The best eSIM for Peru is a data plan sized to your days there, installed on Wi-Fi before you fly. A SimOptions Peru eSIM does that: it supports 4G/5G, activates when you land in Peru and comes in sizes from 1 GB for 3 days to 50 GB for 30 days. It has no Peruvian phone number, so you call through WhatsApp or FaceTime. Visiting Bolivia, Chile or Ecuador on the same trip? A South America eSIM covers Peru and its neighbours with one plan.
Which is the best eSIM for Peru?
Short on time? These Peru plans are data-only and support 4G/5G. Pick the size from the days you stay: one week, two weeks or a month.
SimOptions Peru eSIMs · data only · 4G/5G · See all eSIMs for Peru · All destinations
What to look for in an eSIM for Peru
- Coverage: check that Peru is on the plan's country list. A Peru plan suits a trip that stays in the country. Crossing into Bolivia, Chile or Ecuador? A South America plan fits better, see below.
- Data and days: both are on the plan page. A small plan fits a few days in Lima. For two weeks with maps, train and tour bookings and video calls, look at a bigger one.
- Speed: our Peru plan details list 4G/5G speed. The South America plans list 4G/LTE.
- A local number: most travel eSIMs are data-only. If you must call hotels or tour operators on a normal Peruvian number, a local carrier fits better.
- Setup before you fly: you get a QR code by email and install it on Wi-Fi at home. Your phone must support eSIM and be unlocked (see how to check eSIM compatibility).
How much data do you need in Peru?
These are the sizes on our Peru eSIM page, with what each one lasts:
- Peru 1GB and 3GB: 1 GB or 3 GB for 3 days. A stopover in Lima or a short visit.
- Peru 5GB and 10GB: 5 GB or 10 GB for 7 days. A week with maps, messages and photos.
- Peru 20GB: 20 GB for 15 days. Two weeks, for example Lima, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, with some video.
- Peru 50GB: 50 GB for 30 days. A month, or if you work from your phone.
If you run out of data, top-ups are available. Not sure how much you need? Pick the bigger size. Our guide to eSIM data plans shows how to estimate it, and how to reduce data usage abroad helps you make it last.
Which networks does a Peru eSIM use?
Our Peru eSIM page says the plans use Claro and Movistar. You don't pick the network yourself: the plan's settings use automatic network selection, with data roaming turned on for the eSIM. The eSIM activates by itself when you reach Peru, and you have 1 year to start using it.
Signal still varies by place, whichever eSIM you use. It can be weak or absent high in the Andes, on multi-day treks and deep in the Amazon. Download offline maps before you head out (Google Maps: download areas offline).
Local eSIM or travel eSIM?
Apple lists Claro, Entel and Movistar as Peruvian carriers that support eSIM on iPhone, and Movistar as the one with eSIM on prepaid plans for international travelers (Apple: wireless carriers that support eSIM). Here is what the carriers say on their own pages.
- Claro activates its eSIM at a Claro service center: you show your DNI (the Peruvian ID card), scan a QR code, and the activation takes effect after about 4 hours (Claro Peru: eSIM).
- Movistar sells its eSIM at the service centers listed on its page, where you choose an offer and scan the QR code (Movistar Peru: eSIM).
- Bitel issues its eSIM in authorized stores, after a fingerprint check (Bitel: eSIM).
Foreigners face extra checks too. Under temporary measures approved by OSIPTEL, the telecom regulator, a foreigner signing up for a mobile line needs biometric verification with Migraciones or validation with a Foreign Ministry ID card (El Peruano: OSIPTEL measures). A travel eSIM is different: you buy it online, scan a QR code at home and don't visit a shop after you land. We compare each carrier in our guide to eSIM providers in Peru.
Choose a local eSIM if you stay a long time and need a Peruvian number for calls. Choose a travel eSIM if you want data the moment you land, and a plan you can compare and pay for before the trip. You can keep your home number active next to it (Apple: Using Dual SIM with an eSIM), see how to set up a dual eSIM.
Travel eSIM or roaming with your home carrier?
Most readers of this guide come from the USA, the UK, Brazil, Canada and Australia. Before you travel, check whether your home plan includes Peru and what it costs per day or per gigabyte. Apple's advice is the same: check with your carrier whether international roaming is included or sold as a travel pass (Apple: Use eSIM while traveling). If it isn't included, a data-only travel eSIM is usually the simpler choice. We compare both in international roaming vs travel eSIM.
Which eSIM for Lima, Cusco or Machu Picchu?
You don't need a different eSIM for each place. A Peru plan covers the whole country, from Lima and Arequipa to Cusco, the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca and the Amazon around Iquitos. It activates when you arrive, so it works the same wherever you land.
The usual data uses on a Peru trip are maps, messages, translation and booking trains, tours and rides. These need little data, so a 10 GB plan may be enough for a week. Video calls, streaming and uploading videos use much more, so go for 20 GB on a two-week trip.
Visiting Bolivia, Chile or Ecuador too?
Peru shares borders with Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia and Chile (Peru Travel: about Peru). Our South America plans list Peru on their country list, together with Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, French Guiana and the Falkland Islands. One eSIM then covers a route such as Lima, Cusco, Lake Titicaca and La Paz. The South America plans list 4G/LTE speed and go up to 20 GB for 15 days. For a longer stay in Peru alone, the Peru 50GB plan gives you more days.
South America plans · data only · 4G/LTE · See the South America eSIMs · Best eSIM for South America
How do you get an eSIM for Peru?
- Check your phone: it must support eSIM and be carrier unlocked. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > About and look for "No SIM restrictions" next to Carrier Lock (Apple: Unlock your iPhone).
- Buy and install on Wi-Fi: you get a QR code by email. Our install guide walks you through it.
- Turn on the eSIM when you land: turn on data roaming for the Peru eSIM, and use it as your data line so your home line doesn't run up roaming charges. Our guide to the correct roaming settings for an eSIM shows how.
New to buying one? Read how to buy an eSIM online. Not sure what an eSIM is? See what is an eSIM.
FAQ
What is the best eSIM for Peru?
It depends on your trip. For data only, a Peru eSIM sized to your days is a simple choice: 10 GB for a week, 20 GB for two weeks, 50 GB for a month. For a trip through several South American countries, a South America eSIM covers Peru too. If you need a Peruvian number, a local carrier fits better.
Which eSIM provider offers the best value for money in Peru?
Compare the price per day of your trip, not just per gigabyte. Pick the smallest plan that covers your days with some margin, and top up if you run low. Our Peru eSIM page lists every size with its current price.
Can I get an eSIM for Peru before I travel?
Yes. Buy it online, install the QR code on Wi-Fi at home, and it activates when you reach Peru.
Does a travel eSIM for Peru include calls or a local number?
No. SimOptions Peru plans are data-only, with no phone number. Use WhatsApp or FaceTime for calls, or get a line from a local carrier for a Peruvian number.
Can a tourist get a local eSIM in Peru?
Claro, Movistar and Bitel issue their eSIMs in their own stores and service centers, with an ID or fingerprint check. Under OSIPTEL's temporary measures, foreigners also need biometric verification with Migraciones or a Foreign Ministry ID card. A travel eSIM needs no store visit.
Does the eSIM work at Machu Picchu and on the Inca Trail?
It works wherever its networks have signal. In towns and on the main roads that is usually fine. On mountain treks and in remote valleys, signal can be weak or absent, so download offline maps and your tickets first.
Does my phone need to be unlocked?
Yes. A carrier-locked phone may not accept an eSIM from another provider. Ask your carrier to unlock it before you travel, see how to unlock your phone.
Is there one eSIM for Peru and Ecuador?
Yes. Our South America eSIMs cover both Peru and Ecuador, as well as Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Brazil. See the best eSIM for Ecuador if Ecuador is your main stop.
