At some camps along the route, you can buy internet access. It is not a metaphor: a satellite antenna, a solar-powered router, and a password ticket valid for a limited connection time. Sometimes it works well and sometimes not at all, depending on the weather and how many people are connected. This is the clearest version of how connectivity works on the Salkantay Trek: it exists, but only in patches. Here is where you can find signal, where you can charge your battery, and what you should sort out before leaving Cusco.
Where there is signal and where there is not
The general rule is simple: the higher and more enclosed the terrain, the less coverage there is. Signal improves as you descend toward the high jungle, where there are villages and roads.
| Section | Mobile signal |
|---|---|
| Mollepata | Good |
| Soraypampa and Humantay Lake | Intermittent, in specific spots |
| Salkantay Pass and descent | Virtually nonexistent |
| Chaullay and Collpapampa | Weak |
| La Playa and Lucmabamba | Acceptable |
| Santa Teresa | Good |
| Hydroelectric Station and the path to Aguas Calientes | Unreliable |
| Aguas Calientes | Full coverage, with wifi in hotels and local businesses |
Coverage also depends on your mobile provider. In rural areas around Cusco, a Peruvian SIM card usually works better than a foreign phone using roaming.
The second day, with no coverage
This is the day you cross the pass, and it is when you disappear from the map. From the moment you leave Soraypampa until you descend toward Chaullay, you will most likely not be able to send even a single message.
Let your family know before starting the trek, especially on the night before this day. Twenty-four hours of silence can worry anyone who does not know that this is normal on the route.
Also leave the agency’s phone number with someone you trust. In a genuine emergency, the office can contact the guide through its own channels.
Satellite internet at the camps
Several camps, especially in the higher section, offer satellite connection for a fee. You buy it by time, and payment is made in cash, in soles.
It is useful for sending messages and checking email. It is not suitable for video calls or uploading large photos, and performance drops when several groups connect at the same time or when the sky is overcast.
Do not take it for granted when planning. It is a service that comes and goes depending on the camp, the season, and the condition of the equipment.
Where to charge your battery
Electricity follows the same pattern as signal: scarce up high, normal farther down.
In Soraypampa, camps run on solar panels or generators with limited operating hours. If there are outlets, they are shared among many people, and sometimes there is a charge for using them.
From Collpapampa onward, the situation improves, and in La Playa, Santa Teresa, and Aguas Calientes there is unrestricted grid electricity.
The practical solution is to leave Cusco with a fully charged power bank. It will cover your first two days without relying on anyone else.
Cold weather and battery life
On the first night, at nearly 3 900 m above sea level, temperatures can drop below zero. Cold drains batteries quickly, and a phone left outside overnight will have considerably less charge by morning than it had before.
- Keep your phone and power bank inside your sleeping bag.
- Hike with airplane mode switched on: searching for signal without finding it drains the battery the most.
- Lower your screen brightness and close background apps.
- Keep your phone in an inner pocket, close to your body, during cold hours.
Your power bank should go in your daypack, not in the bag carried by the mules: you will not see that one again until the afternoon. What goes in each bag is covered in luggage transport on the Salkantay Trek.
Peruvian SIM card, eSIM, or roaming
A local SIM card can be bought in Cusco by presenting your passport and is the most affordable option if you will spend several days in the country. An eSIM is activated before traveling and avoids the paperwork, as long as your phone supports it. Roaming through your provider is the most convenient and the most expensive option, and it usually has poorer coverage in rural areas.
Whichever option you choose, none of them works on the pass section. The difference becomes noticeable in the high-jungle towns and in Santa Teresa.
What to download before leaving
- Offline maps of the area, especially if you are trekking independently.
- Music, podcasts, or a book for camp nights.
- Your reservations, tickets, and insurance assistance number, also on paper.
- A plant or bird identification app, if that interests you.
Also free up storage space. Without a connection, you will not be able to upload photos to the cloud to make room on your phone.
Your phone as a camera
This will be its main use. Protect it from rain with a waterproof bag in the high-jungle section and from dust on dry descents.
If you want to photograph the muleteers or camp families, ask permission first. And remember that drones and tripods are not allowed in Machu Picchu.
When connection returns
The first real return of connectivity comes in Santa Teresa, with stable coverage and wifi in several businesses. The second and final one is in Aguas Calientes.
During high season, wifi in Aguas Calientes becomes overloaded late in the afternoon, when all the groups arrive. If you have something urgent to send, do it as soon as you get to your hotel.
Frequently asked questions
Is there wifi at Salkantay camps?
At some of them, through paid satellite connection. It is slow, sold by time, and depends on the weather and the number of users. It is not a guaranteed service.
Which day will I have no signal?
The second day, when crossing the pass. From leaving Soraypampa until descending toward Chaullay, it is unlikely that you will get coverage.
Can I charge my phone during the trek?
In the high section, only if the camp has solar panels or a generator, and with shared outlets. From Collpapampa onward, it is much easier. Bring a power bank so you do not depend on it.
Is an eSIM useful for Salkantay?
Yes, and it is convenient because it is activated before traveling. On the route, you will have the same limited coverage as with a physical SIM card, but it will cover the rest of your trip around Peru.
How can people contact me in a family emergency?
Through the agency office, which has channels to communicate with the guide. Leave that contact with the appropriate person before you depart.