A SIM at Lima airport costs S/ 60 to S/ 120; the same thing in a Miraflores shop is S/ 5 to S/ 10 for the chip plus S/ 15 to S/ 30 for data. Claro has the best coverage in the Andes, and biometric passport registration is required.
- Wait until you are in town - the airport markup is roughly tenfold. Lima airport kiosks want S/ 60 to S/ 120 for limited data.
- In a city store the chip is S/ 5 to S/ 10 and a 30-day package with 5 GB to 15 GB is S/ 15 to S/ 30.
- Claro has the broadest national footprint and is the right choice for Cusco, the Sacred Valley or anywhere mountainous.
- Every SIM activation requires passport registration and a fingerprint in person at an authorised outlet. There is no way around it, which is the main argument for an eSIM.
- Download offline maps before you go up into the Andes. Coverage on the highways is decent but the trails are not.
Wait until you are in town. The airport markup here is roughly tenfold.
- At Jorge Chavez airport, kiosks in international arrivals sell tourist packages at S/ 60 to S/ 120 for limited data.
- In a city store in Miraflores or central Arequipa, the chip is S/ 5 to S/ 10 and a 30-day package with 5 GB to 15 GB is S/ 15 to S/ 30.
The networks
- Claro has the broadest national footprint - the coast, the Andean highways and the population centres. The right choice if you are going to Cusco, the Sacred Valley or anywhere mountainous.
- Movistar has a strong urban network and wide national reach.
- Entel is fast in Lima and Arequipa and reliable in the big cities.
- Bitel is the budget option and surprisingly good in rural provinces, at S/ 10 to S/ 20 for 3 GB to 10 GB.
Registration
OSIPTEL requires passport registration and biometric capture for every SIM activation. You must go to an authorised operator outlet in person with the physical passport and have your fingerprint taken. There is no way around this for a local SIM, which is the main argument for an eSIM.
eSIM
- Claro, Movistar, Entel and the local tourist provider PeruSIM all support eSIM. PeruSIM rides on Claro at S/ 50 to S/ 90 for 10 GB to 25 GB - more than a local SIM, less than the airport, and no biometric queue.
- An international eSIM - Saily, from USD 4.99 for 1 GB over 7 days - roams on Claro or Movistar and works the moment you land.
Download offline maps before you go up into the Andes. Coverage on the highways is decent but the trails are not.
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