10 Fun Facts About Peru

Peru is a popular destination for tourists, for good reason. It’s largely a mix of indigenous and Spanish culture, with delicious food and breathtaking scenery.

Our own family is a mix of Peru and the U.S., and we love Peru so much that we moved our family here for a few years. One of the main reasons is that we want our kids to be fluent in Spanish and know their roots.

Most people instantly think of Machu Picchu when Peru is mentioned. Of course, Machu Picchu is an unforgettable and magical experience (and you can see it in the picture below). However, there is more to this special place. Here are 10 fun facts about Peru you might not have heard before.

1. Cuzco, Peru, was once the capital of the vast Inca Empire that stretched from Chile to Ecuador.

At its peak, it may have been the world’s largest empire, ruling about 10 million people. Despite this impressive past, Peru has suffered economic setbacks in the past centuries. As a result, many people don’t realize it once held massive stores of gold and sacred sites for the Incas.

2. Peru has three distinct regions: coast, jungle, and mountains. 

Even very young kids learn this in school and complete projects comparing the diverse regions. Each one has a distinct climate, with its own variations of food, music, dance, and language. Learn more about each region in this free printable mini-book about Peru for kids.

 

 

 

3. Marinera is a folk dance from the coast. Even some very young children learn it and participate in competitions.

The Marinera is a mix of Spanish, African, and indigenous cultures. Traditionally, the boy partner carries a hat, and the girl is barefoot with a handkerchief in her hand. Both wear very elegant outfits.

4. The Amazon River, in the jungle, is home to Pink Dolphins.

They are large freshwater dolphins and are becoming rarer. You can also find vicious piranhas, paiche as big as a person, anacondas, otters, and sharks. The jungle is the largest region in Peru, and you can find out all about it with this free mini-book on the Amazon rainforest.

5. In Puno, the Uru community builds floating islands of straw and lives on Lake Titicaca. 

The boats, homes, and islands are all made of straw and float on the water, which was originally a way to stay safe from neighboring communities. Now most Urus live on land, but some maintain their old way of life. Many tourists visit the community every year.

6. You can go sandboarding or skiing in the desert!

Although it can be a little bit dangerous, many locals and tourists love this sport. In fact, much of the coast is desert, and the slopes are so big you need sand buggies to take you to the top.

7. In some parts of the jungle, ants are a delicacy.

But these aren’t just any ants! These are special ants: siquizapas in Quechua, which literally means “big-bottomed” for their plump abdomens. They appear only once or twice a year, between August and October, and people know to look for them after a thunderstorm.

The ants also come out at 3 am or 3 pm, and people wear large rubber boots to collect them. The sting of a siquizapa is very painful, but they can’t get up slippery boots. To prepare them, they lightly toast them until the wings and legs fall off, then fry them. They are quite expensive when sold here!

8. One of the biggest mysteries of ancient times is the Nazca Lines.

They are hundreds of huge pictures drawn into the sand and can only be seen from the air! Even more mysteriously, no one knows why they were made or what they were used for, long before airplanes existed. Visitors take an airplane ride to see the lines from the air. Try this STEM project for kids based on the Nazca lines.

Can you tell what this is?

9.  Ausangate, a mountain in the Andes, is affectionately known as the “rainbow mountain” because of its beautiful colors.

You have to hike to the mountain on an old llama- and alpaca-herding trail. Once a year, pilgrims attend a festival and consider it a holy mountain. It’s not hard to imagine why this place would be special.

10. Peru claims almost 4,000 varieties of potato.

Potatoes are part of many dishes, dating back many centuries. In fact, scientists in Peru recently tested a potato variety so resilient it could grow on Mars! Sweet potatoes, corn, and yucca (another root vegetable) are also prevalent.

How many of these 10 fun facts about Peru did you know?

Comment below if you want to share some more!

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