Lima is the capital of Perú. Located on the coast and at sea level (so do not worry about any altitude sickness!), the city holds almost a third of the country`s population. Once considered among the most beautiful cities in Latin America, Lima is a modern city, with a range of facilities such as banks, shopping malls, 24-hour drugstores, supermarkets, hotels and international restaurants. The city itself has an additional touch of its popular culture, a great mix that fascinates everyone who visits. The weather is humid all year-round, and seasons are not very well defined: it is not too hot during summer, not too cold in winter. Callao is the largest and most important port in the country. Officially known as the Constitutional Province of Callao, it is the only province of the Callao Region and located on the west end of Lima. There are no borders between Lima and Callao so it seems like both are part of the same city. Volunteers there work to improve the quality of life of people who live under the line of extreme poverty through a series of educational programs. During the week, main tasks involve helping children with their homework and teaching them some sports, arts, hygiene and values. Working in 2 different villages with a total of 250 kids where they are served breakfast and dinner on a daily basis. Also, on Saturdays activities are organized for children to play, do sports, and participate in other tasks aimed at developing their creativity. Cusco city, the so-called center of the world, is full of mysticism. At an altitude of 3,300 meters above sea level, Cusco is a city of extraordinary historical and cultural significance. An Incan legend suggests that Cusco was founded by the leader Manco Capac in the 13th Century; however, its history actually predates that, when it was inhabited by the Killki culture, which preceded the Incas by more than 500 years. At first it might seem a small and traditional city, yet it has every comfort any big city can offer. As Cusco is located on the highlands, the weather can be very dry; typical days are sunny, with cold winds. In addition to inculcating proper hygiene practices, volunteers give English lessons to underprivileged children, help them with their homework, play with them and participate in extra-curricular activities, such as drawing, painting, dancing, sports, acting, and crafting.
Surrounding Cusco are the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman with its fortressed, stone walls, as well as Tambo Machay, where former imperial baths were located. Cusco is the main gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, but also a tourist destination in itself.Huaraz is located in the central-northern part of the country at an altitude of 3052 m, some 420 km north of Lima. Huaraz sits in the agricultural valley of Callejón de Huaylas, on the foothills of the Cordillera Blanca mountain range, which includes Huascarán, the highest mountain in Peru (6768 m). Huaraz is a small city with a very simple way of living. The weather is cold as it is located on the highlands, with very dry, cold wind and sunny days. Volunteers give classes with a special emphasis on vocational training to children living in extreme poverty. Cajamarca is located in the northern highlands of Perú, and is the capital of the Cajamarca region. It sits at approximately 2,700 m (8,900 ft) above sea level and has about 135,000 inhabitants. Cajamarca has an equatorial climate –mild, dry, and sunny–, which accounts for the fertility of the soil. The city is well known for its wide range of cheese and other dairy products. Cajamarca is also known for its churches, and hot springs, or Baños del Inca (Inca Baths). There are also several active mining sites in surrounding areas. Cajamarca is a city of colonial charm. The rolling landscapes of Andean countryside are home to endemic flora and fauna, and are also home to the important archaeological sites of Ventanillas de Otuzco and Cumbemayo. It is a place of great historical significance – it was in this city that Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro captured, imprisoned, and executed Inca Emperor Atahualpa, unleashing the destruction of Inca civilization.Ayacucho is crossed by two mountain ranges that divide it into three geographic areas: the altiplanic region towards the south, extreme highlands in the center, and tropical jungle in the northeast. The topography of Ayacucho varies greatly, and so does the weather. It is known as “The city of churches” since people say that there is a church on practically every corner in Ayacucho. The Cathedral, the Company of Jesus Christ, San Francisco of Asisi, Santo Domingo, and Santa Clara are some of the most beautiful Colonial churches in the city. The inhabitants are descendents of the powerful Wari civilization, who lived in a large part of this territory between the VI and XII Centuries and left the Wari citadel, an urban and commercial center, for posterity. You can also visit the Vilcashuaman Archeological Site, an important Incan administrative and religious center. Ayacucho, land of artisans, also offers its visitors impressive works of art like the retablos, small, portable shrines that represents Andean scenes, Sarhua boards, which has worked into it one’s family tree, and carvings in alabaster, a material also known as Huamanga stone. Huancavelica The department of Huancavelica features one of the roughest terrains in the country, formed by valleys, deep gorges, towering mountains, sinuous roads, and mesas. The city of Huancavelica is bordered by fertile fields and green pastures where cattle graze. Manu is a biosphere reserve located between Madre de Dios and Paucartambo, Cusco. Before it became an area protected by the Peruvian government, the Manu National Park was self-preserved thanks to its inaccessibility. The park remains fairly inaccessible by land to this day. In 1977, UNESCO recognised it as a Reserve of Biosphere, and in 1987 it was declared a World Heritage Site. It is the largest National Park in Peru, covering an area of approximately 15,328 km².The park encompasses all of the ecological zones that exist in the Amazon Basin, covering an altitudinal gradient between 150 and 4200 meters above sea level. Because of this topographical range, it has one of highest levels of biodiversity of any park in the world. Biologists have documented close to 1,300 species of butterflies (15% of the World total), 800 species of birds (9%), and 160 species of mammals (4%). Also, 140 species of amphibians and reptiles and 250 species of freshwater fish have been newly identified over the last few years. Up to 250 varieties of trees have been found in a single hectare, and overall, more than 15,000 species of plants exist in the Manu region. |
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