raya).

By train: theres a train service to travel to Cuzco and to Puno and Arequipa. The route Arequipa-Juliaca- Puno- Cuzco (735 kilometers) takes 23 hours approximately. From Puno are 10 hours. The highest point of the route are La Raya a 4 313 m.a.s.l) between Cuzco and Juliaca.
The train route goes first by Juliaca and Puno, that’s the reason why, is strongly recommended include Puno in your travel plan.

By air: There’s daily flights to Cuzco city from Lima, Arequipa, Juliaca and from other cities of the. The Velasco Astete Airport is 3 kilometers away from the city and has taxi and bus services.

Festivities

Qoyllority (May)

Traditional and solemn festivities Andino-Catholic of pilgrimage towards the snowy summits, procession and blessing, folkloric dances and music bands, fireworks, Alacitas symbolic market, the festivities takes place at 4000 m.a.s.l.

Corpus Cristi (June)

Solemn custody procession and 16 veneration images accompanied by music bands and folkloric groups and delicious special dishes: Chiri uchu o Llaqway uchu. It is considered the most beautiful festivity of the year.

Inti Raymi (June)

Sun festivity, it takes place at the impressive Sacsayhuamán fortress.
There’s an acknowledge dramatization in a ritual to the sun god; during the celebration many worship and gratitude activities takes place and at sunset time, the Inca orders the withdrawal.

Nuestra Señora del Carmen (July)

This is a traditional presentation of 16 folkloric dances with a special program for each squad or group. This festivity is considered the best folkloric demonstration of the area.

Santuranticuy (December)

Una de las ferias artesanales del Perú, se realiza en la Plaza Mayor del Cusco, en cuyas veredas los artistas tienden sus mantas siguiendo la costumbre de las tradicionales ferias andinas. Aquí se puede encontrar todo tipo de objetos artesanales como tallas en madera, cerámica y retablos.

Tourist Attractions

The Cathedral, contains one of the largest collections of colonial art of Peru. The Cathedral was built on the palace of the Inca Wiracocha.

The Church of La Compañia de Jesus, built on the palace of the Inca Huayna Capac. The design and front are examples of the Andean baroque.

Church La Merced, with baroque style. The vestry bears a golden monstrance of 1,30 meters of height with 1.500 diamonds.

Church and Monastery of San Francisco, with an outstanding painting of Juan Espinoza de los Monteros. Besides of catacumbs and carving in wood.

Church of Santo Domingo, built on the great temple of the Sun, the Corikancha. It has a valious picture gallery with paintings from the 17th. and 18th. centuries.

And the museums of religious art and regional history are only some of the many tourist attractiveness of the city.

Other tourist attractiveness are:

- Church and Monastery of Santa Catalina
- Church of San Blas
- Monument of Pachacutec
- Arzobispal Palace
- Almirante Palace
- Casa de los Cuatro Bustos
- House of the Inca Garcilazo de la Vega
- Beatario de las Nazarenas

It is also interesting to visit the handicraft markets on San Andres street. The Square of Arms. The Avenue El Sol. And the Street Triunfo. The city has ten interesting museums.

Archeological Sites Attractions:

- Archeological Site of Sacsayhuaman, located at 2 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Qenko - Kenko, located at 6 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Pukapukara - Puca Pucara, located at 7 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Tambomachay, located at 9 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Raqchi or Wiracocha, located at 112 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Choquequirao, located at 90 kilometers from Abancay.

- Archeological Site of Tipon, located at 25 kilometers from Cuzco.

- Archeological Site of Ollantaytambo, located at 97 kilometers from Cuzco.

Tourist Site Attractions:

Cuatro Lagunas, located at 114 kilometers from Cuzco, in the county of Acomayo. The four lagoons are located in the higher part of the river Vilcanota. The names of the lagoons are:: Pomacanchi, Acopia, Asnaqocha (lagoon of bad smell), and lagoon Pampamarca. In this latter one sport fishing is practiced a lot.

Hanging Bridge of Queshuachaca, located at 143 kilometers from Cuzco, in the county of Canas. One of the most important characteristics is that every three days of every second Sunday of June, the bridge is knitted by hand. Around 1.000 people do this task using twisted hay. This task is carried out since before the Inca times. The bridge is finished on the fourth day opening the singing and dancing. From this bridge it can see the canyon of the river Apurimac.

Tres Cruces, located at 145 kilometers from Cuzco, in the county of Paucartambo. This place is a natural view-point on the limit of the Biosphere Reservation of Manu. In this place, the natural phenomenon "rayo blanco" (white thunder) occurs when the sun rises in the horizon. This particular tumbling of the sunlight occurs at down of the winter solstice, June 22th.

Useful information

In order to get major tourism information please visits the tourist information centers.

Velasco Astete Airport
(Arrival and Principal Hall)
Telefax: (0 84) 23-7364
Attention: During flight attention hours.

Av. Sol 103, Office 102 – Tourist galleries.
Phone: (0 84) 25-2974
Fax: (0 84) 23-4498
Attention: Monday to Sunday from 8:30 to 19:30 hours

MACHU PICCHU - Av. Pachacútec block 1 s/n, office 4 (Edificio del Instituto Nacional de Cultura)
Phone: (0 84) 21-1104
Attention: Monday to Sunday from 9:00 to 13:00 hours and from 14:00 to 20:00 hours

24 hours attention line :
+51 (01) 574 8000

Province of Arequipa

Capital: City of Arquipa
Altitude: 2.345 m.a.s.l.
Distance:
Lima 1.009 kilometers
Cusco 830 kilometers
Puno 294 kilometers

A city founded in 1540. According to the chronist Cieza de Leon, it was "the healthiest and nicest of all villas of Peru".

Arequipa is a province of great cultural and geographical wealth. It is located in the Southeast of Peru. And because its territory has a coast and sierra the climate is varied.

The city of Arequipa, called "Ciudad Blanca" (white city) for the color of the houses built with sillar (white stone of volcanoes otigin), is a picturesque place that combines the beauty of its green country side with the imposing prescense of volcanoes and snowy mountains.

The city is surrounded by three volcanoes: The Misti (5.822 m.a.s.l.). The Chachani (6.075 m.a.s.l.). The Pichu Pichu (5.664 m.a.s.l.).

After Lima, it is considered the most important city of Peru.

How to arrive?

By Land: Lima - Arequipa (1003 kilometers) approximate travel time by car de 14 hours.

By Air: There’s daily flights from Lima (50 minutes approximately) and from Cusco (30 minutes approximately)

By train: There’s a train service that connects Arequipa and the cities of Mollendo, Juliaca, Puno and Cusco.

Festivities

Virgen de Chapi Festivity (May)

Festivity celebrated with pilgrimages from the sanctuaries and fireworks.

Corpus Christi Festivity (June)

It is celebrated with a festivity mass and Corpus Christi procession it takes place at the Cathedral of the city

Arequipa Jubilation Month (August)

It is celebrated with the International Arequipa Fair in Juli Mountain, many attractions take place as artistic performances, music shows, recreational activities, also the international Misti ascent competition takes place handicraft exhibit at “Fundo del Fierro”.
The main day is August 15 when the Friendship Corso takes place.

Virgen de la Inmaculada Concepción Festivity (December)

It is celebrated with a variety of cultural activities that includes the traditional witite dance, dancer’s competition.

Touristy Attractions

The Monastery of Santa Catalina, impressive religious monument founded in 1579, considered a master-piece of colonial architecture and unique in the world. Until 1970, this little city of 20.426 square meters remained stopped in time; it kept hidden to the world. After 400 years it was restored and opened to the public. It has three cloisters with almost a hundred cells that form 6 streets and an alley, and it only has one plaza.

The Cathedral, made entirely of sillar, is the main church of the city. Located on a whole side of the Square of Arms. Its front has 70 columns, 3 doors and 2 big side-arches. It has real jewels in images, sculptures and oil paintings from renowed artists. Its main altar is made of marmor from Carrara (Italia) and its wooden pulpit is a beauty, carved in France by the artist Rigot and its organ made in Belgium. It has a complete museum of religious art.

The Churches: De la Compañia, De la Merced and San Francisco. Founded by the Jesuits in the 17th., century are characterized by its baroque architecture styles.

The convents and monasteries of Santa Catalina, La Recoleta and Santo Domingo.

It is interesting to visit:

- House of Moral
- House of Tristan del Pozo
- Sal Lazaro Neighborhood
- Selva Alegre Neighborhood
- House of Goyeneche
- Archeological Museum of the University of San Agustin
- Archeological Museum of the University of Catolica de Santa Maria
- View-point of Yanahura
- House of the Fundador
- Misti Volcano

Tourist Site Attractions:

The Valley of Colca, located at 164 kilometers from Arequipa. This valley has a great diversity of flora and fauna; besides being an outstanding habitat for llamas, alpacas and condors. In this zone there are 16 towns that descend from the Collahuas and Cabanas, inheritors of a rich cultural tradition. The Valley of Colca is part of the South-American techtonic plate.

The Thermal Baths of Yura, located at 30 kilometers from Arequipa. Its waters come from the interior of the Volcano Chachani and are renowed for their therapeutical properties.

The Valley of Majes, between 200 and 800 m.a.s.l., is a fertile valley embedded in a canyon which is the continuation of the Colca. On its 80 kilometers long track it can see petroglyphs, pre-Inca cementeries and cave paintings.

Petroglyphs of Toro Muerto, located at 160 kilometers from Arequipa, in the county of Castilla. There are engravings of 5.000 huge stones that represent geometrical figures of flora and fauna. There are volcanic stones spread over an area of five square kilometers.

The Valley of the Volcanoes, located in Andahua, at 277 kilometers from Arequipa. It is a beautiful landscape of about 80 small volcanoes that resemble the moon surface. It is at 3.587 m.a. s.l.

The region of the Rio Colca and the Valley of Cotahuasi are ideal for adventure tourism (canoeing, hiking, mountain biking, among others.). It is located at 30 kilometers from Chivay.

The National Sanctuary of Lagunas de Mejia, located at 20 kilometers from Mollendo and 143 kilometers from Arequipa. A natural scenario of 690 hectares with waters of different salt content, salt-marshes, totorales, salinas and gramadales. There are up to 157 species of birds.

The Caves of Sumbay, located at 88 kilometers from Arequipa. Despite the time, cave paintings from the paleolithic time are conserved in the inside. Its rocky walls show figures of humans, auquenidos, pumas, among others.

The Valley of Cotahuasi and its Canyon, an inter-Andean forest located in the county of La Union, at 375 kilometers from Arequipa. A place of great biodiversity with attractiveness like the water falls of Sipia and the snow mountains Coropuna and Solimana. Ideal place for canoeing, trekking and mountain biking.

The National Reservation of Salinas and Aguada Blanca. It is located at 35 kilometers from Arequipa. Created in 1971 to protect many endangered species of flora and fauna, like: guanacos, vicuñas and over 70 kinds of birds. It has an area extension of 370.000 hectares.

Useful Information

Rodríguez Ballón Airport
Arrival - Principal Hall
Phone/fax: (054) 44-4564

Casona Santa Catalina
(Street Santa Catalina 210)
Phone/fax: (054) 22-1227
Schedule: Monday-Sunday 09:00 -19:00 hours

Plaza de Armas
Portal de la Municipalidad N° 110
Phone: (054) 22-3265
Schedule: Monday-Saturday 08:30 - 19:30 hours /
Sunday 9:00 – 16:00 hours

Province of Puno

Capital: City of Puno
Altitude: 3.830 m.a.s.l.
Distance: not available

The province of Puno is embedded in the extense plains of El Collao at the shore of Titicaca Lake. South-east region of Peru.

The view of the city is severe and Andean; its houses with gray tin roofs stress its austere aspect. At present, it is an important agricultural and cattle-holding region. And it has a great archeological and touristic potential.

The real wealth of the zone is in the natural beauty that surrounds the city, in the beautiful waters of the Titicaca (decorated with its floating islands), in the Tower of Tinajani (with its huge stones that make it resemble a city) and in the old pre-incaic monuments (chullpas of Sillustani).

Besides, Puno is the folklore capital of Peru for the variety and beauty of its music and dances (it has more than 300 different dances, among which: La Diablada, La Morenada, La Llamerada, La Marinera Puneña and La Pandilla Puneña.

How to arrive?

By land the most recommendable route are Lima-Arequipa-Juliaca-Puno (1,335 kilometers) the trip takes 24 hours approximately by car.

By air there’s daily flights to Juliaca from Lima (approximately 1.45 hours) and Arequipa (approximately 45 minutes)

By train.- From Arequipa towards Puno (258 kilometers and takes approximately 8 hours) through Crucero Alto (4,490 m.a.s.l.)

Festivities

Virgen de la Candelaria Festivity (February)

Is the most important religious festivity in Puno, masses and a colorful procession takes place.
The festivity is directly related with the agro prehispanic cycles of the sow and harvest, as with the minery activity.

Tourist attractions

It is interesting to visit:

- The Cathedral
- Balcony of the Conde de Lemos
- Museum Carlos Dreyer
- Popular Art Museum
- Little Hill Huajsapata
- Pino Park
- Handycraft Markets from the Cahuide St. and Laykakota Av.

TITICACA LAKE

The Titicaca Lake and the floating islands are the biggest tourist atractiveness of the Province of Puno. The splendid landscapes and fascinating life of its inhabitants make a visit to the islands Taquile and Amantani a must.

Titicaca Lake is the highest, navigable lake in the world. It has a surface of 8.560 square kilometers and a maximun depth of 227 meters. There are 36 islands, being the most important one Taquile, Amantani, Soto, Anapia and Uros.

The Chullpas of Sillustani offer an imposing and barren landscape at four thousand meters of altitude. Around a lagoon you can behold pre-incaic circular towers that were used as tumbs for the noble people of the Aymaras.

Titicaca: A great Lake

Titicaca Lake is the highest, navigable lake of the world. It is located at 3.809 m.a.s.l., with an approximate surface of 8.560 square kilometers, a length of 194 kilometers and an average width of 65 kilometers. Its waters bear an extraordinary fauna: ducks, fish like suche, the carachi and trouts.

In its flora, the totora stands out (it serves as food for men and cattle, as well as to build houses, rafts and typical boats like the little horses of totora).

Titicaca Lake, that unites Peru with Bolivia, has 41 islands. The most important ones in Peruvian territory are: Taquile and Amantani.

These are floating islands inhabited almost completely by Aymaras mixed with the last descendants of the Urus. The inhabitants fish with rudimentary nets and live in huts built with totora.

The floating islands of the Urus are located at 5 kilometers from Puno and at an altitude of 3.810 m.a.s.l., with a cold and dry climate. It is a group of 40 big, floating islands of totora where the inhabitants still live like their ancestors.

Each island is inhabited by between 30 and 50 people.

It is considered one of the oldest towns of America, keeping its customs and traditions.

The Urus call themselves "kotsuña" = people of the lake. Their origin goes back to the time before the Inkas. They still keep their fishing traditions, especially for fish and hunt.

JULIACA CITY

Juliaca is the most important city of the province. And is considered and trade center of llamas and alpacas.

On Mondays, important handicraft fairs are set up. Chucuito, located 19 kilometers away from Puno. It has a beautiful church Nuestra Señora de Asuncion and a small Inka temple dedicated to fertility.

The Juli Port, from where you can cross over to Bolivia, was an important missionary center for Dominicans and Jesuits. Excellent churches with a marked barroque stile are well conserved.

Amantani Island, located at 36 kilometers from the Port of Puno, across the peninsula of Capachica. The island is characterized for its bushes. It is interesting to visit the two natural view-points where you can see the remains of the pre hispanic temple of Pacha Tata, Pacha Mama, Incachincana, Ikca Tihana and the cementary of the mummies.

Taquile island, located at 35 kilometers from Puno, in the Chunchito bay. The place was used as a political prison until the first years of the 20th. century.

Esteves island, located at 65 kilometers from Puno. It has important archeological vestiges of the cultures Tihuanaco, Colla and Pucara. Many centuries later, during the war of Independence, it was used as a prison by the Spanish (1823 - 1824).

Archeological remains of Inka Uyo, located at 18 kilometers from Puno. Also known as the "Temple of the Fertility". The construction with 2 meters high walls and carved stones is characteristical. According to some researchers, it used to be a ceremonial center of great importance.

Archeological site of Cutimbo, located on the 22nd. kilometers of the road from Puno to Moquegua. Pre-hispanic cementery that belonged to the domain of the Lupacas and Collas. There are tracks from the times of the Inkas, besides of the cave paintings of 800 years of age.

Acheological site of Sillustani, located at 34 kilometers from Puno. Famous for the Chullpas: circular towers of stone built to keep the remains of the principal authorities of the old people from Collao. Not far away from the site, is the museum of Sitio where various pieces of the Colla, Tihuanaco and Inca cultures are kept.

Useful information

Esquina Jr. Deustua con Jr. Lima - Plaza de Armas
Phone/fax: (0 51) 36-5088
Attention: Monday - Sunday 8:30 - 19:30 hours

Inca Manco Cápac – Juliaca-Airport
(Arrivals Hall)

24 hours attention line:

+51(01) 574 8000