The Internet in Peru

Last Updated on June 17, 2022 by James Bustamante

As a Travel Agency, one of the biggest questions we receive from incoming travelers is usually “Do you have Internet in Peru?”. The Simple answer is a resounding “yes” so there is little to worry about. 

If you want to know what your connectivity options are while in Peru then look no further than this article. Here we will go over all your possible options to remain connected no matter where you are in Miraflores overlooking the ocean or on your Machu Picchu hike in the cloud forest.

When we travel for leisure we try to think of it as a way to get away from the daily routine of answering emails or taking phone calls.

However, being on a Peru vacation should not mean that you can’t post on your favorite social media app or upload your videos to the cloud.

Peru is a country where you can always be online even “off the beaten path” hikes like the classic Inca trail.

Options For Internet in Peru

There is more than one option for internet connectivity in Peru of which WiFi, international phones, mini routers, and international sim cards stand out. Below we go over each option for you to review so you can stay connected when you visit Peru.

WiFi in Peru

One of the biggest hurdles to overcome when looking for internet connectivity in Peru are roaming charges on your phone. The obvious solution is to seek the option of a WiFi hotspot wherever you are to stay connected. Public hotspots for WiFi won’t be difficult to find.

WiFi in Establishments

Basically, all restaurants, bars, and coffee shops (not just Starbucks) will have the option of free Wifi if you are a customer. Most of these establishments will allow you to connect to their hotspot even if you don’t buy something. This is just the way Peruvians are.

WiFi in Hotels

Hotels around Peru will also offer the option of a general hotel Wifi hotspot and a personal one in your room in some cases. Hostels on the other hand will likely just have the general hotspot option for everyone. Internet speeds will depend on the hotel as well as the room in most cases.

Public WiFi Hotspots in Peru

There are also public hotspots for the internet in Peru in various locations. If you are in the Miraflores district, head over to Kennedy park and you will be able to connect to the public Wifi hotspot.

The Municipality in Miraflores understands that this is one of the most popular districts for tourism so they make an effort to accommodate not just the locals but also the international travelers.

It might not be the fastest but it will do if you need to check emails, answer messages and maybe make a phone call. There are a few other parks around Lima that will offer a similar service, it all depends 

Travelers Tips: Make sure you go to the settings menu on your phone and disable the Roaming option. With some phones, the option will automatically take into effect once you land in Peru. Remember that international roaming charges can be quite expensive.

International Roaming in Peru

As we stated earlier there is always the option to use “Roaming” on your phone. Most wireless carriers will offer the option of international coverage in order to get the internet in Peru to your phone.

We usually advise against this particular method to stay connected due to the expensive charges this will accrue over time.

Remember that most trips in Peru are usually between 5-12 days and having roaming activated on your phone will definitely run up your bill. Think a few hundred dollars in extra fees during the course of the trip. 

There is no guarantee the internet speeds you’ll receive will be fast either so it can be a costly gamble.

Local SIM Cards in Peru

Peru has a few cell phone carriers that will give international travelers the option of a Peruvian sim card. Among the local companies are:

Claro: https://www.claro.com.pe/personas/

Movistar: https://www.movistar.com.pe

Entel: https://www.entel.pe

This might be a little complicated at first since you will have to fill out some paperwork. On the upside, you will have a temporary phone with local internet in Peru and at a fraction of the price of roaming.

There are even phone provider stands at the airport in Lima but if you don’t have time remember that there will be providers in just about every corner in Miraflores. 

Tourist Information Center In Miraflores

You can also go to the Tourist Information Center in Miraflores and purchase a Peruvian SIM card directly. The Tourist Information Center is in Av. José Larco 799, Miraflores 15074. The center is right across the street from Kennedy Park, next to the famous Pizza street. https://www.facebook.com/Touristinformationcenterlima/

Travelers Tips: If you are going to get a sim card to get the internet in Peru we recommend Claro. It has more cell phone towers around the country so you are more likely to stay connected in secluded areas like a hike or rural areas like the Sacred Valley.

Speed of The Internet in Peru

So just to make it clear, Peru has a good internet connection as well as good WiFi speeds. You really should not have a problem connecting to your hotel’s WiFi hotspot in Peru and be able to check Instagram or Facebook, send a tweet, send an email or chat with family back home.

Even video calls should be ok except if you are maybe trying to do so in a crowded Starbucks somewhere in Miraflores. We would not recommend trying to update your phone or applications in a public hotspot either.

This also goes for streamers in Peru, the public speeds along with the large population in Lima just won’t allow it. 

If you are a travel writer and want to upload your latest post about Peru then this should be no problem at all. 

None of these issues will be a problem if you have private internet in your hotel room of course. If you decided on a data plan with a Peruvian Sim card provided then act as you would back home.  

If we want to look at exact speeds, the average WiFi hotspot in a restaurant or cafe will be of 120 megabyte download speed and 40 megabyte upload speed.

In a public hotspot, you’ll find higher speeds but also many locals and other travelers trying to get connected. 

A good data plan with a Sim card in Peru will have around 60 megabytes in download speed and 30 megabytes in the upload.

Internet  Speeds in Peru By Destination

As you will find out, the data plans and speeds for WiFi in Peru can vary greatly depending on your destination and activity.  Lima and the Sacred Valley for example will have different ranges of connectivity.

Internet Speeds in Lima

There won’t be any major issues getting good internet speeds in Lima, Peru. The WiFi accessibility and speed will all be there as well.

Places like Miraflores, San Isidro, Barranco, Santiago de Surco, and several other popular Lima districts enjoy goods speeds from all sources and all times.

Now, if you are headed towards the highlands near Lima such as Marcahuasi then that’s an entirely different story. You won’t find many WiFi hotspots there and if you are using a SIM card access might be slow and limited.

Internet Speeds in Cusco

Cusco is another destination where you won’t have major issues finding fast internet in Peru via a SIM card with a data plan or a good connection to fast WiFi in Peru. 

Cusco is a hub for travelers so the local government has made sure there are cellphone towers to provide the much-needed connection speeds. 

You will also find several WiFi hotspots in the many local and international cafes, restaurants, and yes, even a public hotspot.

Hotels will also have access to their general WiFi and some hotel rooms will have a private internet router. As with Lima, this will depend on your hotel and the room you book.

Internet Speeds in The Sacred Valley

The Sacred Valley is located around 2 hours from the city of Cusco. It can be described as a more rural area so, in case you had a Peruvian SIM card or decided to use roaming on this trip, the connection might not be the best at all times.

It is not really due to not having enough cell phone towers around but more to do with the surrounding mountains. There will be some areas where you will be nestled in between the mountains and connections will not be the best.

Hotels in the Sacred Valley will have access to WiFi for you to use. The same issue applies here though, some hotels are positioned in places where the connection is great while others might receive a very weak signal.

Internet Speeds on Hikes to Machu Picchu

So the whole point of taking one of these multi-day hikes to Machu Picchu is to be off the beaten path right? Don’t look for a good connection during this time or any connection for that matter.

We are hiking through the Andes mountains after all. If you have a Peruvian data plan or roaming turned on look to have an internet connection on day 1 of the Inca trail, Salkantay trek, or any other hike.

After the first few hours during the first day, your connection will be faint to nonexistent up until we either arrive in Machu Picchu or Aguas Calientes town.

There are no WiFi hotspots in Machu Picchu either so unless you have a Peruvian SIM card, you will have to wait until after the Machu Picchu tour when we are in the town of Aguas Calientes. 

Travelers Notes: Our guides and porters will carry satellite phones in case there is some kind of emergency during any of the multi-day hikes to Machu Picchu.

Internet Speeds in The Amazon Rainforest

The Amazon rainforest is yet another location where WIFi will be either faint or non-existent when you are connected.

When we talk about the Amazon rainforest we don’t mean staying in the city of  Iquitos. We head to the nature reserves in Tambopata which can definitely be characterized as deep into the Amazon. In some of the nature reserves, you’ll get WiFi in the lobby but it is not likely to happen in your rooms.

Connections via SIM cards are basically non-existent in this area of Peru. Remember why most people visit the Amazon rainforest, to get in touch with nature and be off the grid.

Conclusion

You will have access to the internet in almost all locations in one way or another during your trip to Peru. There are options consisting of SIM cards, Raoming plans and of course WiF connections for internet in Peru.

If you want to make sure you book accommodations that offer private WiFi connections in Peru contact us today or a free itinerary to review.

Frequently Asked Questions About The Internet in Peru