Peru

The uniqueness of this country is due to the Andes, a mountain range that runs the entire length of the country. These mountains, not only divide Peru’s three climatic zones, but have also helped to isolate and preserve the ancient culture and religious beliefs of the past. The coast, which is characterized by arid desert, receives little rain. The sierra or ‘Altiplano’ sitting in the Andes, amongst towering, snow-capped peaks is home to the puma, llama and Andean condor. The mountains eventually give way to the hot and humid Peruvian Amazon, an area which makes up over 50% of Peru’s territory and is the native habitat of a stunning array of flora and fauna.

Peru’s population of 28 million is largely made up of the native Quechua people, who are descendants from the once powerful Inca Empire and the ‘mestizos’, who are a combination of both indigenous and Spanish descent. The rest of the population is made up of Indian, African and Chinese. Although they all live within the borders of the same county, those residing in the Amazon have little in common with their countrymen in the Andes. This is due mostly to the geographical isolation of the different regions. The official language of Peru is Spanish; however Quechua is widely spoken, especially in the Andes.

The oldest known society in Peru is the ‘Norte Chico’ civilization, which thrived along the coast between 3000 and 1800 BC. The most well-known of these ancient cultures is that of the Incas who rose in the 15th century, dominated the surrounding cultures and forged a formidable empire. However, in 1533 the Spanish conquistador, Franciso Pizarro and a handful of soldiers dealt a crushing blow to the empire after capturing the Inca Emperor, Atahualpa and subsequently Spanish rule presided over the next 288 years. It was at this time that the Roman Catholic Church was established, as was Spanish dominance. It was not until 1821 when Argentine general, Jose de San Martin who is today regarded as one of the great liberators of Spanish South America, declared Peru’s independence after the defeat of the Spanish Royalists.

Remnants of the Inca Empire and their architectural brilliance still remain today. The town of Ollataytambo, the ruins of Sacsayhuamna and the terraced fields in the Sacred Valley are all examples of magnificent Inca cultivation and masonry. The most famous of these is the historical sanctuary of Machu Picchu. Nestled at an altitude of 2430m in the Andes, the origins and purpose of Machu Picchu still remain a mystery. What is known, however, is that this ‘lost city’ is a tribute to the advanced astronomy and architectural knowledge this ancient civilization possessed.


Peru is a land steeped in ancient prophecies. It is not surprising that, although the vast majority of Peruvians claim themselves to be of Roman Catholic faith, magic and spiritualism still prevail. Traditional beliefs were based primarily on nature-related spirits, minor deities and demons. For centuries shamans have used ayahuasca as a window into the soul to heal and explore. The most revered goddess is ‘Pachamama’ translated as ‘Mother Earth’ or ‘Mother Universe’. Her worship is so powerful that today, it is legally recognized as equal to Christian belief and practice.

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