I leave for Peru in less than 50 days! So I decided to make a list of some awesome facts I found out about Peru!
1. Machu Picchu is of the New Seven Wonders of the World
The Lost city of Machu Picchu, one of the most famous landmarks in Peru, was voted in 2007 as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Rediscovered in 1911 by explorer, professor, and archaeologist Hiram Bingham, the site of the historic Incan civilization rests on a mountain ridge almost 8,000 feet above sea level in the Sacred Valley. You can only hike in or take a train and then a bus, but there is no easy way to get there which makes it even more impossible to believe that the whole site was built by hand over a mile up in the mountains.
2. There are 90 different micro-climates in Peru
Thanks to the abundant rainforests and 90 distinct microclimates, Peru counts among the 10 most biologically diverse countries in the world. It is home to 25,000 plant species (10% of the world’s total) and close to 5,000 species of fish and animals. It ranks first in the world in terms of distinct fish species, second for birds, and third place for both amphibians and mammals.
3. Peru is home to the Puya Raimondii, the world’s tallest flowering plant
Towering over humans, a bromeliad, (relative of the pineapple) can take up to a century or more to bloom. In full bloom, each plant flaunts up to 8,000 white flowers resembling lilies. It blooms only once in its lifetime and then dies.
4. Peru has the second largest amount of Shamans in the world, second only to India.
Shamanism has been popular in Peru for over 3,000 years. Since most of the Peruvian population cannot afford or don’t have access to doctors or Western medical care, many people, especially natives, turn to a shaman’s healing art, or curandero, a rural spiritual healer. Most shamans use hallucinogenic drugs, such as ayahuasca in their healing.
5. There are Penguins in Peru!
Yep, Peru and South Africa are two places I never thought I would see Penguins chillin’ on the beach, but here they are! If you take a boat out to the marine reserve in Paracas, Peru, you will see tons of adorable penguins who must have gotten lost years ago from Antarctica and decided that Peru was definitely the best place to be!
6. There are 10 million alpacas in the world, and three-quarters of them live in Peru.
7. Camu-Camu fruit is one of the world’s best superfoods
The Camu-Camu fruit (Myrciaria dubia) grows in the Amazon rainforest in Peru and has the highest
vitamin C concentration of any food, about 60 times that of an orange.
