Peru - The Rough Guide to South America on a Budget - page 708

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Introduction
Peru is the most varied and exciting of all the South American nations, with
a combination of mountains, Inca relics, immense desert coastline and vast
tracts of tropical rainforest. Dividing these contrasting environments, the
Andes, with its chain of breathtaking peaks, over 7km high and 400km wide
in places, ripples the entire length of the nation. So distinct are these regions
that it is very di cult to generalize about the country, but one thing for sure
is that Peru offers a unique opportunity to experience an incredibly wide
range of spectacular scenery, a wealth of heritage and a vibrant living culture.

Hedonists will head for the beaches of
Máncora , the nightclubs of Lima and
the bars of Cusco - the latter a city where
a cosmopolitan lifestyle coexists alongside
pre-Columbian buildings and ancient
festivals. Just as easily, you can retreat from
civilization, travelling deep into the remote
parts of the Peruvian Amazon , searching
for jaguars or taking part in hallucinogenic
ayahuasca (jungle vine) ceremonies. Or
you can walk in the footsteps of the Incas,
taking on the challenge of the Inca Trail to
reach the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu ,
take a flight over the Nazca Lines to
ponder the meaning of the giant figures
etched into the desert, or hike the canyons
and snow-tipped peaks around Arequipa
and Trujillo .
In the more rural parts of Peru, local
life has changed little in the last four
centuries and many people lead humble,
traditional lives, though roads and tracks
now connect almost every corner of the
country, making travel quite straight-
forward. Nevertheless, you should be
prepared to accept the occasional episode
of social unrest or travel delays caused by
natural disasters with the good humour
of the locals.
CHRONOLOGY
c.40,000-15,000 BC The first Peruvians, descendants of
nomadic tribes, cross into the Americas from Asia during
the last ice age.
2600 BC The complex civilization at the site of Caral
develops, lasting for an estimated 500 years.
200-600 AD Emergence and growth of the Moche and
Nazca cultures.
1200 The Inca Empire begins to emerge.

1438-70 Pachacutec becomes ruler of the Inca Empire.
Machu Picchu and the Inca capital of Cusco are constructed.
1500-30 The Inca Empire stretches over 5500km, from
southern Colombia right down to northern Chile.
1532 Francisco Pizarro leads his band of 170 conquistadors
from Tumbes to Cajamarca, capturing the Inca ruler
Atahualpa and massacring thousands of Inca warriors.
1533 Atahualpa is executed and the Spaniards install
a puppet Inca ruler, Manco Inca.
1535 Lima is founded by Pizarro as the “City of Kings”.
1538-41 Conquistadors fight for control of the colony.
Diego de Almagro is executed by Pizarro, who in turn is
assassinated by Almagro's son.
1542 The Viceroyalty of Peru is established by Spain's
King Charles I, with Lima as its capital.
1571 Unsuccessful rebellion by the last Inca, Túpac Amaru,
results in his execution.
1821 Argentine general José de San Martín declares
Peruvian Independence on July 28.
1824 The last of the Spanish forces defeated at the battles
of Junín and Ayacucho. Peru becomes an independent state.
1879-83 The War of the Pacific with Chile. Chile is
victorious, annexing a large chunk of southern Peru,
including the nitrate-rich northern Atacama desert.
1911 Hiram Bingham discovers Machu Picchu.
1948-56 The economy spirals into ruin and a military
junta takes control.
1969-75 Massive economic crisis occurs after General
Juan Velasco nationalizes foreign-owned businesses, bans
foreign investors and gives all the hacienda land to workers'
cooperatives.
1980-92 The Maoist Sendero Luminoso (“Shining Path”),
led by Abimael Guzman, carries out terrorist attacks against
the government. The conflict causes 69,000 deaths and
“disappearances”, at least 75 percent of them Quechua-
speaking highlanders.
1985 Socialist candidate Alan García comes to power.
Financial reforms cause massive hyperinflation and trigger
the worst economic crisis Peru has ever experienced.