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1.The official language of Peru is Spanish but it is far from the only language spoken there. There are two other official indigenous Aboriginal languages; Quechua and Aymara. These Aboriginal languages are mainly spoken in mountainous areas of the Andes and Amazonian areas.

2.Peru is made up of 25 provinces. Those provinces are all divided into separate regions. All together there are 165 regions in Peru. It is very similar to the united states being divided into states and the states containing different counties.

3. Peru is a very different country from Brazil and from other neighboring countries. Brazil's official language is Portuguese and not Spanish. The unemployment rate is about 6% higher in Brazil. The peruvian Currency is called the Nuevo Sol whereas in Brazil the use the Brazilian Real.

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Peruvian weather varies a great deal depending upon the area. The weather near the coast of Peru is subtropical and dry. In the Andes mountains the weather is often very cool with wet summers and dry winters (Peruvian Winters are during our Summer). Northern Peru is very close to the equator so the climate is hot and rainy consistently all year round.

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The biggest problem for travellers in Peru is, without a doubt, thieves, for which the country has one of the worst reputations in South America - on one particular train journey (the Arequipa-Puno night service) many tourists have been robbed over the years. As far as violent attacks go, you're probably safer in Peru than in New York, Sydney or London. And as for terrorism - as the South American Explorers' Club once described it - "the visitor, when considering his safety, would be better off concentrating on how to avoid being run over in the crazed Lima traffic"

The dangers of pickpockets and robberies cannot be over emphasized, though the situation does seem to have improved since the dark days of the late 1980s. Without encouraging a permanent state of paranoia and constant watchfulness in busy...
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Terrorism is much less of a problem in Peru these days than it was in the 1980s and 1990s. You can get up-to-date information on the situation in each region from the South American Explorers' Club, Peruvian Embassies abroad or your embassy in Lima....
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Most of your contact with the police will, with any luck, be at frontiers and controls. Depending on your personal appearance and the prevailing political climate the police at these posts ( Guardia Nacional and Aduanas) ...
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The tourist police
If you're unlucky enough to have anything stolen, your first port of call should be the tourist police ( policia de turismo). Bear in mind that the police in popular tourist spots, such as Cusco, have become much stricter about...
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Peru crime and personal safety, police, tourist police, terrorism

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The biggest problem for travellers in Peru is, without a doubt, thieves, for which the country has one of the worst reputations in South America - on one particular train journey (the Arequipa-Puno night service) many tourists have been robbed over the years.

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Peruvian Cuisine is based upon what ingredients are available and abundant in Peru.  More than 4,000 types of potatoes grow in Peru and are incorporated in the majority of Peruvian dishes.

Another characteristic of peruvian food is spice. Chili peppers and spicy seasonings  are often added to Peruvian dishes.

Many of the ingredients you will find in traditional Peruvian dishes are; potatoes, quinoa, lima beans, oca, chili peppers, Peruvian fruits, tomatoes, and maize.

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My first encounter with comida Peruana was over 20 years ago, thanks to my wife's Peruvian family. Their cooking was a study in juxtaposition: hot and cold, acidic and starchy, robust and delicate. That's because Peruvian food is all about spices and big flavors, some clean and crisp, others deep and heavy. Every sip of a pisco sour tamed the citrus and chile assault of a ceviche, the fish so fresh it almost crunched between my teeth.

When most of us think of Peru, we think of the ancient ruins and high mountain vistas. Those thoughts may be accompanied by a distant pan flute whistling over the Andes, and if we've been primed on the food, the conversation usually starts with the country's mind boggling variety of potatoes.

But culinarily speaking, Peru is the Hope Diamond of Latin America, home to dishes and flavors you won't find anywhere else. While this is hardly a secret-there are more Peruvian restaurants outside Peru than ever before-it's one we don't give enough credit. Few places on earth offer such a variety of indigenous ingredients, let alone a jumble of flavors and techniques from Europe, Africa, and East Asia. Rather than remain culturally segregated, these foreign additions have blended seamlessly with ancient Peruvian cuisine into something utterly unique.

A Peruvian Primer

Peruvian cuisine has only recently exploded onto the international culinary stage, but Peruvians have always been crazy about their nation's culinary heritage, and they steadfastly cling to the traditional, multi-culti flavors of home - pit-roasted feasts and all, even in the face of modern gastronomic innovation. A range of climates, from high altitude to low, offer an impressive diversity of produce. Yes, that means potatoes-over 3800 kinds-but also a variety of corn and other grains, to say nothing of the country's native aji chilies that are often puréed into sauces.

So much of what is now traditional Peruvian cooking was inspired by cultures oceans away. These foreign influences date back to the Spanish conquest of Incan king Atahualpa in the 1500s. Colonists brought European stews, sauces, and baked casseroles. Later, in the 19th century, immigrant workers from Guangdong Province brought their woks and stir fries, and Peruvians today love to eat chifa, a fusion of local ingredients cooked with Chinese recipes and technique. It's Chinese food with Peruvian influences-or maybe the other way around.

Like food everywhere today, there is a new style of Peruvian cuisine emerging-so-called nueva comida-forged by Lima's leading chefs like Gaston Acurio and Pedro Miguel Schiaffino. "It's very ingredient-driven," explains New York chef Eric Ramirez of the soon-to-open Llama Inn and formerly of Raymi Peruvian Kitchen and Pisco Bar. "With young chefs digging deep to find more exotic ingredients, the possibilities are endless." So the evolution of the nation's food continues, into territories of modernist cooking that's simultaneously old and new.

But for now, here's a quick tour of just some of the classic edible jewels Peru has to offer. Consider it the checklist for your next trip.

Peru's national dish, and an immediate obsession for nearly all who try it. Though other countries may claim their own variations with shrimp, octopus, scallops, tomatoes, and even tostada chips, Peru started this cold-"cooked" fish craze with only five simple ingredients: sea bass (corvina) marinated for just minutes in lime juice, onion, salt and, of course, hot chiles (aji). The tenderness of super-fresh fish is heightened by crisp onion, and sides of starchy boiled corn (choclo) and creamy sweet potato (camote) to balance out the texture of the dish. Dry-roasted corn kernels (cancha) sprinkled around add a pleasing crunch.

The leftover marinade-known as leche de tigre (tiger's milk)-is a briny, fiery elixir often tossed back from a shot glass or spiked with Pisco, either at the table or the next morning as hair of the dog. (In the latter case it's then referred to as leche de pantera, or panther's milk). Tiradito is a local variation of classic ceviche with a Japanese sushi-style twist of slicing the fish into thin strips, then adding puréed aji amarillo, soy sauce, and mirin to the marinade.

Lomo Saltado (Stir Fried Beef)

Almost as popular as ceviche, this chifa dish represents a fusion of Chinese stir frying and classic Peruvian ingredients. Juicy strips of soy-marinated beef (or alpaca), onions, tomatoes, aji chilies, and other spices are stir-fried until the beef is just cooked and the tomatoes and onions start to form a robust, meaty gravy. It's then served with two starches, a happy mix of East and West: a mound of rice and french fries (often tossed with the meat). The crowd-pleasing dish is found nearly everywhere across Peru, and is equally popular in Peruvian restaurants abroad.

Aji de Gallina (Creamy Chicken)

Shredded chicken bathes in a thick sauce made with cream, ground walnuts, cheese, and aji amarillo. The sauce is mild but piquent, the aji's fruity, moderately hot bite softened by the nutty, creamy sauce to a comfortable warmth. The dish reflects Peru's love of sauces thickened with chilies, cheese, cream, or even bread, drenched over and often cooked with meats and vegetables. Here the sauce is mixed with the poultry and served over rice with boiled potatoes and black olives, making for a rich, bright yellow chowder that glistens on the plates of restaurants and households throughout Peru.

Papas a la Huancaina (Potatoes in Spicy Cheese Sauce)

In another instance of "meat or starch covered in creamy sauce," sliced yellow potatoes are drenched in a purée of queso fresco, aji amarillo, garlic, evaporated milk, lime juice and-you guessed it-saltine crackers. It's not a looker: a yellow sauce over yellow potatoes topped with yellow-yolked hard boiled eggs. But don't be deceived; this homely sauce packs a complex, slow-building burn, at once brightened by the queso fresco, lime, and salty cracker, and tamed by the earthy potato and cooling egg.

Usually served as a side dish to a meal, it's also a common appetiser, with tiny round purple potatoes boiled whole, enveloped by sauce and garnished with olives, eggs, and, yes, more crackers. Originating in the mountainous city of Huancayo, it's now an almost everyday staple throughout Peru.

Cuy (Guinea Pig)

One of the Andean region's most popular sources of meat (the other being alpaca), this guinea-pig-as-food strikes fear in the hearts of Westerners who think of it more as a pet than a meal. But consider tender, smoky dark meat ( almost like poultry!) beneath a glistening golden veneer of shatteringly crisp skin, and you can begin to grasp the appeal. Or think of it as a single-serving suckling pig.

The traditional recipe calls for stuffing the whole animal with local herbs, then roasting it over an open wood fire and serving it with potatoes. When served this way it tastes best with a dip of aji sauce and eaten by hand like fried chicken. But more refined restaurant-ready recipes, which may involve deep-frying or braising, are now regularly enjoyed from Cusco all the way to Lima.

Causa (Potato Casserole)

This ubiquitous Quechan dish has taken on countless European-style variations, often served as a cake roll, terrine, casserole, or in colorful individual servings. Whatever the presentation, it starts with meaty mashed yellow Peruvian potatoes blended with lime, oil and spicy aji amarillo sauce. Shredded tuna, salmon, or chicken are mixed with mayo, followed by layers of avocado, hardboiled eggs, and olives. That surface is topped again with more potato mix, and so on, making as many lasagna-like layers as one dares. This bright, barely-spicy dish is served cold as a salad course or side dish.

Rocoto Relleno (Stuffed Spicy Peppers)

Red aji rocoto chilies are stuffed with a cooked mix of ground beef, onions, garlic, olives, raisins, herbs, and spices, then topped with queso fresco and baked in an egg-and-milk sauce. Fair warning: despite its scarlet good looks, this dish is not the stuffed bell pepper you're used to-the rocoto is a little larger than a plum with a bright, fruity, tropical berry essence and almost twice the heat of an aji amarillo (or in gringo terms, about ten times hotter than an average jalapeño). So that first bite will wake you up. But the chili's initial burn is quickly tempered by the sweet and savory filling inside, and the melted queso fresco and eggy cream sauce in which it all cooks.

The rocoto chili originated in the southern region of Arequipa, and while it's now ubiquitous throughout the country, it's still hard to find beyond Peru's borders, which makes rocoto relleno a dish that homesick Peruvians pine for when abroad.

Anticuchos de Corazón (Grilled Heart)

Don't let "heart" put you off. The heart is a muscle, after all, leaner than filet mignon, bolder in flavor than a ribeye, and delicious when licked by open flames. Typically cut into one-to-two-inch cubes, the crimson heart (alpaca or beef) is marinated in vinegar, cumin, ají, and garlic and grilled over charcoal to a medium rare with slightly singed edges.

Those cubes are often served on skewers with sliced onion or potato, and drizzled with lime, which makes them popular appetizers and even more popular street food throughout the country. Today, cooks make anticuchos out of any cut of beef, and even chicken, but nothing beats the original cardiovascular version.

Arroz con Pato (Rice With Duck)

This seemingly simple Spanish Criollo recipe is a signature dish in Peru. Rice is cooked in cilantro paste, herbs, and dark beer, giving a deep, earthy flavor to the vegetal grain. A roasted thigh and leg or-if lucky-crisp-seared duck confit is added on top of a mound of the green rice. The dish is so popular, it's found on nearly every Peruvian family table as well as at the finest restaurants in Lima, and like much of Peruvian cooking, it's been adapted into countless variations of rice mixture, texture and duck parts-and even with chicken or other poultry.

Pollo a la Brasa (Roasted Chicken)

Perhaps the most well-known Peruvian food in the US due to the many take-out Peruvian chicken rotisserie joints around (see our roundup of DC's best). A whole chicken is marinated in a powerful combination of garlic, herbs, and spices before roasting on a spit, giving the bronzed, crispy skin an addictively exotic and earthy taste. Perhaps even more beloved than the chicken itself is the green huacatay (Peruvian black mint) sauce served next to it: every chicken comes with it, though the recipe often varies and is a closely-guarded secret. For some it's a creamy melange of the mint with cilantro, garlic and chili in a mayo base that Peruvians (and everyone else) goes crazy for. If you can't make it to Peru, this is definitely a classic worth making on your own.

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Essential Peruvian Food: 10 Must-Eat Dishes to Seek Out

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If you've been primed on Peruvian food, the conversation likely started with the country's mindboggling variety of potatoes. But culinarily speaking, Peru is the Hope Diamond of Latin America, home to dishes and flavors you won't find anywhere else. Here are 10 essential meals to dig into on your visit.

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Peru is one of the most fascinating countries in the world with breathtaking natural landmarks and a distinct culture. From the mysterious Machu Picchu to the humble ceviche, there's tons to do in Peru.

If you are planning a trip to the Land of Incas, perhaps a lesson in Spanish will hold you in good stead. Try this quick start course on Spanish to get started.

On that note, let's take a look at 17 of the most incredible facts about Peru.

It was established in 1535 by legendary Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro. Lima has a population of nearly 9 million and ranks as the fifth largest city in North and South America combined.

It was founded in 1551. Harvard University, the oldest university in United States, in contrast, was founded only in 1636.

This is where the humble potato was first domesticated. When the Spanish conquistadors conquered the Inca Empire, the first thing they exported to Europe was the potato, where it was quickly adopted as a cheap, easy to grow food crop.

Today, the world produces a whopping 374 million metric tons of potatoes each year. The average person eats nearly 73 lbs of potatoes annually. McDonald's alone buys 3.4 billion pounds of potatoes each year in the US for its restaurants!

Today, Peru produces more than 55 varieties of corn in a wild range of colors, from the staple golden-yellow to striking purple, white and even black.

Don't be surprised if you see Guinea Pig meat (called cuy locally) on sale in Peruvian restaurants!

In fact, nearly 60% of the country is covered by rainforest. It is second only to Brazil.

At its peak, the Incan empire was the largest in pre-Columbian America (i.e. Americas before the appearance of Europeans).

Remarkably, the Incan Empire was based almost entirely in the Andean mountain range, where both construction and farming were extremely difficult. Yet, the Incas created some of the most impressive cities known to man. Francisco Pizarro, who conquered the Incas, had this to say about the Incas:

"We can assure your majesty that it is so beautiful and has such fine buildings that it would even be remarkable in Spain"

This city was built in the 1450s but was abandoned after a century. It lay undiscovered for nearly 400 years until Hiram Bingham stumbled upon it in the wilderness of the Andes in 1911.

Both Quechua and Aymara were derived from ancient Incan languages. Today, roughly 84% of the population speaks Spanish, 13% speaks Quechua, while just 1.7% speaks Aymara.

Heading over to Peru? Pick up some beginner's Spanish to make the most of your journey!

These three days are called the 'Countrymans Day' (June 24), the 'Peruvian Independence Day' (July 28) and the following day (July 29) to celebrate Peru's armed forces and national police.

The Fiestas Patrias are among the most important national holidays in Peru and the whole country shuts down in celebrations.

Chicama boasts the world's longest left-handed wave measuring 4km, while Mancora lays claim to hosting the largest left-handed point break in the world. If you enjoy surfing, you can't not visit this surfer's paradise!

Heading to Chicama for a surfing trip? Then check out this course on Spanish for surfers and students!

With a depth of nearly 3, 535 meters, it is twice the depth of the Grand Canyon!

It is the third largest producer of all-important copper, fifth largest producer of gold, and leads the world in silver production. It is also the third largest producer of tin and zinc, and ranks fourth among lead producing countries.

This cocktail consists of a grape brandy popular in South America, called pisco, along with lime juice, syrup, egg whites, Angostura bitters and ice.

This cocktail is said to have been invented by an American bartender, Victor Vaughn Morris, in the early 1920s in Lima, though similar drinks have been made in the country since the early days of the Spanish conquest.

It was adopted in the 1980s after the government was forced to abandon the Peruvian inti due to hyperinflation. Hyperinflation at the time was so bad that when Nuevo Sol was officially adopted in 1991, it was sold at a rate of 1 Nuevo Sol for 1,000,000 intis.

Today, the Nuevo Sol is a stable currency usually trading at $0.30-$0.40 for 1 Nuevo Sol.

Large though it may be, Lake Titicaca is significantly smaller than the lakes in Great Lakes in North America. Lake Superior, for instance, has a water volume of 12,000 km3 while Lake Titicaca's volume stands at just 898 km3.

It is home to 25,000 plant species - 10% of the world's total - and close to 5,000 species of fish and animals. It ranks first in the world in terms of distinct fish species (2,000 species, or 10% of world total), second in bird species (1,736 species) and third place for both amphibians and mammals (332 and 460 species respectively).

In fact, the Manu National Park in south eastern Peru recently set a biodiversity record after more than 1,000 species of birds, 1,200 species of butterflies and 287 species of reptiles were found in the park.

So there you have it - 17 incredible facts about the enchanting land of Peru! But before you hit the road and head to Lima, try taking a few Spanish lessons first to better understand the local culture. Check out this course on conversational Spanish to get started!

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17 Facts About Peru You Probably Didn't Know | Udemy Blog

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Peru is one of the most fascinating countries in the world with breathtaking natural landmarks and a distinct culture. From the mysterious Machu Picchu to the humble ceviche, there's tons to do in Peru. If you are planning a trip to the Land of Incas, perhaps a lesson in Spanish will hold you in good [...]

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1.Buses are the main form of transportation for locals and for intercity use. There are also taxis in the major cities. For tourist travel there is a train called the Perurail which goes from Cuzco to Machu Picchu and from Cuzco to Lake Titicaca. Ships and Sailboats leave from ports in Lima, Paracas, Areguipo, and Trujillo.

2. The Top Exports (in billion dollars per year) from peru are; Copper (6.93b), gold(5.86b), and Petroleum(3.12b).

3. The top export destinations are; China(7.08b), United States (6.36b), Canada (2.61b) and Brazil (1.63B)

4. The Top Import origins are; China (8.84b), United States (8.79b), Brazil (1.95b), and Mexico (1.93b).

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Where is Peru?: At 1'285,220 sq. Km, Peru is the third-largest country in South America, it limits to the N with Ecuador, to the NE with Colombia, to the E with Brazil, to the SE with Bolivia, to the S with Chile and to the W with the Pacific Ocean.

International airlines operate scheduled flights to Peru's Jorge Chávez International Airport, located in Lima - Peru.

From New York - Newark, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, Mexico and Toronto exist direct flights to Lima.

From Europe exist direct flights to Lima from Madrid, Paris and Amsterdam.

Peru has direct flights from the main cities in Latin America as Bogota, Buenos Aires, Caracas, Guayaquil, La Habana, La Paz, Mexico, Panama, Quito, Rio de Janeiro, Santiago, Sao Paulo, San Jose de Costa Rica, Santo Domingo, Rosario, Iguazu.

Flights from Asia or Oceania to Peru, connection by USA or Europe.

Jorge Chávez International Airport (Airport code LIM) in Lima is the main gate for international flights and it's the main hub to local flights connections.

Peru's main international and domestic air hub, Jorge Chavez International Airport, was once again successful at the 2012 World Airport Awards held at the Passenger Terminal EXPO in Vienna, taking the award for Best Airport in South America. For the fourth consecutive year, the airport in Lima was voted the best in the region by Skytrax Research, a prestigious London-based market research consulting firm specialized in the airline and air transport industry. In addition to this award, the country's main airport terminal was bestowed the Best Airport Staff in South America award. It is worth mentioning that Skytrax Research gave this same award to Jorge Chávez in 2009 and 2011.

A rental light planes service also exist, and air companies for non regular flights.

Peru is a big country with long distance between the main tourist attractions. From Lima to Cuzco there are 1,165 Km (724 miles) and need 20 hours for a trip by road, and 1 hour by air.

Before departure - Confirming Reservations
Scheduled departures should be reconfirmed with the airline office at least 72 hours in advance, as reservations may otherwise be cancelled. Please indicate any special services required ( dietary restrictions, etc.) on reconfirmation.

Before departure - Airline Check In
Passengers must check in at Jorge Chávez International Airport at least two hours before departure time. All international departing passengers are required to pay an airport tax (Airport tax US $ 28 and Tourist Promotion US $ 15 - included in your flight ticket). For domestic flights are required to pay an airport tax (Airport tax US $ 6 - included in your flight ticket).

Transportation from / to the airport in Lima.
Airport - Hotel or City: In the international or national exit you can take a official taxi, it's a secure service. (US $ 20 approximately).
Hotel to airport: It is recommended that you request the taxi service in the hotel. A service of shuttle buses also exists, charging a fixed rate per passenger the mini-bus will pick up passengers and their baggage from anywhere in Lima, San Isidro or Miraflores. Some hotels in our system offer the transfer from / to the airport.

Buses are the most popular means of interurban transportation in Peru. Fares are reasonable and service is regular. The bus routes covers 75% of the routes in the departments of Peru (coast and Andean zones), connecting Lima to main cities and tourist areas such as: Arequipa, Cuzco, Lake Titicaca and Puno, Paracas, Ica, Nazca, Tacna, Chiclayo, Trujillo, Cajamarca, Huaraz & Callejon de Huaylas, Tumbes, Máncora, Piura, Ayacucho, Huancayo and more.

We offer the bus tickets for regular transportation with Expreso Cruz del Sur and Tepsa. (One way or round trip tickets)

Also we offer tourist bus with stopped and guided tours on routes:

You can reserve and buy bus tickets in our system.

Additionally Cruz del Sur offer international routes from Guayaquil (Ecuador), Buenos Aires (Argentina) and Santiago de Chile (Chile) to Lima.

PeruRail links the tourist highlights of the Andes. It operates from historic Cuzco to the famous Machu Picchu and from Cuzco to Lake Titicaca and Puno - this train route was awarded such as second rout most beautiful of world.

Since PeruRail's (Orient Express) formation in 1999, services have been upgraded to the highest standards of comfort, safety and convenience. Specially designed first-class carriages have been added to most trains, with excellent dining services and improved washroom facilities. In addition, there are now observation cars for unhindered viewing of the magnificent landscape.

Travel to Peru by Sea

Some shipping lines offer regular sailings from USA or Europe to the Peruvian ports of Callao (Lima), Paracas, Matarani (Arequipa) and Salaverry (Trujillo). Some cruises also include Peru in their itineraries.

Rental Car

Most major international rental car companies and several local ones have offices in Peru's major cities and at Jorge Chávez International Airport. Advance reservations are recommended (vehicles can be reserved abroad). To rent a car; one must be over 21 years of age and in possession of a valid international driving license and an international credit card.

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Where is Peru?: At 1'285,220 sq. Km, Peru is the third-largest country in South America, it limits to the N with Ecuador, to the NE with Colombia, to the E with Brazil, to the SE with Bolivia, to the S with Chile and to the W with the Pacific Ocean.

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1. Peru has a very large mining industry. The most profitable minerals that are mined are copper and silver. Petroleums is also produced in Peru. There is a very large oil refinery in Talara in Northern Peru.

2. Most people in Peru tend to live in urban area such as Lima, Trujillo Chiclayo, Piura and Arequipa simply because of the high unemployment rate. There are many more jobs in cities than rural areas.

3. Long ago many People Came to Peru for the fertile Cuzco Valley. Spanish Conquistadors Invaded Peru to take the gold and silver that was being mined there.

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Sports in Cuba: Baseball, Soccer, and Boxing

Baseball has a special place in Cuban hearts. American sailors brought the game to Cuba in the 1860s, and Fidel Castro's love of the game has solidified the connection between Cuba and America's favorite pastime. Central Park in Havana serves as a meeting place for fans who want to discuss the finer points of the game. Havana's Pedro Marrero baseball stadium can hold an audience of 30,000.

But the prominence of the game in Cuban culture has started to change. In 2012 Raúl Castro's government made it possible for Cubans with passports to leave the island. Passports are quite expensive in Cuba, so this didn't mean much for the average Cuban. Baseball players, however, leaped at the opportunity to become highly paid athletes in the United States. After a mass exodus of Cuban baseball players, Cubans have had less reason to take an interest in the sport.

Soccer has stepped up to fill in the gap. This sport requires less equipment than baseball, and is therefore a cheaper game to play. It's also easier for children to play soccer in the streets, without having to find the space to set up a baseball diamond.

But Cuba has an equally hard time holding onto its soccer players. When the soccer team travels to the U.S. to compete, generally a few players stay behind.

Boxing has also become an increasingly popular sport in Cuba. Roniel Iglesias, Yasnier Toledo, and Joahnys Argilagos all won gold medals in a 2015 Pan American boxing competition held in Venezuela.

Chess in the Park

Cubans have a strong affinity for chess. In 2004, the largest chess competition ever recorded took place in Santa Clara. It consisted of 13,000 competitors. You'll see Cubans gathered at folding tables in parks for games of intensely competitive chess (and sometimes checkers).

Some of the most renowned chess players have come from Cuba. Cuban chess player José Raúl Capablanca was a world champion in the 1920s, and is regarded as one of the greatest chess players ever to have lived. Fidel Castro has a reputation as a skilled chess player, and is rumored to have played a game against chess legend Bobby Fisher.

Drinking Homemade Cocktails

For many Cubans, alcohol is too pricy to enjoy on a regular basis. So instead of purchasing liquor, many Cubans rely on their own recipes. These drinks include aguardiente, a type of strong liquor made from sugar. You will see these unlabeled bottles of homemade concoctions passed around at outdoor festivals, lubricating revelers, dancers, and musicians long into the night. But beware - you may find that your palette is not up to the challenge.

Protests and Political Dissidence

Dissidence is probably Cuba's oldest historical tradition. It pre-dates Castro's government by a long shot - before the current dictatorship there was a succession of unpopular U.S.-backed leaders, and before that the Spanish grossly exploited Cuba's resources and native people.

In 2003, things came to a head during Cuba's Black Spring, when Castro's government rounded up 75 dissidents and 29 journalists. They were all accused of colluding with the United States, and many of them received jail sentences between 10 and 20 years. Yet despite the risks, representatives from these groups continue to show up at important state-run events.

Oswaldo Payá began the Christian Liberation Movement, which promoted democracy and human rights throughout Cuba. In 2002 his efforts earned Payá the Sakharov Freedom of Thought Prize. He died in a fatal car crash in 2012 - a car crash that many believe Cuban authorities orchestrated.

The Varela Project evolved out of the Christian Liberation Movement. This project seeks to circulate petitions for the Cuban government to introduce democratic processes.

Ladies in White (Damas de Blanco) started as a protest movement by women whose husbands were jailed for protesting the Cuban regime. At first they expressed their protest simply by wearing all white when they attended Mass. Now they are one of Cuba's most prominent protest groups, and regularly gather to protest unjust political imprisonments.

Lost In Time

Due to the Cuba's rigid communist history, the development of the country has been set back. Though conveniences such as Wi-Fi are now available, they are not widespread as is typical of most Western countries. It is still difficult to find access to things in stores due to ongoing trade embargoes. These embargoes are also one of the reasons why Cuban cuisine can be satisfying but bland.

Cuba is surprisingly diverse for an island which is difficult to enter and exit, but much of that can be attributed to the country's earlier history - before the rise of Communism. The country does have religious roots, but one very obvious form of the nation's ongoing oppression is the difficulty citizens face practicing their faith. In Cuba, it is not uncommon to be arrested en route to church.

The spirit of Cuba is decidedly unbreakable, but it is unknown what future awaits the country. All the more reason to book a vacation while you can - it may truly be a once in a lifetime experience.

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Baseball has a special place in Cuban hearts. American sailors brought the game to Cuba in the 1860s, and Fidel Castro's love of the game has solidified the connection between Cuba and America's favorite pastime. Central Park in Havana serves as a meeting place for fans who want to discuss the finer points of the game.

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1. Peru is 11% coast, 30% highlands and 59% rainforest.

Coast-Deserts, beaches and fertile valleys.

Highlands- Large Mountains (the highest elevation of the Andes mountains in Peru is 22,204 ft).

Rainforest- Very rainy Moist area of the Amazon where the majority of Peruvian Resources come from.

2. I would describe Peru as a long skinny country. It is a similar size to Alaska and has 2414 kilometers of coastline (approximately 1.5 times more than California).

3. The people who live in Peru are mainly three different races; Indian 45%, Mestizo 37%, and white 15% (3% other ethnicities). The Inca People first settled in Peru for the fertile agricultural area of Cusco and the surrounding area.

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1. Peru is located in South America. It is the 20th largest country in the world. It is 496,200 square miles.

2. Peru boarders Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, and South Pacific Pacific Ocean.

3. The flight from Boston to Lima takes approximately 10 hours and 9 minutes and is a 3776 mile trip.

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Peru, one of 12 sovereign nations in South America, sits just south of the equator on the western half of the continent. Known worldwide for the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu, Peru also attracts travelers with an expansive coastline, Amazon rainforest, and the western portion of Lake Titicaca.

Map Coordinates

The CIA World Factbook places the center of Peru at the following geographic coordinates: 10 degrees south latitude and 76 degrees west longitude. Latitude is the distance north or south of the equator, while longitude is the distance east or west of Greenwich, England.

Each degree of latitude equals about 69 miles, putting the top of Peru at about 690 miles south of the equator. In terms of longitude, Peru sits roughly in line with the east coast of the United States.

Peru, the third largest country in South America, contains three distinct geographic zones: the coast, mountains, and jungle -- or costa, sierra, and selva in Spanish.

Peru's coastline stretches for about 1,500 miles (2,414 kilometers) along the South Pacific Ocean, where you can find beaches in varying states of resort development and world-class waves that support surfing's alternative origin story.

The Andes spread across Peru, and contain the densest collection of snow-capped peaks in the Americas.

Peru has a total area of approximately 496,224 square miles or 1,285,216 square kilometers.

Political Boundaries

Five South American countries share a border with Peru:

Ecuador to the north, which shares an 882-mile border

Colombia to the north, which shares a 1,119-mile border

Brazil to the east, which shares a 1,861-miles border

Bolivia to the southeast, which shares a 668-mile border

Chile to the south, which shares a 106-mile border

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Homeland of the Incas, Peru attracts modern-day explorers

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Peru, one of 12 sovereign nations in South America, sits just south of the equator on the western half of the continent. Known worldwide for the Incan ruins at Machu Picchu, Peru also attracts travelers with an expansive coastline, Amazon rainforest, and the western portion of Lake Titicaca.