Planning to visit or learn more about Peru, and are looking for some fun facts about Peru?
Known for its ancient civilisations and varied Amazon landscapes, Peru is one of the most fascinating countries you can visit. And with bizarre practices found in the Andes and the giant lines etched into the Nazca desert, to native ocean marine life that have adapted to fresh waters – there’s many wild and wonderful facts to learn about Peru.
In this guide we’ll explore some of the most interesting and fun facts about Peru, which explores the natural, cultural and more bizarre things that make this country so unique. We’ll also answer some of your most asked questions too in our FAQ section.
Table of Contents
10 Of Our Very Best Fun Facts About Peru
The Sheer Size Of The Amazon Jungle
A massive rainforest sprawling across most of South America, the Amazon Jungle covers over 60% of all of Peru. It’s also the country with the second largest amount of Amazon territory with 13%, which means we can find a massive abundance of exotic flora and fauna in various regions.
Birthplace And Global Leader Of Potato Varieties
Did you know that there are over 4000 potatoes in Peru? This massive diversity of potato types are mostly grown in the upper Andes Mountains of this South American country, and were first discovered in the high altiplano region which is situated between southern Peru and northern Bolivia.
Home To The Oldest Civilisation In The Western Hemisphere
Over 5000 years old, the ancient Caral are believed to be the oldest civilisation to have ever existed and formed a society in the Western Hemisphere. The ancient site of Caral is located a few hours north of Lima, and can be visited with a guided Caral tour from Lima to learn about their ancient ways of using counting devices and astronomy.
Home To One Of The World’s Deepest Canyons
Peru is full of giant superlatives, whether that’s the towering Andes, highest altitude lakes or sheer amount of microclimates. Cotahuasi Canyon is located in Arequipa, and measures 3535m deep – making it twice as deep as the Grand Canyon – and is the overall fifth deepest on the planet.
Recent Discovery Of Rainbow Mountain
One of Peru’s most popular and postcard- worthy sites, Rainbow Mountain in the Cusco region was only revealed to the outside world as recently as in 2015. Known for its bright yellow, green and red stripes, they are actually formed from natural minerals created over millions of years of tectonic activity in the area.
Massive Quantity Of Endemic Wildlife And Biodiversity
One of the most biodiverse countries on the entire planet, Peru has over 90 different microclimates which range from cloudforests and remote jungles to coastal wetlands. They rank first for the highest amount of fish and butterfly species – while over 600 species of amphibians are found in Peru.
Giant Man-Made Art In The Nazca Desert
Arguably one of the most notorious and mysterious creations found throughout Peru, the Nazca Lines are made up of lines that measure up to 30km in length – carved out of the desert by humans. Some geoglyphs depict animals and humanoids, which can be best seen with a Nazca Lines Overflight Tour.
Dedication And Discipline For Handwoven Products
Many of Peru’s most popular products include textiles such as Ponchos, jumpers and rugs, which are handwoven by locals all over the country. Did you know that traditional ponchos made out of Alpaca wool can take as long as 6000 hours to carefully knit?
The Former Power Capital Of South America
At their most prominent during the 15th century, the Inca civilization was once the most powerful and feared group in the entire continent. The heart of their operations was based in Cusco – from where influence stretched throughout South America as far north as Colombia and south as Argentina.
Mythical Amazonian Dolphin Species
Perhaps one of Peru’s most coveted native species, Pink River Dolphins are native to the Amazon Rainforest and are said to have a brain capacity which is 40% larger than humans. Unlike other dolphins that swallow fish whole, they have molars for grinding and chewing their food.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Best Fun Facts About Peru
In this section we’ll now explore the most frequent questions we get about the best fun facts about Peru, as well as anything else you need to know.
What Is A Cool Fact About Peru?
Peru is one of the most ecologically diverse countries on the planet, home to over 90 different microclimates and regions. This includes Andean cloudforests, high Amazon Rainforest, Pacific deserts, tropical zones and the deep Amazon basin – as well as Lima itself which experiences almost zero rainfall!
Why Is Peru So Famous?
Peru is mostly famous for its stunning Machu Picchu Ruins, which welcomes over a million tourists each year. In more recent times, its diverse cuisine is now hitting global heights – meaning many tourists visit specifically to try novel Peruvian dishes and cuisine like Ceviche, Lomo Saltado and the Pachamanca.
What Was Peru Originally Called?
While pre-Inca civilisations flourished for thousands of years, it was until 1438 where Peru was first named as Tahuantinsuyo by the Inca civilisation. It was then in 1529 when the Spanish changed it to the Province Of Peru, before later changing to the Viceroyalty Of Peru – then eventually dropped to Peru.
Overview Of The Best Fun Facts About Peru
And that’s all for this guide on some of the very best fun facts about Peru that are worth knowing.
Whether you are planning your next trip or are simply curious about the South American country, there are many impressive and unique facts about Peru. This includes mystical ancient cultures in the deserts and Andes, to the sheer number of endemic species and microclimates found throughout the country.
If you’re visiting Peru soon and want to see various incredible places in just one day – then book our Nazca Lines Day Tour From Lima Now – where you’ll fly over these ancient creations, see endemic wildlife in Paracas and also visit the massive sand dunes of Huacachina.
