Peru is a country of true variety, from its wealth of breathtaking landscapes like the Amazon and the Andes, to its food and dizzying array of archaeological gems throughout history. Whatever your reason for going, Peru guarantees a unique, vibrant experience. HAPPYCAR is here to help you find the best car hire Peru has to offer so you can take full advantage of this layered, complex country. We check the prices of international and local providers so that you don’t have to check each website, and provide you with the best deals to make your money go further with a car hire that fits your specific rental needs.
General Information
Peru expands back many years, and the epic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, stunning as it is, is just a drop in the ocean. Bordered by Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile, the transmission of historical influence should not be understated, and as the center of the Incan Empire and pre-Columbian culture, combined with their rich natural resources, Peru is a place where adventure and discovery is boundless, as there are many excellent places to visit. Roads are generally good in the country, so a car hire in Peru can ensure that you don’t have to miss out on a single unforgettable experience.
Lima
The seat of Spanish rule for 300 years and the capital of Peru, Lima is a fascinating mix of modernity and history, culture and glitz, with colonial, pre-Colombian and Moorish architecture dominating the center. The cultural attractions here are profound, from superb pottery and solemn religious processions to multimedia installations and crowded nightclubs, not to mention the exceptional food on offer, the culmination of a 400 year gastronomic revolution. With only around 300,000 residents just 80 years ago, today it has swollen to over nine million, and growing. Its economy is booming, its middle class is exploding, and Lima is the next hot spot in which to be seen travelling.
Eating
With over eight different climates in Peru to choose from and a long history of international gastronomic influence, Peru’s cuisine is eclectic and varied, and has been gaining recognition as one of the finest in the world. Rice, meat, fish, and various organs are commonly found in Peruvian food, and potatoes can be found everywhere, particularly in a layered potato casserole called Causa. Ceviche, a cold broth with raw fish cooked in citrus juice, is perhaps the unofficial national dish and a popular lunch item. Another uniquely Peruvian food experience has to be in its Cuy, baked or barbecued guinea pig, and makes for an excellent rural dish, if you are brave enough.
Attractions
With 84 of the world’s 104 known life zones, pink dolphins, jaguars, giant otters, over 4000 species of butterfly and a third of earth’s bird species, Peru is absolutely teeming with wildlife diversity. Its people and cultures are almost equally as varied, with rich traditions and ancient heritage stretching back to the earliest days of civilization. Regardless of what you’re after, your entire trip to Peru can be filled with attractions alone. From the awesome plunging gorges of the Incan Pisac Ruins or the breathtaking vistas of the Llanganuco Lakes or Uros Islands, not to mention the magnificent icon of Peru, Machu Picchu in Cusco, adventure is around every corner.
Excursions
The most popular excursions are clustered in the south of Peru, but there are plenty of off the beaten track discoveries to be made further north. South of Lima, the Reserva Nacional Paracas is a desert reserve that preserves indigenous Paracas culture, and because of its vast scale a Peru car hire can help you get there and explore much more than you can on foot. With a Peru car rental you can also head near to the border of Chile, one of the most desolate but scenic corners of Peru, to visit Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America and home to many ancient kingdoms and customs.