Travel to PeruAt present the cellular telephone and the Internet are the most used means of communications in Peru and the world. But there are other ways of communications in our Peru, among the most known and used we have:
INTERNET
Public internet booths are found in the country’s main cities.
Wireless Internet service is available in most hotels and shopping malls. In cabins or cybercafes the costs are economic (from S./1.5 to S./1 an hour) and are becoming very common in Peru. In Lima and Cusco they can be found everywhere. So, before you go on vacation, join one of the free Internet services like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Yahoo or Hotmail.com and gmail.com and let everyone know from time to time how your trip is going.
CELLPHONES
If you are planning to stay for a longer visit in Peru, consider getting a local cell phone to keep in touch with your Peruvian friends or host family. In Peru, Claro and Movistar are the two main telephone companies, although Entel and Bitel are beginning to expand and unite as telephone service providers. Claro has a reputation for offering better telephone service, while Movistar supposedly offers a better TV and Internet option. However, both suffer from intermittent signal service throughout Cusco and before making a decision it is best to consult the friends who use Claro and Movistar to see which of them receives the best signal where you live or work. Sometimes Claro has service in places where Movistar doesn’t, and vice versa.
Once the decision is made, visit any Claro and Movistar store, they are literally everywhere, to see what your options are. You should be able to find a cheap phone for about S/.50 ($20), and you can buy a chip for S/5. ($3). There are 2 plans: prepaid and postpaid. In Prepaid you will make a monthly payment while in Postpaid you will need to top up periodically.
POSTAL SERVICE
The central post office in Lima is found on half a block form the Plaza Mayor in the street left from the presidential palace. It’s a long and crowded gallery and halfway on the right hand side you’ll find the post office. Who has a prepared travel scheme can give following easy to remember addresses to family and friends. On the envelope they have to write your full name (for passport check afterwards) and “Correo Central, Lima, Peru” or if you will be next week in Cusco: “Correo Central, Cusco, Peru”, or “Correo Central Arequipa, Peru”, etc.
Even the smallest places have their correo central. A taxi can bring you there. Generally they are situated on the Plaza de Armas or a block away. Sending letters from all over the world to Peru takes about 5 to 10 days. Sometimes letters are received after two working days, but only in Lima and maybe Cusco (in case you lose your money and family has to send money for example). Opening hours are the same of the banks. Post offices are located throughout all regions of the country. For more information, go to www.serpost.com.pe
TELEPHONE
International calls to Peru: 00-51-city code + phone number. Public telephones accept coins and phone cards that are sold in kiosks and supermarkets. Make certain that you are buying the phone card from the company you wish to use. It is possible to make collect calls from some public phone booths. To get more information about telephone numbers, call 103 (service in Spanish).
For the moment is the only Telephone Company in Peru the Spanish Telefónica. Calling abroad is possible in city or town in Peru, with public phone or in a telephone office. ALWAYS ask the price a minute before calling. Recently Telefónica has dropped prices for calling abroad to 60%. For example calling to the States cost now less than 3 soles a minute and Europe less than 5 soles. Telephone cards are common and public phones accepting them as well. Sending faxes are generally around S./10.