How To Buy a Sim Card at Lima Airport in 2025

Preparing your trip to Peru and flying to Lima Airport and wondering if you can buy a tourist sim card at the airport? Avoid high roaming charges and slow overseas data roaming plans.

This is a guide with everything you need to know before buying a prepaid sim card at Lima International Airport in 2025.

Find out where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per January 2025, my recommendation, a vlog about my arrival and experiences, info about eSIMs for Peru and more.

In the past I always used to buy a prepaid sim card on arrival, nowadays I mostly use eSIMs to stay connected when traveling abroad.

Staying connected while traveling makes life so much easier. Traveltomtom also wrote a complete guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in Peru and a comparison of the best eSIMs for Peru in 2025.

Table of Contents

Some links in this article about buying a sim card at Lima Airport are affiliate links. If you buy any of the products after using an affiliate link I will earn a small commission. Don't worry this is at absolutely no extra cost to you.

My recommendation

Be aware that buying a prepaid sim cards at Lima Airport is EXTREMELY overpriced and Traveltomtom does NOT recommend buying a sim card for tourists at Lima Airport.

Traveltomtom recommends an eSIM for Peru or buy a prepaid sim card in the city center of Lima in a phone store.

Traveltomtom is an advocate for using eSIMs and eSIMs for Peru are cheaper than buying a sim card at Lima Airport. There is already an eSIM for Peru from GigSky with unlimited data for 7 days for just $21.59 USD.

For many more Peru eSIM plans check out my guide with the best eSIMs for traveling to Peru in 2025.

Read below about my experiences and find a vlog about buying a sim card at Lima Airport. If you want the cheapest prepaid sim card deal for Peru you should wait until you reach the city center and head to an official phone store.Check out my guide on how to buy a prepaid sim card in Peru in 2025 for more info.

At Traveltomtom we also firmly believe that global sim cards with data are great for traveling to Peru. Have a look at our comparison of the best travel sim cards with data in 2025 and find one for $24.90 USD with 10 GB data, which is only $2.49 USD per Gigabyte.

Why buying a sim card for Peru

There are many reasons to stay connected when traveling to Lima, but the main reason is that we want to avoid high roaming charges and don't end up with a shocking phone bill.

Having a data connection on our phone makes life so much more convenient. Think about ordering an Uber, getting directions from Google Maps or looking for a cool nearby rooftop bar, it is not possible without a data connection on your phone.

Also think about emergencies, checking your banking apps, etc. Don't depend on public WiFi. There is no guarantee, it can be slow and keep in mind that public WiFi is through an UNSECURED network. The use of a VPN is recommended to protect your data.

As Traveltomtom is on a mission to travel to every country in the world I get to about 30 - 40 different countries every year and therefore I use about 30 different sim cards per year. As I am already traveling full time since 2012 you can imagine how Traveltomtom became a specialist in providing info about sim cards for tourists.

Therefore you can find already more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: Peru, Colombia, Bogota, Brazil, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Paraguay, USA, New York, Panama, Mexico, Costa Rica, Amsterdam, London, Madrid, Paris, Istanbul, Philippines, New Zealand, Malaysia, Germany, Portugal and many more.

So next time you are planning your adventure abroad come check out Traveltomtom for the latest prepaid and eSIM advice for your next holiday destination. Bookmark me and let me help you save money!

Arriving at Lima International Airport (LIM)

The Jorge Chávez International Airport of Lima is relatively small and easy to navigate. When going through customs you are guided through the Duty Free and then you walk straight into the baggage hall. From here you pick up your luggage and walk into the Arrival hall.

The airport is located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the city center, but about 22 kilometers (14 miles) from Miraflores, the most popular tourist area in Lima. The Lima Airport offers free WiFi for all passengers and it actually works pretty good.

Where to buy a sim card at Lima Airport

There used to be 3 sim card shops, but things seem to constantly change at Lima International Airport. Also keep an eye on the comment section at the bottom.

The easiest and most convenient place to buy a sim card for Peru at Lima Airport is the Claro shop at Arrivals. Located between luggage belt 1 and 2, just before you exit the baggage collection hall with all the luggage belts, near the customs check exit. You can't miss it! However, this kiosk is the one that sells Peru sim cards for a ridiculous price!

The Claro shop in the arrival hall is open 24 hours and accept credit cards as well as Soles (local Peruvian currency). There are ATMs and Money Exchange all around the baggage claim, arrival and departure hall.

Then there used to be another Claro store at Departures. To reach Departures you will need to take the escalator in the Arrival Hall to the second floor and walk to your right to the departure hall. There used to be a Claro store that was selling prepaid sim cards for a normal price right in front of Domestic Departures.

As per feedback from Traveltomtom readers the Claro shop at Departures is (temporary) closed. Keep an eye on the comment section for any updates.

The 3rd option is the Peru Sim store in the Arrival Hall of Lima Airport, next to the official airport bus and taxi companies.

Prices prepaid sim cards at Lima Airport

All info and prices are updates as per January 2025. Prices are in Peruvian Soles: $1 USD = 3.7 Soles and 10 Soles = $2.7 USD.

Claro store Arrivals

As I dropped already a couple times before this is the store where tourists get scammed if you ask me. If you really desperately want to buy a sim card immediately on arrival at Lima Airport then this is your place. These are their Peru sim card deals for tourists:

• 14 GB data + unlimited calls and social media for 1 week = $59 USD
• 25 GB data + unlimited calls and social media for 2 weeks = $108 USD
• 30 GB data + unlimited calls and social media for 3 week2 = $157 USD

I told you prices for tourist sim cards at Lima Airport are insane! Now you understand why I call buying a sim card for tourists at Lima Airport a SCAM!

Claro store Departures (temporary closed)

However, at the Claro store at in the Departure Hall of Lima Airport they sell prepaid sim cards for Peru for a local price:

• 4 GB data + unlimited calls and social media for 10 days = 35 Soles - $9 USD

Peru Sim

At the Peru Sim in the arrival hall you also pay the tourist price:

• 5 GB data + unlimited calls/sms + free social media apps = $21 USD
• 15 GB data + unlimited calls/sms + free social media apps = $27.5 USD
• 30 GB data + unlimited calls/sms + free social media apps = $37.5 USD

Best Peru sim card at Lima Airport

Please do NOT buy a sim card for Peru at the Claro store at Arrivals. These prices are exactly the reason why I write these travel blogs and arrival guides. To provide travel tips for fellow travelers. Don't fall for these extremely overpriced tourist sim cards.

eSIMs are the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Peru and more affordable than buying a tourist sim card at Lima Airport.

There is already an eSIM for Peru from GigSky with unlimited data for 7 days for just $21.59 USD. For many more Peru eSIM plans check out my guide with the best eSIMs for traveling to Peru in 2025.

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Best eSIM for Peru in 2025 | Comparison

How To Buy a Prepaid Sim Card for Peru in 2025

The best sim card at Lima Airport can be bought from the Claro store in the Departure Hall. Here you pay the local price rather than the tourist price.

Much easier to find is the Peru Sim store in the Arrival Hall. You will walk up to it when walking out of the Baggage Claim hall.

The best prepaid sim cards for tourists you will find in Lima city center in a phone store from one of the mobile internet operators: Claro, Movistar, Entel or Bitel. Check out my complete guide for buying a prepaid sim card in Peru in 2025 and find a prepaid sim card for 25 Soles ($6 USD) with 4 GB data for 30 days.

Best eSIMs for Peru

The easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Lima in 2025 is an eSIM. You arrange everything online in just a couple clicks. No more visiting a phone store and swapping physical prepaid sim cards.

You order an eSIM for Peru on the internet, you receive a QR code, scan it, follow the simple steps and within less than 2 minutes you have a Peru eSIM installed on your phone.

Upon arrival in Lima it automatically connects you to an available network and you enjoy data on your phone pretty much when the plane lands.

For more info check out my guide with everything you need to know before ordering an eSIM for Peru.

Here are some recommendations.

GigSky

GigSky has been around for a long time and is also recommended in my list of the best international eSIMs for traveling the world in 2025.

The Traveltomtom Team tested GigSky and was positively surprised. Check out our complete GigSky review with all pros and cons.

Here are the GigSky eSIM plans for Peru in 2025:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $14.99 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $39.99 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $27.99 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $95.99 USD

• Unlimited data for 7 days = $21.59 USD
• Unlimited data for 15 days = $39.19 USD

Click here to order a GigSky eSIM for Peru.

Downside of GigSky is that they do not provide much info about their eSIM plans. So it is unclear on which network they operate in Peru, neither if they support 4G/LTE or just 3G.

Airalo

Airalo is a very reliable eSIM provider and Traveltomtom has used Airalo uncountable times in more than 50 countries around the world. I can totally recommend using Airalo for ordering an eSIM.

Airalo now requires a ID verification if you buy an Airalo eSIM for Peru. Airalo is the only eSIM provider that requires an ID verification!

Airalo has data-only eSIMs as well as data, voice and text eSIMs for Peru.

Here are the Airalo eSIM plans for Peru for 2025:

• 1 GB data for 7 days = $5 USD
• 2 GB data for 15 days = $9 USD
• 3 GB data for 30 days = $11.5 USD
• 5 GB data for 30 days = $17 USD
• 10 GB data for 30 days = $29 USD
• 20 GB data for 30 days = $45 USD

Data-only means that incoming or outgoing calls/sms are not supported and the eSIMs from Airalo do not come with a phone number. But as of 2025 Airalo has now also eSIMs with data, voice and text.

Airalo is the only eSIM provider that has eSIMs for Peru that support calling and texting.

• 1 GB data + 10 minutes + 10 sms for 7 days = $6 USD
• 2 GB data + 20 minutes + 20 sms for 15 days = $10.5 USD
• 3 GB data + 30 minutes + 30 sms for 30 days = $14 USD
• 5 GB data + 50 minutes + 50 sms for 30 days = $20 USD
• 10 GB data + 100 minutes + 100 sms for 30 days = $34 USD
• 20 GB data + 200 minutes + 200 sms for 30 days = $49 USD

Click here to order a an eSIM for Peru from Airalo.

Get an extra discount of $3 USD on your first Airalo eSIM with the code: TOMTOM3.

All the Airalo eSIM plans operate on the Cuy 4G/LTE network in Peru. Not ideal, as Cuy is an MVNO that operates on the Claro network.

Make sure your phone is eSIM compatible before ordering an eSIM for Peru.

For many more eSIM plans for tourists check out my comparison of the best eSIMs for Peru in 2025.

Order a prepaid sim card for Peru online

If your phone is not eSIM compatible but you would like to order a sim card for traveling to Peru online before your trip then check out the following.

Arrive prepared in Lima with an international prepaid sim card. You order them online and a physical prepaid sim card will be delivered to your home address. You put this sim card in your phone and it automatically connects to an available network upon arrival in Lima, basically when the plane lands you are instantly online.

SimOptions is the only sim card provider that sells physical prepaid sim cards for Peru:

• 10 GB data valid in 56 countries for 30 days = $24.90 USD
• 10 GB data valid in 122 countries for 14 days = $49.90 USD

Click here for more info or to order an international sim card for Peru via SimOptions.

In fact, Traveltomtom recommends the Three Data Pack 10 GB because it is one of the best value sim cards for Peru that you can order on the internet. This physical prepaid sim card is only $2.49 USD per Gigabyte. This is even cheaper than some eSIMs for Peru.

However, eSIMs are so easy to use that Traveltomtom often pays a little more for this convenience. If you feel the same way and your phone is eSIM compatible then check out my list of the best eSIMs for Peru in 2025.

Vlog about buying a sim card at Lima Airport

Here is my vlog about my arrival at Lima International Airport and tried to buy a sim card for my trip to Peru. At my time of visit the Peru Sim store did not exist yet, so you won't this sim card shop in my vlog, but it will give you a first impression of what it looks like arriving at Lima Airport.

How to get from Lima Airport to the city center

At the airport you will find the Airport Express Lima bus that runs from the airport to the city and vice versa from 06.00 am till 11.00 pm. A bus tickets is cheap and only costs around 15 Soles one-way ($4 USD). The bus has multiple stops along the way as well as several stops in Miraflores. The bus ride often takes more than 1 hour, depending on the time of the day and traffic situation.

My preferred way to go from Lima Airport to the city is to take an Uber from the airport. To Miraflores, my favorite place to stay in Lima an Uber costs around $12 USD. An Uber comfort will cost you a little more: 60 Soles - $15 USD. The Uber can be arranged through the free WiFi of the airport and the ride will take between 30-40 minutes.

I hope all the above tips for buying a sim card for traveling in Peru at Lima Airport were helpful and if you still have any questions then please leave me a comment below. I will try to help you out as much as I can.

Curious what it looks like trying to visit every country in the world? Go check out my Instagram account @traveltomtom and follow along. As of January 2025 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.

Enjoy your trip to Lima!