Luggage & Currency

I have a bit more info about luggage restrictions & currency in Peru.

In addition to a small carry-on, we can each check 2 pieces of luggage, weighing no more than 45 lbs each. Carlos said luggage weighing more than that could cost up to $4 per lb extra.
Please don't feel like you have to bring anything for the humanitarian project, but if you would like, you can. For those of you that have asked about collecting supplies for the school in Huilloq, via eagle scout projects, or other means, you could bring one suitcase for yourself, and one suitcase full of supplies/clothes for the children.
Then on the way home the 2nd suitcase can be full of souvenirs :-)

If anyone is only going to check 1 bag, and wouldn't mind letting someone else check a bag of humanitarian supplies as your 2nd bag, let me know.

As for money in Peru. Carlos said he thought $450 per couple would be more than enough for meals and tips, etc. I know I've never been there, but after reading a lot about traveling in Peru, I don't think you'd spend $450 unless you were generous with your tips and ate at nice restaurants.
Carlos said there won't be too many places where you can use a credit card, but if they do, and you trust them with that info, using a credit card will usually get you the best exchange rate. He said the best way to take money is in US dollars (no bills larger than $20) & exchange it when we get there, or most of our hotels will have an ATM machine where you can take out money in the local currency.

The exchange rate is about 3 nuevos soles to 1 dollar. Here's a little more info from enjoyperu.com
Peru's currency is the Nuevo Sol (S/.). One Nuevo Sol is broken down into 100 céntimos (cents). Banknotes currently circulating include 200, 100, 50, 20 and 10 Nuevos Soles, while there are coins for 1, 2 and 5 Nuevos Soles and 50, 20, 10 and 5 cents.
If you want more info about Nuevos Soles, check out wikipedia. There are pictures of the coins and paper notes.

I need to know by March 16th if you are going or not, so we know that the spot is yours, or that we can give the space to someone else.

To make it easy to verify exactly who is going, (if you haven't already) for each person traveling with us, please send me a copy of your passport photo page or the name on your passport if you don't have your passport yet. Receiving this info by March 16th will secure your reservation, and then any money owed will be due by March 31st.