Peru

Peru is a nation in South America, with the Pacific Ocean forming its western border. Peru shares land borders with five other South American countries: Ecuador and Colombia to the north, Brazil to the east, Bolivia to the southeast, and Chile to the south.

On June 5, 2009, the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency in the province of Bagua after a protest between indigenous peoples and authorities became violent. A reported 22 protesters and eight police officers died when authorities used force in an attempt to break up a roadblock on the 59th day of protests.CNN: 30 die as indigenous protesters, police clash in Peru

Prior to European contact, the area that is now Peru was the home to the ancient Norte Chico civilization, one of the oldest in the world, and later, the powerful indigenous Inca Civilization. The Inca ruled a large area of western South America which included parts of present-day Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. After the conquest of the Inca Empire by the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro in the early 16th century, Spain ruled the country as the Viceroyalty of Peru until 1821.

Peru contains a wide diversity of ecological regions, ranging from the slim coastal plain along the Pacific, to the towering heights of the Andes, to the remote stretches of the Amazon Rainforest.

• Mahalo's guide to Peru Vacation

• Mahalo's guide to Peru Hotels

• Mahalo's guide to Peru Restaurants

• Official Site: Peru Travel and Tourism

• Lonely Planet: Peru Travel Guide: Overview

• World 66: Peru Travel Guide

• U.S Department of State: Peru

• Travel Document Systems: Peru Visa Aplication

• Mahalo's page on Cusco

• Official Site: Cusco Peru

• Wikipedia: Cusco

• Mahalo's page on Arequipa

• Wikipedia: Arequipa

• Mahalo's page on Trujillo

• Wikipedia: Trujillo, Peru

• Mahalo's page on Iquitos

• Wikipedia: Iquitos