Hi,
My son and I are travelling to Peru next week he will be bringing a small laptop and will need to keep in touch with his office so we are wondering about internet service. We will be spending some time in Cusco, Arequipa and Lake Titicaca. What type of service is available at internet cafes? Will he be able to hook up with his own computor? It seems the lower cost hotel and hostels do not have internet access? We have booked accommodation in Cusco at Hostal Marani, they do not have access does anyone know if they are located close to a internet cafe? I have requested this info from the hostel but can't seem to get an answer.
Any help is appreciated. We will also be do the 4 day Inca Trail with Camino Inca and of course realize he will not have access to internet during that period.
Thanks.
Wireless internet is just arrivng in Peru so far I believe it is just a few places like : Starbucks and some other chains like Vivanda's restaurants (supermarkets).
On the other hand internet "cabinas" are found in almost every city, town in Peru, but I don't know how they would manage the fact that s.one might want to connect his own computer.
There's wireless in many of the most unlikely places, but if there isn't, you should be able to take the laptop to most internet cafes and there is no shortage in Cusco! The connections are fast at most of them.
As for low end hostels which have wifi, in Cusco, Loki hostel has it, although it is a slow connection at times.
I doubt any at lake titicaca have wifi. There are two internet cafes there and one of them should be able to help you connect up.
If you happen to be staying at Puno one night from Titicaca to Cusco, which you may so you can visit the floating islands, I can recommend Hotel Puno Terra on Jr Cajamarca no 247. Phone is 051 363324. For around 20-25 USD a night you get a double/twin room with a fast, excellent wireless connection in your room. I kept the details to recommend it exactly for that reason! I don't think there's any need to book.
Have a great trip!
I had to take my laptop with me a year ago through these areas and many internet cafes will let you log on with your own computer. I never came across any wireless networks, but maybe there are more of them now. Usually the net cafe's tech wizard is available to help you log in to their network. I found that people were always happy to help me do so, and the rates are all very cheap. A place in Cuzco was super fast, and one in Puno was pretty fast as well. Copa had a net cafe, but I remember it being slow. That being said, some net cafes don't want to bother helping you hook up, but that was the exception. The tech wizard probably wasn't in. Just move on to another cafe, and you'll get your connection. WARNING: do NOT carry your computer in a one of those computer tote bags, which only advertises that you have a pricey machine with you to potential thieves. Instead, lug it around in a day pack on your back, like those mini back packs that college kids use. Slip you laptop into a pillow case, then slip it into you day pack. If you want more cushioned protection, get the seamstress of the family to sew up a more padded slip case. ANOTHER WARNING: make it your religion that your laptop stays with you at all times! NEVER leave it in hotel rooms, even in fancy hotels. (Though you can leave it at he front desk). YET ANOTHER WARNING: when you eat out, slip your leg through the shoulder strap when you place the day pack on the floor. Otherwise you can easily walk out of the restaurant forgetting your laptop. I nearly did it many times, before developing this method (I forgot it at a nice cafe in Bariloche, Argentina, but the crew had placed it in the back for me, and waited for me to return and get it.) The laptop feels heavy, especially with a guide book in there as well, and so most people suspect I just have some books on my back, not necessarily suspecting a laptop. If you're doing day excursions and don't want to lug it around, leave at the front desk. You have to treat the damn thing like a baby, but since I had to do a few hours of work online every few days, it was a blast to be earning some wages along the shores of Titicaca! And it adds a technological element to your adventure. The downside: being so tightly connected to my work and family back home diminished any sense of getting far away from it all.
My husband also needed to stay close to an Internet connection...in Lima if you go there often you can find in your hotel room an unsecured wireless connection even if your hotel doesn´t have one (just be real stealthy and don´t use it that much...) Otherwise in Cusco, the Casona les Pleiades has a wireless connection that we actually used the Skype phone to call to the US several times, so it was usually pretty strong (although we had to reboot it about 20 times). The other thing about Casona l.P. is that the owner, Philippe, was so welcoming and had so many suggestions and helpful tips we would have stayed there even without the wireless. We´re in Puno now and the internet cafe situation is pretty grim...sketchy in terms of newness of machines and peppiness of connection. There is a small one on the Calle Lima called ChozNet, right across the street from the big one also called ChozNet. Go to the small one. It is right next to a travel agency advertising cheap flights with Star Peru. You walk through a handicrafts shop and it is on the left. We used the Skype phone there several times yesterday (to the chagrin of the proprietor and the other customers!)
Good luck. It´s totally doable!
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