eSIM in Cusco

15th-century Incan citadel in the cloud forest above the Urubamba river, the most visited site in Peru and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World. Most visitors take the early morning train from Cusco to Aguas Calientes and then the bus up to the citadel, with the entrance slots sold out 1-2 months in advance. Mobile data works at the entrance and the bus terminal, drops inside the citadel.

Network of Andean villages and Incan ruins along the Urubamba river between Cusco and Machu Picchu, with the main stops being Pisac (market and ruins), Ollantaytambo (fortress and town), Urubamba (lunch), and Chinchero (textile center). The day tour is the most popular excursion from Cusco. Mobile data is good in the larger towns and patchy on the rural roads between them.

Main square of Cusco's historic center, surrounded by the Cathedral, the Iglesia de la Compania de Jesus, and the colonial arcades. The plaza is the meeting point for walking tours and the most photographed spot in the city. Mobile data is reliable across the plaza, and the cafes on the corners have WiFi as backup during the Sunday mass at the Cathedral.

Bohemian hilltop neighborhood in Cusco, with whitewashed colonial houses, artisan workshops, and the San Blas viewpoint overlooking the city. The area is one of the most photogenic in Cusco, with the stone alleys holding the original Incan foundations. Mobile data is reliable on the main plaza, drops in the side alleys where the stone walls block the signal.

Incan temple of the sun, the most sacred building in the Incan empire, with the original Incan stone walls forming the foundation of the colonial Santo Domingo convent built on top. The site is one block from the Plaza de Armas and is covered by the Boleto Turistico. Mobile data is reliable across the convent and the Incan walls, with the cloisters having WiFi as backup.

Incan fortress on the hill above Cusco, with three parallel zigzagging walls built with stones weighing up to 200 tons, fitted together without mortar. The site is 2 km from the Plaza de Armas, a 30-minute uphill walk, and covered by the Boleto Turistico. Mobile data is reliable at the entrance, drops to 3G on the higher terraces where the altitude and the stone walls block the signal.

Incan fortress and town in the Sacred Valley, with the massive temple terraces built to defend the valley from the south. The town is the most authentic Incan town in Peru, with the original Incan street grid and the water channels still functioning. Mobile data is reliable in the town and at the fortress entrance, drops on the steep climb to the upper terraces.

Andean town in the Sacred Valley, with the Sunday artisan market (the most authentic in the region) and the Incan citadel on the hill above with the agricultural terraces. The Sunday market draws the biggest crowds, and the Tuesday and Thursday markets are smaller but more local. Mobile data is reliable in the plaza and the market, drops to 3G on the climb to the citadel.

Mountain at 5,200 meters altitude in the Vilcanota range, about 3 hours drive from Cusco, with the colorful mineral stripes that give the mountain its name. The day tour starts at 4am because the weather is most stable in the morning, and the hike from the trailhead takes 1.5-2 hours. Mobile data is fine in Cusco, drops to nothing at the trailhead and the summit because of the altitude.

Andean village in the Sacred Valley, with the colonial church built on top of an Incan palace, the textile cooperatives that welcome visitors to learn about the traditional weaving, and the Sunday market. The village sits at 3,762 meters and the views of the snow-capped Urubamba range are the most photographed. Mobile data is reliable in the plaza and the textile workshops.