Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo) has 4G from Claro and Movistar. The ruins themselves have no signal above the entrance gate — the terraces, Temple of the Sun, and Huayna Picchu summit are all off-grid. Download maps and take photos; upload them when you return to the village.

No. The Inca Trail from Kilometer 82 to Inti Punku is four days completely off-grid on every Peruvian carrier. Download offline maps, permits, and any trail guides before you start. You will regain signal when you reach Aguas Calientes.

Budget 3–5GB for a week if you use maps daily, rideshare in Lima and Cusco, and WhatsApp for hostel coordination. Add 1–2GB if you upload photos or use video calls. Multi-day treks like the Inca Trail use zero data because you are off-grid for days.

The Uros floating islands near Puno have weak 3G from Movistar — enough for WhatsApp text but slow for photos. Taquile and Amantani islands, where most overnight homestays are, have no signal. Plan to be offline if you stay the night.

Yes. Uber, Cabify, and FreeNow all work on the eSIM in Lima, Cusco, and Arequipa. The apps need live data to request rides and track drivers. InDrive is also common in Lima and often cheaper than Uber for longer trips to the airport.

Claro has better coverage in the Sacred Valley — Ollantaytambo, Pisac, and the train route to Machu Picchu all run on Claro towers. Movistar works well in Cusco's Plaza de Armas but weakens in San Blas and the valley. If you are spending time in the Sacred Valley, Claro is the stronger choice.

Yes. The official Metropolitano app needs live data for real-time bus tracking — critical to avoid long waits at peak hours. The contactless card itself works offline, but the app is the only way to see when the next bus actually arrives.

Chivay and Yanque lodges have 4G from Claro and Movistar. The canyon floor and the Cruz del Cóndor condor viewpoint lose signal entirely. If you are hiking down to the river or driving the rim between villages, expect dead zones — download maps before you leave Arequipa.

Yes. WhatsApp voice and video calls work on the eSIM anywhere you have 4G or LTE — Lima, Cusco, Arequipa, and the coastal highway. Calls will drop in off-grid zones like the Inca Trail, Huayna Picchu, and the Colca Canyon floor.

Yes. The Panamericana Sur from Lima to Paracas and Nazca has continuous LTE from Claro and Movistar. The Nazca Lines overflight airstrips are off-grid, so book flights in advance and do not rely on last-minute online booking once you arrive at the airstrip.

A physical SIM from Claro or Movistar at Jorge Chávez requires a passport scan, a minimum 20-sol top-up, and a queue that can stretch 30 minutes during peak arrivals. The eSIM activates the moment you land, costs the same or less, and skips the paperwork. Coverage is identical because both use the same networks.

Yes. Rappi (food delivery and groceries) works on the eSIM in Lima, Arequipa, and Cusco. The app needs live data to place orders and track couriers. PedidosYa is also common in Lima and sometimes has better restaurant selection in Miraflores.

Yes. The Plaza de Armas, Santa Catalina Monastery, and Yanahuara viewpoint all have strong 4G from Claro, Movistar, and Entel. Coverage holds in the city center and most of Yanahuara; it thins in the hills above Cayma and toward the outskirts.

Expect 100–200MB per day for live navigation if you are moving between cities or using rideshare in Lima and Cusco. Long drives on the Panamericana or multi-day treks use less because you download the route once. Offline maps cut usage to near zero but lose real-time traffic and detours.

Yes. Puno city has 4G from Claro and Movistar. The lakeshore and boat docks to the Uros islands have weak 3G from Movistar. Taquile and Amantani islands, where overnight homestays are common, have no signal — plan to be offline if you stay the night.