Visiting Peru soon and planning your trip? Here is a complete guide about how to stay connected when traveling to Peru with everything you need to know. What is the best prepaid sim card for traveling in Peru, which provider has the best 4G/5G network in Peru, where to buy a sim card, up to date prices as per August 2022, my recommendation and experiences and even information about international and e-sim cards for Peru.
As I am trying to travel to every country in the world and the first thing I do is buying a prepaid sim card when I arrive to a new country, you can already find more than 200 prepaid sim card guides on Traveltomtom from all over the world: USA, New York, Panama, Colombia, Bogota, Argentina, Buenos Aires, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 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 buying a prepaid sim card for your holiday destination.
My recommendation
Traveltomtom recommends a Claro prepaid sim card for traveling in Peru. However, may you arrive at Lima Airport do NOT buy a Claro prepaid sim card there. Read more below!
We also recommend international sim cards with data and global coverage. Going on a big South America trip then definitely check out my comparison of the best travel sim cards with data in 2022 and choose the one that suits your trip the most.
However, the easiest way to stay connected when traveling abroad are e-sim cards.
E-sim card 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. You order online, you receive a unique 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 or click on the link to get more info.
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 of course is the most convenient place to buy a sim card, 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 store
This is your best bid 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 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 e-sim cards section or below for international sim cards for Peru.
Best 4G/5G network in Peru in 2022
Before we dive into the prepaid sim card prices for Peru sim cards let’s compare the mobile internet network coverage of all providers. You don’t want to sit on an 18 hour bus ride and have no signal, right?
Therefore Traveltomtom thinks 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 when in Peru lately. However, it is limited to some areas in Lima and Cusco. Don’t expect too much from it yet as of August 2022. 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 and Claro has the best 4G/5G network in Peru in 2022.
Prices prepaid sim cards in Peru in 2022
BiTel Peru
They keep it very simple at BiTel Peru. A prepaid sim card costs 10 Soles ($2.5 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 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:
- 4 GB data + unlimited minutes and unlimited Facebook + Instagram photos = 20 Soles - $5 USD
- 10 GB data + unlimited minutes and unlimited Facebook + Instagram photos = 29 Soles - $7.5 USD
- 20 GB data + unlimited minutes and unlimited Facebook + Instagram photos = 39 Soles - $10 USD
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 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 data to your Peru sim card:
- 4 GB data + 500 minutes + unlimited sms + WhatsApp = 20 Soles - $5 USD
- 10.5 GB data + unlimited minutes/sms/WhatsApp = 30 Soles - $7.5 USD
- 13.5 GB data + unlimited minutes/sms/WhatsApp = 40 Soles - $10 USD
For more information check the Claro Peru website.
Best sim card for Peru in 2022
All in all I think you already sense what comes out of the Traveltomtom test for best sim card in Peru, right? EnTel and BiTel have a much weaker mobile internet network in Peru compared to Claro and Movistar 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 2022!
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 the above sounds like too much hassle or you just want to prepare yourself for your trip to Peru right now then look at the following: a pre-activated international sim card for Peru. These prepaid sim cards you order 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:
- 12 GB data for 30 days = $29.90 USD
- 10 Gb data for 30 days = $49.90 USD
Click here to order a one of the above Peru sim card deals directly online or find more offers and info.
Also a last reminder that you can arrange everything online with an e-sim card. 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 2022 I have visited more than 135 countries, so still a long way to go.
Enjoy your trip to Peru!
