What’s the difference between past and present perfect?

An action in the past has no connection with the present:

I woke up at 6am. I didn’t go to the park.

An action in present perfect either occurred recently;

I have just talked to Cindy. She’s coming to visit next week!

or is an experience we have had at some time in our lives:

I have been to five countries, but I haven’t been to another continent.