Stay online in Peru from the moment you land in Lima or Cusco. Install a data eSIM before you fly, skip the SIM counter in arrivals, and keep your usual number for calls and texts while you use maps, WhatsApp and your train and tour bookings.
Peru eSIM
Peru eSIM plans
Every plan is data only, priced in US dollars, with no contract and nothing to return.
Our picks
Three plans we would buy ourselves, by the trip you are taking. Every plan we sell is listed below.
Short trip
10.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
7 days
A week or so away: maps, messages, rides and the odd video call.
Part of the Global (170 countries) bundle
$17.99
Buy this planLong trip
22.5 GB
1.5 GB a day
15 days
Two weeks or more, with room for photos, streaming and work email.
Part of the Global (170 countries) bundle
$29.99
Buy this plan
Also covered by Global (170 countries)
One eSIM that also works in the other countries of the bundle, for a trip that crosses borders.
See every country in Global (170 countries)
No eSIM, no charge. If your payment goes through and we cannot issue your eSIM, we refund you in full. Refund policy
Real people. A person answers every day, 07:00 to 23:00 Paris time, within 2 hours. How we look after you
Safe checkout. Secure payment by Stripe. Cards, Apple Pay and Google Pay.
Local networks. See which ones it uses in Peru
Which plan fits your trip
Peru is sold on our global plans, which cover it together with more than 160 other countries in one install. They suit a stay in Peru alone as well as a trip that goes on to Bolivia, Ecuador or Chile. The plan cards above show the days and data on sale:
- Daily data suits steady use: maps, messages and photos every day. A route through Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley is steady from day to day, so this is the usual pick.
- Fixed data suits a longer, lighter trip, where you use your hostel's Wi-Fi and mobile data only when you are out.
See fixed, daily or unlimited for how each type behaves.
Landing in Peru
Most international flights arrive at Jorge Chávez airport in Lima, with connections on to Cusco, Arequipa and Iquitos. Install the eSIM at home while you are on your own Wi-Fi, then turn on data roaming for the eSIM line once you are off the plane. You can then book a ride or message your hotel before you reach the exit.
Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail
Plan to be offline for part of the classic visit. On the Inca Trail there is little or no signal for most of the four days. At the citadel itself coverage is patchy, while Aguas Calientes, the town below, has signal. Download your entry ticket, train ticket and passport scan to the phone before you go, since they are checked at the gates.
Coverage in the cities and the Andes
Coverage is good in Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, the towns of the Sacred Valley and along the main roads between them. It thins out on high-altitude treks such as Salkantay and Rainbow Mountain, in the Colca Canyon, around Lake Titicaca away from Puno and in the Amazon outside Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado. Download offline maps before you head into the mountains.
How much data do you need?
A typical traveler using maps, messaging and photos uses about 1 GB a day. Video calls, uploading photos and working from a laptop push that up, so pick the larger daily allowance if you stream or work.
Networks in Peru
Peru's mobile networks are Claro, Movistar, Entel and Bitel. A travel eSIM connects to a local network as a roaming partner, which is why data roaming must be on for the eSIM line. The partner network can differ from plan to plan, so check the plan details, or ask us at support@esimlounge.com before you buy.
How to install your eSIM
Install it at home before you fly, then switch it on when you land.
Check your phone
Your phone must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. Most phones from the last few years do.
Scan the QR code
Scan the code from your email while you still have Wi-Fi at home. It takes about two minutes.
Switch on when you land
Turn on the eSIM line and data roaming for it. Keep your usual SIM for calls and texts if you like.
Peru eSIM questions
Is an eSIM cheaper than my own carrier's roaming in Peru?
Usually, yes. UK, US and Australian carriers typically charge a daily pass for each day you use your phone abroad, and over a week those passes add up to more than a plan here. Check your own plan's roaming terms to compare.
Is there signal at Machu Picchu?
Patchy at the citadel, better in Aguas Calientes below it. Download your entry and train tickets to the phone before you go, since they are checked at the gates.
Does it work on the Inca Trail?
Mostly not. Expect little or no signal for most of the trek, and use the days offline. Your eSIM picks up again near Aguas Calientes.
Should I buy a SIM card in Lima instead?
For data, an eSIM is simpler: you set it up at home, skip the queue in arrivals and keep your usual SIM in the phone. A local SIM gives you a Peruvian phone number, which a travel eSIM does not. For maps and messaging, the eSIM does the job.
Can I use the same eSIM in Bolivia, Ecuador or Chile?
Yes, if the countries are on the plan's list. Peru is sold on our global plans, so one install keeps you online across the countries the plan covers. Check the list on the plan before you buy.
Will I keep my phone number?
Yes. Your usual SIM stays in the phone for calls and texts, and the eSIM carries your mobile data. Keep data roaming off on your usual SIM to avoid roaming fees from home.
When does the plan start counting days?
On most plans the days start when the eSIM first connects to a network at your destination, not when you install it. The plan details say how yours works.