Planning a trip to Peru and wondering what is the best prepaid SIM card in Peru in 2026? In this guide I will show you where you can buy a prepaid SIM card, how much it costs, why Claro is the best prepaid SIM card for Peru and everything else you need to know before buying a prepaid SIM card for your trip to Peru.

I visited Peru many times and traveled across the country and visited places like Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, Paracas and Trujillo. I flew into Lima Airport multiple times and also entered Peru overland from Chile and Bolivia. Whether you are exploring Lima, taking a long bus to Cusco to visit Machu Picchu or heading into more remote areas, having mobile data on your phone is an essential travel item.

Important to know is that the prepaid SIM card situation has changed in 2026. I lately visited Lima, Cusco and Arequipa on my already 3rd trip to Machu Picchu and found out that tourists are now often unable to buy a prepaid SIM card at official phone stores in Peru due to strict registration rules.

I went out of my way to buy a prepaid SIM card and it was really tough as no phone store sells prepaid SIM cards anymore to tourists. Luckily I arrived prepared and already installed an Airalo eSIM on my phone.

In this guide I explain what that means in practice, where you can still try to buy a SIM card, for example at Lima Airport, and what your best alternatives are.

If you already know enough and simply want to get an eSIM, then check my complete guide with the best eSIMs for Peru.

Last updated: June 2026.