30 Fun Facts About Peru

With its misty mountaintops, contemporary restaurants and iconic landmarks, Peru is one of those destinations that simultaneously delights and mystifies travellers — and we think everyone should experience it for themselves at least once in their lifetime.

So, we rounded up 30 fun facts about Peru to inspire your travels. Whether you already have this South American country on your bucket list or are learning about it for the first time, these tidbits are guaranteed to make you want to pack your bags and say, “¡Vamos!”

Covering an area of approximately 1.3 million square kilometres, Peru is one of the biggest countries in South America — it’s trumped only by Brazil (8.5 million square kilometres) and Argentina (2.78 million square kilometres).

More specifically, the Peruvian Amazon branches out over more than 60% of the country. Now you know why it took Paddington and the Brown family so long to find the El Dorado orange grove in Paddington in Peru. 

There are three ecological zones in Peru: Costa (the Pacific coast), Sierra (the Peruvian highlands) and Selva (the Amazon Rainforest). In other words, it’s a beautiful country made up of downright stunning landscapes.

In fact, it’s one of only 17 “megadiverse countries” in the world. The natural world is on full display here and this incredible biodiversity is a major draw for travellers who want to get up close to some unique plant and animal species.

The Andean condor, weighing up to 33 pounds, is one of the heaviest flying birds. And it’s no doubt thanks to its massive wingspan, which can reach up to 10.5 feet.

Giant otters can grow up to 6 feet — that’s taller than the average Canadian!

That said, it’s not easy to spot them. Pink river dolphins are very elusive creatures. 

Can you believe it? Even though the majority (approximately 80%) of the world’s alpaca population lives in Peru, it’s not the national animal. That title belongs to another type of camelid called the vicuña.

Speaking of vicuñas and alpacas! Wool from these two animals is what’s used to make the bright, colourful ponchos that are synonymous with Peru. If you see one on your travels, make sure to appreciate the handiwork — it can take up to 600 hours to make these garments!

Lima, in particular, is putting Peruvian cuisine on the map. Four of the capital city’s establishments ended up on The World’s 50 Best Restaurants list for 2025 — with Maido taking the number-one spot!

Of course, those high-end dining rooms aren’t the only places to treat your taste buds. No matter where you’re travelling, chances are you’ll stumble upon a local spot that serves delicious pisco sours and fresh ceviche.

Forget Idaho potatoes! Another interesting fact about Peru is that more than 4,000 varieties of this root vegetable are grown in the country. Try them stuffed (papa rellena), smothered in a spicy cheese sauce (papa a la huancaína) or mixed into a rich, hearty stew (chuño cola).

Such as cuy (roasted guinea pig). The animal is native to the Andes mountains and has been a staple in the Peruvian culture and diet for thousands of years — particularly for Indigenous groups.

Often served with the head and feet intact, this is a must-try dish for intrepid travellers and foodies alike. When in Rome, right?

No wonder the food tastes so good! There are more than 3,000 salt ponds at the Maras Salt Mines in the Sacred Valley, dating all the way back to pre-Inca times.

Spanish may be the most widely spoken language in Peru, but it’s certainly not the only one you’ll hear while exploring the country. Quecha and Aymara, two Indigenous languages, are still prevalent and are also considered to be official languages.

But that’s merely scratching the surface! In total, there are 48 languages (4 Andean, 44 Amazonian) spoken across Peru.

From the Norte Chico civilization that thrived between 3000 BCE and 1800 BCE to the Wari culture that flourished from 500 to 1000 AD, Peru’s rich history goes back way, way, way past the ancient Inca Empire that rose in the 15^th century.

Archaeological remains, historic city centres, national parks — Peru is full of culturally significant and well-preserved heritage sites for you to discover, including Machu Picchu, the Nazca Lines, Chavín de Huántar, Abiseo River National Park and Arequipa.

Even with so many other UNESCO-listed sites in Peru, Machu Picchu in the Sacred Valley is the most popular. “The Lost City of the Incas”, nestled high in the Andes Mountains, attracts approximately 1.5 million visitors each year. (And yes, it’s worth the hype.)

Hiking the Inca Trail to the ancient city of Machu Picchu is no easy feat — the 42km trail is made up of 70,800 steps. Given that so many people are willing to take on the challenge, it’s safe to say the experience and the Inca architecture are worth it.

Based on the two previous fun facts, it shouldn’t surprise you to learn that this Inca city earned a spot on the New Seven Wonders of the World list, which was determined by a global poll in 2007.

Lake Titicaca, situated 3,810m above sea level in Southern Peru, is the highest navigable lake in the world. But that’s hardly the most interesting thing about this body of water. Here, you’ll find hundreds of floating islands and homes.

That’s right, the islands and homes (and even the boats used to navigate to them) are completely human-made. The Uros people have constructed everything using super-strong, water-resistant totora reeds.

The Amazon River is prone to flooding during the rainy season (November to March), creating a unique ecosystem and making it look as if the trees and other vegetation in the rainforest are floating.

Measuring 6,400km, the Amazon River is long and winding. And while it does flow through five other South American countries (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela), Peru is where it all begins! The headwaters are located high in the Peruvian Andes.

Vinicunca (aka Rainbow Mountain) in the Andes mountain range features layers of pink, purple, green, red, yellow, brown and white. This is thanks to years of mineral deposits, oxidation and tectonic activity.

Peru’s Colca Canyon and Cotahuasi Canyon — measuring 4,160m and 3,535m, respectively — are among the deepest canyons in the world. They’re both larger than the Grand Canyon, for example!

The Sechura Desert’s Cerro Blanco dune is approximately 2,100m high, meaning you can reach some pretty high speeds on a sandboard.

Don’t want the weather to ruin your vacation? Make your way over to Lima — it’s one of the driest capital cities in the world, receiving less than 10mm of rain each year.

Depending on how a musician plucks or strums the 10-string charango, it will produce either harp-like or guitar-like sounds. Another fun fact about this instrument: it was traditionally made with armadillo shells (today they’re made from wood).

If you’re the type of person who loves to experience the culture and traditions of a destination by attending a unique festival, Peru is an excellent choice for a vacation. From Inti Raymi (Sun Festival) to Fiestas Patrias (Independence Day), there are thousands of lively events to experience throughout the year.

A lot of NYE traditions from around the world are meant to bring good luck and good fortune — and Peru’s are no different! The locals will eat 12 grapes at midnight, gift a small figurine known as an Ekeko and don underwear of a specific colour to help get the new year off to a good start.

Has learning all these interesting facts about Peru made you want to jet off on your next adventure? If so, check out our latest deals or get in touch with our Travel Experts to start planning — we can help with everything from flights and accommodations to tours and more.