Peru, a magical millennial country, with
a diversity and wealth that are rare in the world, and offers
visitors infinite alternatives and the possibility of living
a unique experience: History, culture, nature, adventure
and much more in one single destination.
Peru is located in South America, with
an area of 1,285,215 km2, one the 20 largest countries on
the planet. It also has 200 marine miles and territorial
rights over a surface of 60 million hectares in Antarctica.
It has a population of over 27 million, and an urban population
of 72.3%.
Peru is traditionally
divided into three regions: The Coast, the Mountains
and the Jungle. Although this simple division is a
fair portrait of Peru’s geography, the reality
is much richer and far more complex: in Peru, nature
appears to have taken on particular characteristics
which have turned its mountains, plains, jungles and
valleys into unique habitats. An extraordinary variety
of eco-systems shelters a wide diversity of animals
and plants. Due to its amazing climate diversity and
ecosystems, Peru belongs to the select group of eight
megadiverse countries, where it is possible to find
84 of the 104 life zones that exist on our planet,
making it a privileged country for nature lovers.
In the last 7 years, Peru has been considered
the country with the largest economic growth in Latin America,
in addition to possessing great natural resources. This
country is rich in minerals –the second largest producer
of silver, the fifth producer of gold and the sixth producer
of copper– as well as an important source of zinc
and lead. Peru is also a source of natural gas and oil.
Other important industries include fishing, aquiculture
and agriculture. The official currency is the Nuevo Sol,
which is equivalent to 2.80 soles to the American dollar.
The most commonly spoken language is Spanish.
About Lima
The city of Lima, founded by Francisco
Pizarro on January 18th, 1535, was considered for almost
three centuries the vice regal capital of South America
and the most important city in the American continent. Today
it has more than 8 million inhabitants and receives immigrants
from all over the world, which has made it a city of mixed
races par excellence. In the historical center, declared
Cultural Patrimony of Humanity by UNESCO, one can see splendid
examples of colonial architecture such as the Cathedral
of Lima, the Government Palace, the Convent of Santo Domingo
and the Convent of San Francisco, as well as beautiful balconies
carved in wood. The historical center is also known as "Pizarro's
Chess Board," because of the distribution of its streets
in the pattern of a chess board.
Lima is also an inexhaustible source of
culture, as proven by the great number and variety of museums,
such as the National Museum of Archaeology, Anthropology
and History and the Rafael Larco Herrera Archaeological
Museum, which displays Inca and Pre-Inca treasures of incalculable
value.
Located in the middle
of the city there are impressive archaeological monuments
such as Huaca Huallamarca or Huaca Pucllana; and on
the outskirts of Lima, facing the sea is Pachacamac,
the most important Pre-Inca coastal sanctuary, which
was constructed in the third century A.D. Another
important attraction of the city are its lovely beaches,
where you may practice water sports, enjoy the sun,
or simply observe the beauty of the Pacific Ocean.
Lima is also known as the gastronomic capital
of South America and is considered one of the best gastronomies
in the world, thanks to the tradition of its cuisine, which
inherited Pre-Hispanic and Colonial culinary excellence,
as well as contributions from the best Western and Asian
cuisines.
About Cusco
The city of Cusco, the ancient capital
of the Inca Empire, is located in the South Eastern area
of the Andes. It has been declared Cultural Patrimony of
Humanity by UNESCO, and it is undoubtedly one of the most
important tourist destinations in the country. Along its
paved streets, we find Inca constructions such as Koricancha
and the Palace of Inca Roca, as well as colonial constructions
in an Andean baroque style, such as the Cathedral and the
Company of Jesus Church; furthermore, you can visit the
picturesque neighborhood of San Blas, where the workshops
of the best craftsmen in the district are. This magical
city offers an exciting night life, with cafés, restaurants
and bars for all tastes.
Ten minutes from the city are the gigantic
walls of the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman. A few kilometers
further on, are the archaeological sites of Qenko, Pukapukara
and Tambomachay, Inca constructions made only of stone.
Along the Sacred
Valley of the Incas, an hour from Cusco, lie the towns
of Pisac, Maras, Chinchero and Ollantaytambo, from
where it is possible to take the train to Machu Picchu.
Another way to get to this citadel is by following
one of the paths of the Inca Trail, a spectacular
network of tracks that wind across snow-capped mountains,
rivers, and awesome landscapes. This one is one of
the best trekking routes in the world, strewn with
impressive archaeological sites and areas rich in
unique species of flora and fauna.
The enigmatic complex of Machu Picchu,
the most important and beautiful legacy of the ancient Peruvians,
is part of the Historical Sanctuary of the same name, which
is one of the few places in America that has been declared
Patrimony –both Cultural and Natural– of Humanity
by UNESCO. It is located on the summit of a mountain and
harmonizes with the exuberant nature around it, creating
a unique place in the world. It is considered to be one
of the New Seven Wonders of the World, today.
Lima Obesity Surgery Center ®
Jr. Bernini 352, Oficina 206, San Borja, Lima, Perú
Phone: (51-1) 224-6252
info@obesitysurgery.pe www.obesitysurgery.pe
