Peru SIM Card: How to Get Mobile Data as a US Traveler

Should You Get a Peru SIM Card, an eSIM or Use Roaming?

For most US travelers, a travel eSIM is the easiest way to get data in Peru, a local Peru SIM card is the cheapest for longer trips and heavy use, and US roaming suits short trips where simplicity matters more than cost. Choose based on trip length, data needs and whether your phone is unlocked.

Which Carrier Has the Best Coverage in Peru?

Claro and Movistar generally have the widest coverage in Peru, including Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes. Entel is strong in Lima and big cities with good data speeds, while Bitel is cheaper but thinner in rural Andes areas. For a Machu Picchu and trekking trip, Claro or Movistar is the safer choice.

Coverage changes with each tower upgrade, so check the carrier's own map for places on your route.

How to Buy a SIM Card in Peru: Step by Step

To buy a SIM card in Peru, visit an official Claro, Movistar, Entel or Bitel store with your passport and an unlocked phone. Staff register the SIM to your passport, insert it and activate a prepaid data package. Airport kiosks in Lima are convenient but often charge more than city stores.

1. Confirm your phone is unlocked before leaving the US.
2. Bring your original passport, since copies are often refused.
3. Visit an official carrier store, not a street seller.
4. Ask for a prepaid (prepago) plan with data and WhatsApp.
5. Let staff register and test the SIM before you leave.
6. Save your new number and keep the SIM tray tool.

Official stores sit around the Plaza de Armas and Avenida El Sol in Cusco. Other first-day errands are listed in our Peru travel tips guide.

How Does a Peru eSIM Work?

A Peru eSIM is a digital SIM profile you download by scanning a QR code, usually bought online from a travel eSIM provider before you fly. Once you land, you switch data to the eSIM line while keeping your US number for texts. Most iPhones from the XS onward and recent Android flagships support eSIM.

1. Check your phone supports eSIM and is unlocked.
2. Buy a Peru or South America plan with enough data.
3. Install the eSIM over Wi-Fi before departure.
4. Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming after landing.
5. Set your US line to texts only to avoid roaming charges.

Does Your US Phone Plan Work in Peru?

Many US phone plans work in Peru through international roaming. Some T-Mobile plans include basic data and texting in Peru at no extra cost, while AT&T and Verizon usually charge a daily international pass. Roaming partners include Claro and Movistar, so coverage matches local networks, but speeds may be capped.

• T-Mobile: many plans include slow free data, faster passes extra.
• AT&T: International Day Pass on most plans.
• Verizon: TravelPass charged per day of use.
• Check your plan's Peru terms before you fly.
• Turn off data roaming if you rely on an eSIM instead.

Is There Cell Service at Machu Picchu and on the Treks?

Cell service at Machu Picchu is limited. Aguas Calientes has good 4G, and some signal reaches the entrance area, but much of the citadel has weak or no coverage. On the Inca Trail, Salkantay and other treks, expect long stretches without signal, with brief coverage near villages and some passes.

• Aguas Calientes: generally good data.
• Machu Picchu entrance: patchy signal.
• Inside the citadel: weak or none in many spots.
• Inca Trail campsites: mostly no signal.
• Salkantay lodges: occasional signal or paid Wi-Fi.

Charging on trails is covered in our Peru power plug guide, and what each trail day looks like is in the Inca Trail difficulty guide.

How Much Data Do You Need for a Trip to Peru?

Most travelers need about 1 to 2 GB of data per week in Peru for maps, WhatsApp and light browsing, rising to 5 GB or more for heavy social media, video calls or hotspot use. Hotel Wi-Fi covers uploads and streaming, so a modest plan usually lasts a typical Cusco and Machu Picchu trip.