Peru
Best SIM and eSIM for Peru: data plans, Wi-Fi and phone tips
For most trips, install a travel eSIM before you fly: it activates on landing, avoids shop queues and passport registration, and covers Lima, Cusco and the coast. Buy a local Claro, Movistar, Entel or Bitel prepaid SIM only if you stay two weeks or more or need a +51 number.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuidePeru
Key facts
- Best default
- Travel eSIM bought before departure; activates on landing, no shop visit
- Local prepaid SIMs
- Claro, Movistar, Entel, Bitel; register with your passport at an official shop
- Where to buy
- Airport counters, carrier shops in Lima and Cusco, some phone shops; passport required
- Typical prepaid costcheck
- 2026 estimate: roughly S/10–40 for the SIM plus a data package
- eSIM costcheck
- 2026 estimate: about US$5–30 for a Peru or Latin America regional plan, depending on data
- Coveragecheck
- Good in Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and the coast; patchy in the Amazon, on trekking routes and in deep valleys
- IMEI registrationcheck
- Foreign phones used beyond a set period may need IMEI registration; eSIMs avoid most of this
- Country code
- +51
- Wi-Ficheck
- Common in hotels, cafés and bus terminals in cities; slow or absent in the Amazon and on long bus routes
- Power
- 220 V, 60 Hz, types A and C plugs; bring an adapter
SIM, eSIM or roaming: quick comparison
Pick by trip length and how much you need a local number. A travel eSIM wins for short trips and multi-country routes; a local prepaid SIM wins for long stays, repeat calls and topping up in soles.
| Option | Best for | Setup | Cost (2026 estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel eSIM | Trips under 2 weeks, multi-country routes, arriving late | Buy online, scan QR, activate on landing | US$5–30 per plan |
| Local prepaid SIM | Stays of 2 weeks or more, a +51 number, heavy data | Passport registration at an official shop | S/10–40 plus package |
| Home-carrier roaming | Very short trips, business travel on an expense account | Nothing to install | Daily pass or per-MB rates; usually the priciest |
| Wi-Fi only | Light users who preload offline maps | None | Free where available; unreliable outside cities |
How to set it up, step by step
Before you fly: check your phone supports eSIM (most phones from 2018 onward do) and that it is carrier-unlocked. Buy a Peru-only or Latin America regional plan, install it at home on Wi-Fi, and leave it switched off until landing. Download offline Google Maps for Lima, Cusco and any trek area, plus your train and bus tickets.
On arrival: switch the eSIM on and set it as the data line, keeping your home SIM active for calls and texts. If you prefer a local SIM, buy at an official carrier shop rather than a street stall, bring your passport, and ask staff to activate the data package and show you the balance. Keep the plastic card with the number written on it.
During the trip: top up eSIM plans in the app. For a local SIM, top up at the carrier shop, a pharmacy or a kiosk with the carrier logo. If data stops working, check the APN settings the carrier gave you and restart the phone before queueing again.
- Check phone is unlocked and eSIM-capable before buying anything
- Install the eSIM at home, activate only on landing
- Keep your home SIM on for bank and airline verification codes
- Download offline maps and translation before the flight
- Save the carrier's support number and your SIM number
Coverage and Wi-Fi in practice
Signal is strong in Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Trujillo and along the Pan-American coast. Expect gaps in the Amazon around Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado, on trekking routes, and in deep Andean valleys between towns. Download what you need before leaving the city.
Wi-Fi is standard in hotels, hostels, cafés and many bus terminals in cities, and usually good enough for messaging and maps. Treat it as a backup, not a plan: speeds drop in the evening, and Amazon lodges and long-distance buses often have none. Public Wi-Fi is not a place for banking; use your mobile data or a VPN for anything sensitive.
| Place | Mobile signal | Wi-Fi |
|---|---|---|
| Lima, Cusco, Arequipa | Good | Common in hotels and cafés |
| Coastal towns and bus routes | Mostly good along the Pan-American | At terminals and stops |
| Sacred Valley and trekking routes | Patchy, worse in valleys | At lodges only |
| Amazon (Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado) | Limited outside towns | Slow or none at lodges |
| Long-distance buses | Intermittent | Rare |
Things that trip people up
Registration: prepaid SIMs are tied to your passport, and foreign phones used in Peru beyond a set period may need IMEI registration. Rules and periods change, so confirm with the carrier at purchase. An eSIM sidesteps most of this because you never register a local line.
Numbers and apps: the country code is +51. Locals pay each other with the Yape and Plin QR apps, which need a Peruvian bank account, so visitors fall back on cards and cash. Uber, Cabify and InDrive work in Lima and Cusco; PeruRail or Inca Rail handle Machu Picchu trains, and Ministry of Culture tickets for Machu Picchu and museums are booked at tuboleto.cultura.pe.
Power and hardware: Peru runs on 220 V at 60 Hz with type A and C plugs, so bring an adapter and a power bank for long bus days. Keep your phone in a dry bag in the Amazon and charge it whenever a socket appears.
- Passport needed to register a prepaid SIM
- IMEI registration may apply to foreign phones — check
- Yape and Plin need a Peruvian bank account
- 220 V, types A and C plugs; bring an adapter
- Carry a power bank for buses and trek days
FAQ
Questions people ask
What is the best eSIM for Peru?
A Peru-only or Latin America regional travel eSIM from a mainstream provider is the practical pick for most trips. Install it before you fly, activate on landing, and choose a data size that matches your trip: 5–10 GB suits one to two weeks of maps, messaging and bookings.
Does my phone work in Peru?
Yes if it is carrier-unlocked and supports the local bands. Most recent phones do, and most from 2018 onward support eSIM. Foreign phones used in Peru beyond a set period may need IMEI registration — check with the carrier, or use an eSIM to avoid it.
Is Wi-Fi easy to find in Peru?
In Lima, Cusco, Arequipa and most city hotels and cafés, yes. In the Amazon, at remote lodges and on long-distance buses, expect slow or no Wi-Fi, so keep mobile data or offline maps as your backup.
Should I buy a SIM at Lima airport?
It is convenient but usually pricier than a carrier shop in the city. Airport counters can also be closed on late arrivals. If you land at night, an eSIM installed in advance is the smoother option.
How much data do I need for Peru?
For one to two weeks of maps, messaging, ride-hailing and ticket bookings, 5–10 GB is usually enough. Add more if you stream video, work remotely or tether a laptop. Offline maps cut usage sharply.
Can I keep my home number active?
Yes. Use the eSIM or local SIM for data and keep your home SIM on for calls and verification codes, but turn off data roaming on the home line to avoid charges.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check
Sources
- officialOSIPTEL – telecom regulator (Peru)
- officialPROMPERÚ – official tourism board
- secondaryWikivoyage – Peru