Lockdown

On Sunday, October 21st, the whole of Peru is under house arrest. Nobody may leave their home; no business may open; even the homeless will be rounded up and confined to sports stadiums. Police and military will patrol the streets to enforce the “immobility order”.
The reason for this unprecedented measure is the National Census, run [...]

Renting a car in Peru

Many visitors to Peru are keen to rent a car and use it throughout their vacation. In much of the developed world rental is the best or even the only way to get around, but in Peru there are generally better ways to see the country.
The standard international rental agencies operate from Lima’s international airport, but their prices [...]

Peru-Brazil joint expedition: Amazon is world’s longest river

 A joint Peruvian-Brazilian expedition has declared that the Amazon is the world’s longest river, stretching 6,672km (4,145.8 miles) from the Mismi mountain in Cuzco, Peru, to its mouth into the Atlantic in Brazil – compared to the 6,671km (4145.2 mile) length of the Nile.
While no hydrologists doubt that the Amazon is the world’s largest river [...]

Apolo, Bolivia, calls on Peru to invade

Locals of an ecological reserve in Bolivia have held protests demanding that they be annexed by Peru. Waving Peruvian flags, as many as 4,000 people filled the local square and called on the mayor to extend an invitation to Peru to occupy the region.
The small town of Apolo, located just 6 hours’ walk from the [...]

Peru Reserve Bank chief: stock exchange volatility down to inexperienced investors

Julio Velarde, the President of Peru’s Central Reserve Bank (BCRP) yesterday blamed recent instabilities of the Lima Stock Exchange (BVL) on the influx of a large number of inexperienced investors, drawn in by the indices’ high yield this year, who then panicked when prices started to drop. He estimated their total investment at around US$500 [...]

Peru stock exchange takes heavy loss, but analyst remain optimistic

Heavy selling on the Lima Stock Exchange (BVL) today brought about its biggest fall in the past 18 months, with a drop of 3.25% as against yesterday’s close leaving the General Index (IGRA or IGBVL) at 20,066 points.
The Selective Index (ISEL or ISBVL), composed of the 15 most traded shares, fared even worse: it dropped [...]

Coca growers may turn away from cocaine and towards biofuel

Peruvian national anti-drugs group Devida has stated that crops such as sugar cane and oil palm, used for making ecologically safe biofuel, may prove an alternative crop to replace coca in the country’s mountains. Although coca can be grown legally in Peru, over 90% of the annual crop is siphoned off for the illegal production [...]

Amnesty International: Fujimori cannot be trusted

Peru’s Amnesty International Director Ismael Vega has said that it is hard to believe that fugitive ex-President Alberto Fujimori will abide by the decision of the Chilean courts if they rule in favor of his extradition to Peru, given his track record of dishonesty.
“You cannot believe Fujimori. He can say that he will respect the [...]

Problems of youth gangs

“Anyone under 18 is free to commit murder” 
The controversial proposal by Surquillo mayor Gustavo Sierra to punish the parents of children involved in gang activity has met with the approval of Virginia Borra, Minister for Woman and Social Development.
“We need some legal mechanism to stop this. We either have to establish an age limit for [...]

Tourism in Peru growing fast, despite global image of high crime rates

Tourism minister Mercedes Aráoz revealed yesterday that tourism in Peru is increasing at a rate of about 10% per year, well above the average for South America of 7%.
She also stated that Peru has attained an image as an exotic and culturally authentic destination, where visitors can experience history alongside living culture – not just [...]