Living in Peru

Peru lies on the Pacific coast of South America and stretches from the dry coastal plain across the Andes to the Amazon Basin; around 32 million people live there. Nature and climate vary greatly: the coast is usually dry, while the mountains have cool temperatures and pronounced rainy seasons depending on altitude, and the east is tropical and humid. Many people live in cities, but houses, transport routes, and the pace of life differ markedly between Lima, Andean villages, and communities in the rainforest. Everyday life is shaped by work in trade, services, agriculture, mining, or fishing, long journeys in the cities, regional markets, and time spent together with family.