Are you planning an unforgettable trip to Peru and want to use Google Maps for navigation, send holiday photos via WhatsApp, or browse online in the evening? Be careful: anyone boarding the plane unprepared often gets a nasty surprise after returning home in the form of a huge mobile bill.
The convenient "roam like at home" arrangement you may know from EU travel does not apply here. If you activate mobile internet in Peru using your normal UK SIM card, the standard international roaming rates of providers such as EE, Vodafone or O2 will apply.
For context: a short 10-second video someone sends you on WhatsApp uses around 15 MB. That alone could cost you more than £20 in Peru. A short YouTube video? £100 can disappear faster than you think.
Find out how many gigabytes (GB) you really need for your trip and compare the costs between your current provider and a modern eSIM.
Editorially checked on: 19/08/2026
Determine your actual data needs for Peru in seconds and avoid your mobile provider's roaming cost traps.
Instead of searching for overpriced shops at the airport, install a digital SIM card before departure. Simply scan a QR code and get instant mobile data upon landing – while your UK phone number remains active for important texts (like online banking and 2FA).
When travelling outside the UK, standard domestic plan allowances no longer apply. Your UK mobile provider must "rent" network access from local operators in Peru. These interconnection charges are often astronomical for contract customers. Even special daily roaming passes or travel add-ons offered via text by providers like EE, Vodafone, O2, or Three can be extremely costly—often providing just a small data allowance for £5 to £10 a day, which quickly adds up over a long trip.
In the past, many travellers bought a local physical prepaid SIM card at the airport upon arrival. However, this comes with major disadvantages that an eSIM solves:
| Criterion | Local Physical SIM | Holafly eSIM |
|---|---|---|
| Reachability | Your UK SIM card must be removed. You are not reachable on your main number (no online banking or 2FA texts!). | Both SIMs remain active (Dual-SIM). Browse using local data while keeping your primary line open for important calls and texts. |
| Time Required | Long searches and waiting lines at airport carrier kiosks after a long flight. | Convenient setup via app while still in the UK before you fly. |
| Data Privacy | Passports and ID documents often need to be photocopied in local retail stores. | No physical ID verification required on-site. |
Many travellers think: "I do not need a data SIM, I will just use the free Wi-Fi at the hotel or in Starbucks." From a security perspective, this is highly questionable. Open networks can easily be manipulated by criminals (man-in-the-middle attacks) to capture your passwords or online banking details. With your own 4G/5G data connection via eSIM, you browse on a closed, secure network and are not tied to being near a café when you need to call an Uber or find your way in Peru.
Yes, absolutely! WhatsApp is tied to your installed app, not to the physical card currently providing the internet connection. If you use the eSIM for data, WhatsApp will not ask you to change anything. You can message, call and send pictures via WhatsApp exactly as usual – just much more cheaply.
Almost all modern smartphones are eSIM-compatible. This includes all Apple iPhones from the XS model onwards (including 11, 12, 13, 14, 15), the Samsung Galaxy S range from the S20 onwards, and all Google Pixel devices from the Pixel 3 onwards. You can find a detailed compatibility list directly in the Holafly app.
Download the Holafly app and ideally install the eSIM 1 to 2 days before your departure while relaxing on your home Wi-Fi. Depending on the plan, the package is usually only activated and the days only start counting when the eSIM connects to a mobile mast in Peru for the first time.
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