Peru is a country with a rich and varied cultural and architectural heritage. Facing the Pacific, it enjoys spectacular and varied scenery, including Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, and has a strong Inca and pre-Inca heritage, which includes the famous Lake Titicaca area, the Nazca Lines, and the ancient Inca capital of Cuzco, with its Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu. It's a fantastic place for a holiday and in this article, we'll be looking at some hints and tips to make sure you can get the most out of your holiday in Peru!

Language

The primary language in Peru is Spanish. This is almost identical to the Castilian Spanish of Madrid, albeit with slightly different pronunciation and a few vocabulary changes. In the high Andes, particularly around Cuzco and Puno, many people still speak Aymara or Quechua (the language of the Incas) as a first language, although almost all will also speak Spanish. Some English is often spoken in areas popular with holiday-makers and in staff of services that deal with international customers (eg: airports, banks, etc.) will invariably speak some English.

People

Peruvians are renowned even in South America for their friendliness and they are always keen to engage you in conversation. Even if they are hoping to sell you something they are still often curious to find out something about you and where you come from. The British are quite popular in Peru, although we still have something of a