How to Activate Cell Phone Service in Lima, Peru (2025 Guide)

Hey! So it’s been a long day, but I wanted to drop in and share a quick guide on how to activate cell phone service in Lima, Peru. If you’re new in town or just visiting, getting a local SIM card can feel confusing — especially if you don’t want to overpay for tourist-targeted “gringo” plans.

Here’s exactly what you need to know to get reliable, affordable mobile service in Lima this year.

[Watch the Video Below for Full Insight]

Claro: The Best Mobile Network to Use in Lima

If you’re wondering which company to go with when activating phone service in Lima, the answer is Claro. It’s the largest and most established mobile carrier in Latin America, known for strong coverage and dependable internet speeds across Peru.

When I first arrived, I didn’t start with Claro. I tried a service called PeruSIM, which runs on Claro’s network (if I’m not mistaken), but is mainly geared toward tourists.

Why PeruSIM Isn’t the Best Long-Term Option

PeruSIM is convenient — you can buy it easily in tourist areas without paperwork or fingerprinting — but it’s much more expensive. I used PeruSIM for a couple of weeks and quickly realized I was paying nearly three times more than I would with a direct Claro plan.

Also, the app barely worked, the customer support was limited, and it just didn’t make sense to keep paying inflated prices for the same network. That’s when I decided to switch and activate a SIM card directly with Claro.

How to Activate a Claro SIM Card in Lima, Peru

Switching to Claro took a little more effort, but it was worth it. Here’s the process:

1. Visit a Claro office (you’ll find many around Lima, including in major malls).
2. Bring your passport for identification.
3. Be prepared to fill out paperwork and have your fingerprint taken.

The whole process took me about 30 minutes, and I walked out with an active prepaid SIM.

My plan cost 35 soles total (around $35 USD):

• 30 soles for the prepaid plan
• 5 soles for the SIM card

What’s Included in the Claro Prepaid Plan

The prepaid Claro plan I chose included:

• 10 GB of data
• Unlimited WhatsApp (doesn’t count toward your data limit)
• Up to 5 GB for social media apps like Facebook and Instagram

That was more than enough for everyday use: navigation, messages, calls, and social media — without worrying about running out of data.

Claro vs. Tourist SIM Cards: Which Is Better?

Even though Claro’s process requires added paperwork and a short wait, I feel it’s the best option for travelers or digital nomads staying in Lima for more than a few days.

Tourist services like PeruSIM might offer 30 GB or “unlimited data” plans (which they usually throttle the heck out of after a certain point), but that’s more of a marketing trick. Think of it like an all-you-can-eat buffet — they know you’ll never use that much data, so they inflate the price.

For most travelers, 10 GB is plenty. You’ll save money and get the same network reliability by going directly through Claro.

Final Tips for Getting Phone Service in Lima

If you’re planning to get cell phone service in Lima, this is it in a nutshell:

• Skip the tourist SIMs like PeruSIM.
• Go directly to a Claro store.
• Bring your passport.
• Expect to spend about 30 minutes.
• Expect to get your fingerprint taken
• Pay around 35 soles ($35 USD) total.

Once you’re done, you’ll have fast data, unlimited WhatsApp, and reliable coverage almost everywhere in Peru.

Make Every Experience a Rich Experience

So that’s my quick guide on how to activate phone service in Lima, Peru. Hopefully this helps you avoid the tourist traps, save money, and stay connected while exploring this amazing country.

If you found this guide helpful, be sure to drop a comment and subscribe for more real-world Travel Tips around Latin America.

And remember…
Make EVERY Experience – even getting your phone service – a RICH Experience.

P.S. I really don’t like the whole fingerprinting thing – especially just for some prepaid phone service. But setting up phone service is pretty strict in Lima. I don’t make it a practice of giving out personal information like my fingerprint for stuff like this (and probably won’t do it again), but options were slim at the time and I know Claro is a legit and well-known company. Plus, they snuck it in at the end after I had done all of the registration and payment, so kinda hard to turn back then. But with this post, at least you’ll know what the deal is upfront so you can weigh your options and won’t be caught by surprise! 🫨

P.P.S. I’m not sure if fingerprinting is required in all of Peru. Maybe it’s just a Lima thing… If you know, let me know in the comments!😉