Some thoughts on dealing with money in Peru.
1. Get a Schwab Investor Checking account.
The account is free. You don’t have to actually invest any money with them (as the name implies). There are no foreign transaction fees. And they reimburse your ATM fees. It’s the best account for foreign travel.
2. Hoard your change and small bills.
Having change in Peru is very important. I’m talking about denominations of 5 soles or less… We’re not sure why, exactly, but taxi cabs, restaurants, hotels, vendors cannot, ever, make change for you. 
A couple of examples… We had a taxi driver put up a fuss when we paid for a S./5 cab ride with a S./10 bill.
We also waited 15 minutes in a restaurant in Cusco while two of the staff members ran out of the building to break S./100 for our change.
3. Get a pin for your credit card.
Just in case your debit card is eaten by an ATM because you forgot the pin and used the wrong one too many times.
Having a pin for your credit card will let you easily get money from an ATM, versus having to deal with a bank teller. Unfortunately, you are charged the same cash advance fee. Good to have in a pinch though.
4. Enlist your mom to be your banker in the States.
Thanks Mom! She receives our rent checks and deposits them for us each month! So nice.
5. Become one with the gringo tax.
You’re just going to be charged more for being a tourist… don’t fight it. I’m still ashamed about haggling with a taxi cab driver who was going to charge me S./1 more than he should have been.
Do all the ATMs in Peru accept your Schwab account debit cards?? Do you ever pay for things with credit or debit card and NOT cash?
I’m totally looking into the Schwab account – may come in handy soon!! (wink, wink!)
Yes, every ATM we have used has taken the Schwab card. It´s on the PLUS network.
We use the Schwab card to pay for airline and bus tickets as well (which are purchased at the grocery store of all places). Since there is no foreign exchange fee with Schwab it´s a better deal than using a credit card even with the points or cash back.
I´m curious to hear the status of your move! What country?!