Peru's Cultral Hightlights
1. The decline of the Chavìn and Sechìn cultures around the 5th century BC gave rise to a number of distinctive regional cultures.Some of these, including the Saliner and the Paracas, are celebrated for artistic and technological advances such as kiln-fired ceramics and sophisticated weaving techniques. From the Paracas arose the Nazca, whose legacy includes the immense and cryptic Nazca Lines. However, the accomplish- ments of these and other early Peruvian civilizations seem today to pale in comparison to the robust pre-Columbian civilization of the Inca.
2. Peru's population of about 23 million is divided almost equally between the highlands and the population centres of the coast, and the division marks a sharp cultural as well as geographic divide. The inland regions are marked by extreme poverty and subsistence agriculture, while the fertile river valleys of the lowlands have produced a wealthier, more cosmo- politan culture. Almost half of Peru's people are Indian, while another one third or so are mestizo. About ten percent are of European descent, and there are significant African and Asian minorities. Although Spanish is Peru's official language, a multitude of indigenous languages continue to hold sway in the highlands.
3. Peru, home to one of the world's great lost civilisations, Peru is rich in cultural contrasts and treasures, making it a central part of the best South America holidays. In Peru's cities the Incan influence mingles with the Spanish colonial artistry to produce unique architecture.