Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Yes, Peru lies entirely within the tropics. Its northernmost point (~0°01' N) and southernmost (~18°21' S) both fall between the **Tropic of Cancer (23.5° N)** and **Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° S)**. The **Equator crosses its northern tip** (near Putumayo River).
| Region | Elevation | Climate | Key Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Costa (Coast) | 0–500 m | **Hyper-arid desert** (cold Humboldt Current); 18–30°C; garúa (fog) May–Nov. **Lima** = 2nd driest capital (after Cairo). | Lima, Trujillo, Chiclayo, Piura, Ica |
| Sierra (Andes) | 2,000–6,768 m | **Cool temperate → alpine**; wet season Nov–Mar; **diurnal extremes** (20°C day / 0°C night). Glaciers vanishing. | Cusco, Arequipa, Huaraz, Puno, Ayacucho |
| Selva (Amazon) | 80–1,000 m | **Tropical rainforest**; 25–35°C, high humidity, 2,000–4,000 mm rain. **Biodiversity hotspot**. | Iquitos, Pucallpa, Puerto Maldonado |
**#1 in bird species (1,800+), #3 in mammals, #2 in fish.** 84 of 104 Holdridge life zones. **Potato (4,000 varieties), tomato, quinoa, cacao** originated here.
Peru's **tropical location + extreme topography = planetary climate laboratory**.