Full country name:  Republic of Peru
Capital: Lima
Area: 1,285,216 sq km
Population: 29, 546,963
Major Industries:  Agriculture, Textiles, Mining, Manufacturing, Constructing, Transport and Services

Location
Peru is located in the western South American coast, bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil and Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean.

Climate
Peru’s weather varies greatly depending on the geographical region; this means that regions with higher altitudes have cooler climates. On the Pacific coastal area, temperatures are moderate: summer season goes from December to April with temperatures from 19°C to 27°C, this is the most hot and humid time of the year. During the rest of the year, temperatures descend and fluctuate between 14°C and 20°C. On the Andean highlands there are two main seasons with different climates. While the season from May to August is the coolest and driest with temperatures dropping below zero during the nights, the wet season  (November to March) is much warmer and with constant rain. The Amazon is the hottest and most humid region in Perú and the one which has the highest amount of rainfall all year long.

GOVERNMENT
Constitutional Republic-Democratic. The political organization is made up by the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The executive branch is made up of the Chief of State or the President followed by the first and second Vice President and a Council of Ministers appointed by the President. Presidential elections are held every five years. The Legislative branch is made up of a unicameral congress of the Republic of Peru (120 seats) and the members are elected by popular vote to serve 5-year terms. The Judicial branch is made up of the Supreme Court of justice.

CURRENCY
Nuevo Sol (S/.)

Banking
There are several Banks in Lima that offer accounts in Soles or Dollars. Most people have accounts in BCP (Banco de Crédito Del Perú) which have offices all around Perú and in international banks like Citibank, Scotiabank, BBVA and HSBC. To open a bank account you should have a Peruvian ID “Carnet de Extanjería” or the authorization of your company that may have a special agreement with the bank they work with.

Languages
Spanish, Quechua and Aymara are the official languages in Perú. Quechua is spoken in most of the Andes and depending on the region, a different form of Quechua is spoken. A smaller percentage of the “Altiplano” population speaks Aymara while people throughout the jungle have more than 40 native languages with Aguaruna and Asháninka being the ones spoken the most.

Religion
Although there is widespread freedom of worship, 80% of Peruvians practice the Roman Catholic religion. There are also considerable and growing evangelist and protestant groups that represent 12% of the nation’s population.  Indigenous people have largely adapted Catholic beliefs to their own beliefs, turning indigenous ancestral cult into a fusion with Catholic beliefs.

Shopping
Malls in Lima are open every day of the week from 10 am to 10 pm.  The most visited malls are Jockey Plaza Shopping Center, Fashion Mall Larcomar, Centro Comercial el Polo and Centro Comercial Caminos del Inca. Most of the exclusive boutiques are located in San Isidro district.

Restaurants
During the last ten years, Perú has had a huge and well recognized culinary development that has led an enormous amount of gourmet restaurants to open in the city. Here you can find International, Novo Andean, fusion and traditional cuisine. Some of the best restaurants in Lima are  La Gloria, Astrid & Gastón, Rafael, La Rosa Naútica, Fusion, La Mar, and Pescados Capitales.  However, gourmet restaurants are not the only places to have a good meal in Perú, there are plenty of “Huariques”, little neighborhood restaurants which have a long tradition and where the fundamental flavors of our country have been conserved.

Entertainment
Peru is full of different adventure activities to engage in. There are plenty of options for water sports lovers like surfing, canoeing, rafting, scuba diving and fishing. For the one’s who prefer wind sports, it’s easy to find around Miraflores (the most touristic district in Lima) lots of paragliding experts who will take you on a 15 minute sky ride. There are also good cycling circuits in Huaraz, Arequipa, Cuzco, and Lima among others. It is also possible to find great adventure expeditions to national parks and reserves where you get closer to animals and plants deep in the jungle. In the Capital of Lima there are plenty of nice bars, nightclubs, discos, cafés and restaurants to have a good time.

IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS

Long Distance calls to Lima - Perú:  011-511
Police: 105
Fire: 116
Ambulance: 117
Telephone Operator:  108
Direct Enquiries:  103
Flight Information: 511-6055

SCHOOLS

Although public and private education coexists in Peru, most foreigners prefer private education for their children. Private schools are American, British, Chinese, French, German and Italian. There is a very good level of education in schools and most private schools have the International Baccalaureate (IB).

IMMIGRATION PROCESS

There are basically two kinds of visa for foreigners who will work in Peru:

1. If the foreigner will be paid by the Peruvian Payroll, the first step is to obtain a Labor Contract approved by the Labor Ministry in Peru. After the contract has been approved the visa process is started in Immigration.    The entire process can take 2 to 3 months.  At the end of the process the foreigner will receive a “Carnet de Extranjería” which will be his local ID for every process in Peru.
2. If the foreigner will be paid in his country of origin then a Technical Agreement must be signed by the local company and the company abroad that is sending the worker.   

The following are documents that are required for both visas:

1. Enter the country with a business visa
2. Professional Degree legalized by Peruvian consulate
3. If the foreigner is married or has children they must bring a marriage certificate and birth certificate of their children.

Important Immigration Links:

• American Consulate:  http://lima.usembassy.gov
• American Chamber of Commerce: http://www.amcham.org.pe/eng
• Police: www.pnp.gob.pe

HOUSING

The preferred residential areas are San Isidro, Miraflores, Barranco, Surco and La Molina.  Miraflores and Barranco offer apartments with nice ocean views and San Isidro has plenty of big apartments around nice parks.  La Molina is a suburb district with plenty of big family houses and in Surco you will find both, apartments and houses. Prices can vary depending on the size, location and the interior finishing of the property.

The average monthly rent for an apartment can go from US$ 800 – US$ 4,000 and for a house US$ 1500-US$ 6000.

Because of its diverse geography and its multiple societies, Peruvian culture is a complex and rich expression full of different musical rhythms, huge diversity of cuisines, art expressions, traditional festivities and kind people proud of their customs that are recognized for their kindness and warmth towards foreigners.

HOLIDAYS

New Year: January 1
Easter: Between March and April (varies each year)
Labor Day: May 1
St Peter and St. Paul Day: June 29
Independence Day: July 28 and 29
St. Rose of Lima: August 30
Angamos Battle: October 8
All Saints Day: November 1
Holly Trinity: December 8
Christmas: December 25

Technical Information:

Voltage: 220V, 60 Hz
Plugs: Flat blade plug and round pin
Television Systems: NTSC M