Pisco city is located in the Ica Region of Peru, the capital of the Pisco Province. The city is around 9 metres (28 feet) above sea level. The area is normally visited because of the concentration of marine animals and birds at the Paracas National Reservation, or the Peruvian Galapagos. At the reserve there are the Ballestas Islands, which are off limits to people, but boat tours can get close. On the islands there are many birds, including pelicans, penguins, cormorants, Peruvian boobies, and Inca terns. There are also sea lions, turtles, dolphins, and whales.

Another attraction in the area is "El Candelabro", a giant lamp dug in the rough sand in the method used by the creators of the Nazca Lines. The origins of "El Candelabro" are not known and theories vary. Experts are divided over the authenticity of the lines.In the city is the Plaza de Armas, where people hang out and buy tejas, small sweets made from pecans and assorted dried fruits.

2007 EARTHQUAKE
The city was very near the epicenter of the 8.0-magnitude earthquake which struck south central Peru on Wednesday August 15, 2007. 80% of the city was destroyed, including the central San Clemente Cathedral of Pisco, in which a Mass was occurring at the time of the earthquake. As many as 100 deaths were reported within the cathedral.

Volunteering Solutions provides the Construction Volunteer Program in Pisco whereby volunteers help in the Earthquake Recovery Work and help in building schools, houses and clinics for the local families.

HOW TO ARRIVE IN PISCO ?
All flights arrive to Lima's International airport named “Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chavez”, most of international flights arrive at midnight.  We recommend volunteers to stay overnight in Lima and then depart to Pisco early in the morning. There are buses from Lima to Cruce de Pisco every 10 minutes and the time to arrive is 3 hours and a half. There are no flights from Lima to Pisco.

WEATHER
Summer: December to May: from 16Cº to 32Cº
Winter: June to November: From 10Cº to 12Cº
Humidity Level - High
Location: Central Costa, 16.4 feet (5 m) above sea level

Distances
152 miles (245 km) from Lima
46.6 miles (75 km) from Ica
127.4 miles (205 km) from Nazca

COMMUNICATIONS
Telephone
Public telephones are easy to find and they enable the access to local, national and international dialing and through the operator. It works with coins (céntimos and nuevos soles) and with 147 cards. Other option is to use parlors that cost USD 0.35 by minute to call to USA or Canada.

MONEY EXCHANGE
Money
The official currency in Peru is the "Nuevo sol" and its symbol is S/. We currently have in circulation the following :
Bills of 10,20,50, 100 and 200 nuevos soles
Coins of 1,2 and 5 nuevos soles and of 5,10,20 and 50 cents of nuevo sol.

The US dollar is by far the easiest foreign currency to exchange because it will be difficult to exchange other currencies out of Lima. Despite of being well accepted, in some small sites, you will generally have to exchange it into nuevos soles. The entrance of foreign currency to Peru is limited. The dollar exchange rate may vary every day, but it usually changes between S/.2.70 and 2.95 nuevos soles against each American dollar.

Cash
It is better you take small denomination bills or pocket money as vendors, shops and taxis do not often have change. Be careful with bills and examine that they are not old or broken as vendors, banks; street money changers, etc. do not accept damaged bills.

Banks and money exchange offices
All the Bank Branches (situated in provinces) exchange American dollars and travelers cheques. The main offices (situated in Lima) and/or Exchanges money exchange offices accept coins.
We do not suggest you to exchange money on the street, unless have a high change.

DURING FREE TIME
Due to the high levels of unemployement in Pisco , there are petty crimes on street sometimes. Volunteers are not allowed to go out by themselves.Volunteers must walk in groups of 4 people and be back at homestay before 7:00 p.m.
Volunteers are not allowed to bring laptops, big cameras, jewellry, anything on sentimental value. The most recomendable is to bring old digital cameras, or very tiny ones or discartable cameras.
Volunteers are free to visit Paracas National Reservation and the reserve of the Ballestas Islands on weekends.  Also can visit Ica city for doing Sandbording and Dunne buggy, Ica is located 1 hour by bus from Pisco.

TRANSPORTATION
There are no urban buses or pick up trucks in Pisco. The common transportation is using tuk-tuk called motocars or mototaxi, fare cost USD 0.58 or 1.50 soles. Volunteers are transferred from homestay to their work site by private buses, the cost for a week (5 days) round and trip is USD 200 for 6 persons, this fee is paid by volunteers the first day on their arrival to Pisco.