Traveling to Peru and planning your trip? This is a complete guide on how to stay connected when traveling to Peru. Find out what is the best sim card for traveling in Peru in 2023 and everything else you need to know: which provider has the best 4G/5G network in Peru, the best e-sim cards for Peru, where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per August 2023, my recommendation and experiences and even information about international sim cards for Peru.
As I am trying to travel to every country in the world and the first thing I do when getting to a new country is finding the best way to get connected, you can already find more than 200 sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: USA, New York, Panama, Colombia, Bogota, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Brazil, Chile, Europe, Madrid, Barcelona, Spain, France, United Kingdom and many more.
So next time you are planning your trip abroad always come check out Traveltomtom for the latest and most up to date information about prepaid and e-sim cards for your holiday destination. Bookmark me!
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Claro prepaid sim card for traveling in Peru. However, if you arrive at Lima Airport do NOT buy a Claro prepaid sim card in the baggage claim area. More about this later.
If you do not use much data and only need some data for staying in touch through WhatsApp and use Google Maps for directions then an e-sim card for Peru is enough. They already start from $6 USD.
We also recommend international sim cards with data and global coverage. These travel sim cards are valid in many different countries. Going on a big South America trip then definitely check out my comparison of the best travel sim cards with data in 2023 and choose the one that suits your trip the most.
However, the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Peru in 2023 is an e-sim card.
Best e-sim cards for Peru
Within just a couple minutes you can arrange everything online and no more swapping physical sim cards. Yes, that is what an e-sim card does and therefore it is the easiest way to stay connected when traveling to Peru in 2023.
You order an e-sim online, you receive a QR code and instructions in your email, you follow the steps, apply the settings and you are all set and connected.
Check out the following sim card deals for Peru:
- 1 GB data for 7 days = $6 USD
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $15 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $20 USD
Click here to directly order an e-sim card for Peru online.
The above Peru e-sim cards from Habla Telefon operate on the 4G/LTE network of Movistar Peru. Find more info in the link.
On another website I found international e-sim cards that work in Peru as well. The Three e-sim cards are valid in more than 70 countries and the AIS e-sim card is valid in more than 120 countries.
- 3 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 5 GB data for 30 days = $34.90 USD
- 6 GB data for 15 days = $39.90 USD
Click here to order an international e-sim card for traveling in Peru.
Make sure that your phone is e-sim card compatible and unlocked before ordering an e-sim card for Peru.
Registration process Peru sim card
Buying a local prepaid sim card in Peru is very easy, but you will need to bring your passport. Your new Peru sim card will be registered on your name and your passport number. In the store they will take a copy of your passport, that is it. No fingerprint or photo needed. But make sure your phone is UNLOCKED other wise a Peru sim card won't work in your phone. If you don't know if your phone is unlocked ask your provider in your home country.
Mobile internet providers in Peru
There are 4 main mobile internet providers in Peru: EnTel, BiTel, Movistar and Claro. All of the mobile internet operators offer prepaid sim cards for tourists.
Where to buy a sim card for Peru
Lima International Airport
When you fly to Lima Airport this is of course the most convenient place to buy a prepaid sim card for Peru, but before you do please read my guide about buying a sim card for Peru at Lima Airport.
Do NOT fall for the tourist trap in the Arrival Hall. Here they sell prepaid sim cards that start from $59 USD! Yes you read that right! There is another option in the Departure Hall, check the link above for more information!
Official retail stores
This is your best bid when you decide to buy a local prepaid sim card in Peru. Traveltomtom advices to always go to an official retail store. Here you will get the best service and prepaid sim card offers. To locate the nearest store when in the city center of Cusco or Lima use Google Maps and walk into the nearby store for buying a Peru prepaid sim card.
Order online
You can also order sim cards for traveling in Peru online, see my section about the best e-sim cards for Peru and below you can read more about ordering an international sim card for traveling in Peru.
Best 4G/5G network in Peru in 2023
Before we dive into the prepaid sim card prices for Peru sim cards let’s compare the mobile internet network coverage of all internet providers in Peru. You don’t want to sit on an 18 hour bus ride across Peru and have no signal, right?
In this comparison I will show you that the best 3G/4G/5G mobile network coverage is essential for determining the best prepaid sim card for traveling in Peru.
Is there 5G in Peru?
Yes, there is 5G in Peru. I experienced it myself while traveling in Peru in 2023. However, it is limited to some areas in Lima and Cusco. Don’t expect too much from it yet. Having a stable and fast 4G connection in Peru is already worth a lot.
BiTel 4G/5G coverage map
EnTel 4G/5G coverage map
Movistar 4G/5G coverage map
Claro 4G/5G coverage map
From the above 3G/4G/5G coverage maps of Peru we can clearly see that especially Bitel has the smallest/weakest network coverage in Peru, but also Entel is not really a recommend sim card for traveling in Peru. Movistar has a much better network than Bitel and Entel but Claro has the best 4G/5G network in Peru in 2023.
Prices prepaid sim cards in Peru in 2023
All info below is up to date as per August 2023. Prices are in Peruvian Soles: $1 USD = 3.67 Soles and 10 Soles = $2.73 USD.
BiTel Peru
They keep it very simple at BiTel Peru. A prepaid sim card costs 10 Soles ($2.6 USD) and comes with 1.5 GB data. Then you can add the following so called Plan Turista:
- 7 GB data + unlimited calls/text = 20 Soles - $5.3 USD
For more info see the BiTel Peru website.
EnTel Peru
At EnTel they also charge 5 Soles for registering a new prepaid sim card for Peru and then you can choose from one of the following prepaid plans for 30 days:
- 7 GB data + unlimited minutes and unlimited Facebook + Instagram = 20 Soles - $5.3 USD
- 12 GB data + unlimited minutes and unlimited Facebook + Instagram = 29 Soles - $7.7 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited minutes and unlimited Facebook + Instagram = 39 Soles - $10.4 USD
* The advertised 10 GB extra data in the photo above is only for digital recharge and not for new prepaid sim cards for tourists.
Check out the EnTel Peru website for more info.
Movistar Peru
A Movistar prepaid sim card also costs 5 soles, but for some dumb reason you can not buy data packages at a Movistar store. Check my Youtube video about buying a sim card in Peru how I found out.
I went to the Movistar store but they redirected me to a nearby convenient store for top up and activating a data package, not kidding. So my recommendation when looking for a prepaid sim card for Peru is NOT going to be Movistar!
Anyway on their website I found the following info:
- 2.5 GB data + unlimited calls/sms + unlimited social media* for 15 days = 15 Soles - $4 USD
- 4 GB data + unlimited calls/sms + unlimited social media* for 20 days = 20 Soles - $5 USD
- 4.5 GB data + unlimited calls/sms + unlimited social media* for 25 days = 25 Soles - $6 USD
- 7 GB data + unlimited calls/sms + unlimited social media* for 30 days = 30 Soles - $7.5 USD
* Unlimited social media speed is a guaranteed speed of 40%! UH WHAT!? I would NOT want that! It would drive me nuts! I need full speed data, especially for social media!
Check out the Movistar Peru website for more info.
Claro prepaid sim card
A Claro prepaid sim card costs 5 soles which is a little more than $1 USD and then you can choose from 3 packages to add a data plan to your Peru sim card:
- 4 GB data + 500 minutes + unlimited sms + WhatsApp = 20 Soles - $5.3 USD
- 10.5 GB data + unlimited minutes/sms/WhatsApp = 30 Soles - $8 USD
- 13.5 GB data + unlimited minutes/sms/WhatsApp = 40 Soles - $10.7 USD
For more information check the Claro Peru website.
Best sim card for Peru in 2023
All in all I think you already sense what comes out of the Traveltomtom test for the best sim card in Peru, right? EnTel and BiTel have a much weaker mobile data network in Peru compared to the Claro 4G/5G network and on top of that Movistar Peru makes it really complicated to buy a prepaid sim card for tourists.
Therefore it is an easy conclusion that Claro is the best prepaid sim card for traveling in Peru in 2023.
E-sim cards for Peru are a second best option. We have seen that they already start from $6 USD and 5 GB data costs $20. A local prepaid sim card is much cheaper, but an e-sim card has the advantage that you can order it online before your trip and arrive in Peru prepared. There are also international prepaid sim cards for Peru that you can order online and 10 GB data only costs $24.90 USD. More info below. These are another great way of staying connected when traveling to Peru.
If you are interested in my experiences buying a prepaid sim card in Peru then check out my vlog in the video below:
Order a sim card for Peru online
Does buying a prepaid sim card on arrival in Peru sounds like too much hassle or you just want to prepare yourself for your trip to Peru right now then have a look at a pre-activated international sim card for Peru. You can order these prepaid sim cards that are valid in 70 - 120 countries online and they get shipped to your home address before your trip. On arrival you put them in your phone and you are instantly connected. It is plug and play!
Check out the following international sim cards:
- 10 GB data for 30 days = $24.90 USD
- 12 GB data for 30 days = $29.90 USD
- 10 GB data for 14 days = $49.90 USD
- 12 GB data for 1 year = $59.90 USD
- 12 GB data for 2 years = $79.90 USD
Click here to order an international sim card for Peru directly online or find more info.
Also a last reminder that you can arrange everything online with an e-sim card for traveling to Peru. Click here to order an e-sim card for Peru or get more info.
I hope all the above tips for staying connected when traveling to Peru were helpful and I made you choose the right Peru sim card for your trip. Let me know if you still have any questions and leave me a comment below.
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 August 2023 I have visited more than 155 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Peru!
Some links in this article about the best way to stay connected in Peru 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.