Fun & Interesting Facts on Peruvian Culture

There are many ways to enjoy and immerse yourself in this wonderfully diverse country in South America. Peru lies in the west of South America, bordered by Ecuador, Columbia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile, with the Pacific Ocean on the west. You will find that immersing yourself in the culture of Peru is an experience not to miss, being one of the most diverse of South America. This is added to by the natural isolation with the Andes Mountains in the west and the Amazon River, travel on foot discouraged. The Peruvian culture has been preserved for thousands of years.

1. To truly immerse yourself in the Peruvian culture you need to experience the country’s past alongside the modern world today. The modern culture of Peru combines all of the best features of its ancient heritage well; giving you a good insight today of it’s past. The best way to start your immersion of Peru’s culture is to visit historical locations that can be found around Peru. You can visit the various ruins, Pisac Ruins and Ollantaytambo's Fortress Ruins, to get a feel for the culture of the Incan empire. This is a good point to start your immersion into Peru’s culture.

2. A second way to continue with your Peruvian cultural immersion is to look around for and experience the natural preserves that can be found around Peru. Embrace the natural beauty of the historical sanctuaries which protect places containing relevant natural value with a special meaning such as very important historical facts. At the same time with the focus on ecotourism, reducing the impact on the natural environment, alongside ethical tourism concentrating on ways to preserve local economies and communities, Peru is an ecotourism paradise. You can come to appreciate the environment better, finding out how the indigenous people interact with different parts of their environment.

3. Continuing your immersion in the Peruvian culture it must be remembered that nature and history are only a starting point. By now you will be hungry and with food the next stop on your agenda it is important to note Peru has a varied cuisine. With a combination of European and American, as well as Moorish, African and Chinese culinary traditions all playing a part, there was an influence it the development of a Creole cuisine. In the larger towns you will find a better variety of types of food with various restaurants selling locally produced food. It is an excellent way to taste the cuisine within Peru.

4. Peru has two main seasons so to travel there the peak season (dry) is June till August. It is the best but busiest time to visit. The wettest months of December to March make it a very wet and muddy place to visit, though many of the fiestas happen during the wettest months and go on regardless as the rain never lasts more than a few hours at a time. You can immerse yourself in the Peruvian fiestas and festivals as they have 3,000 in all, such as La Virgen de la Candelaria, Carnaval and Semana Santa. These holidays, a mixture of Christian and pagan festivals, will show you the blend of Christianity and the ancient beliefs, immersing you further into their diverse culture.

5. As in the past communities of Peru today gather in the main areas of the towns, the plazas, where the life of the town will be seen as active and bustling. If you wish to walk downtown in Lima then do so carefully, but here you will be surrounded by smells as powerful as the visual onslaught of the colour splashed bazaars of hawkers offering all necessities tax free. Here you will see a raw down to earth culture, take in the smells and tastes.

6. Another way of immersing yourself in the culture of Peru is by meeting people, talking to them about their lives. The local markets and shops are ideal places to begin. You will meet local artisans in their shops or in the main plazas of the towns, learn about their families and their ancient traditions up close. This is a great way to relax and unwind as well as being an ideal time to mingle in an unstressed atmosphere.

7. A final way to immerse yourself in Peruvian culture is to volunteer in one of the many programs from around the world involved in fighting poverty, the lack of education and health services. Nongovernment Organizations run these programs, at varying lengths to help those in need due to economic difficulties. It is a great opportunity for you to experience first hand Peru as tourists very rarely ever get the chance, truly immersing yourself in the culture of the country.

These steps are a way to immerse yourself in the culture of Peru. As with any foreign country you will in this way see the world of the Peruvians as through their eyes. You will see Peru from an inside viewpoint. When planning a visit plan your itinery and make the most of your time there. Following these guidelines will help you make your trip to Peru unforgettable.