Working Remotely from Peru's Sacred Valley — Internet, Cafés, Time Zones
For many families considering a longer stay in the Sacred Valley, one practical question is especially important: can I actually work reliably from here?
For me, the answer is yes.
I live and work in Urubamba, and I depend on the internet every day. I teach online lessons that require a stable connection, and so far, I have personally never had a connection problem that prevented me from working.
That does not mean every house in the Sacred Valley has excellent internet. Connection quality can vary depending on where you are staying, but from my own experience living and working in Urubamba, reliable internet is absolutely possible.
Internet in Urubamba
Because I teach online, I need a stable connection for video calls. My internet connection is an important part of my work, so I cannot simply afford for it to disappear in the middle of a lesson.
My personal experience in Urubamba has been very positive. I work online regularly and have found the internet reliable for my daily needs.
However, I would strongly recommend checking the connection before booking accommodation. Do not simply see the word "Wi-Fi" in an Airbnb listing and assume that it will be suitable for remote work.
Ask the host directly:
What internet provider do you use?
What download and upload speeds do you normally get?
Can you send me a recent speed test?
Have previous guests worked remotely from the property?
Is the Wi-Fi connection available throughout the house?
These questions become especially important if both parents plan to work online or if you regularly have video calls.
Not Every Town — or House — Is the Same
The Sacred Valley is a large area, and internet quality can vary between towns and even between different neighbourhoods.
Urubamba is one of the larger towns in the valley, and I have personally found it very workable for an online lifestyle. Other towns may also have good internet, but I would always recommend checking the specific property rather than making assumptions based only on the town.
A beautiful house in a more isolated area may have a very different internet connection from a home closer to the centre of town.
For families choosing where to stay, this can be an important trade-off. Sometimes the house with the most incredible views and the most remote location is not necessarily the best choice if reliable internet is essential for your work.
Mobile Data as a Backup
Even if your accommodation has excellent Wi-Fi, I think it is sensible for remote workers to have mobile data as a backup.
A local SIM card and prepaid data plan can give you peace of mind if there is ever a problem with your home internet.
There are several mobile providers in Peru, and coverage can vary depending on exactly where you are in the Sacred Valley. If your work depends heavily on being connected, I would recommend checking which provider has the strongest signal around your accommodation.
Personally, I think it is always wise not to depend entirely on a single connection.
Power and Reliability
Like many places in Peru, occasional power interruptions can happen. For most families, this is not something that dominates everyday life, but if you have an important online meeting or work with strict deadlines, it is worth having a backup plan.
Mobile data can be particularly useful in these situations. If your home internet has a problem but your phone still has a signal, you may be able to continue working using a mobile hotspot.
For very important meetings or presentations, I also recommend downloading important files in advance rather than leaving everything until the last minute.
Cafés Where I Recommend Working
Sometimes you simply want to get out of the house and work somewhere different. Urubamba has some good options for this.
Two cafés I personally recommend are MIGAS and Pakakuna. Both are excellent places to sit down with a laptop, have a coffee or something to eat, and get some work done.
I think it is useful to have a few places like this in mind when living somewhere for an extended period. Sometimes you need a change of environment, want to work somewhere while your family is doing something else, or simply feel like combining work with a good coffee.
That said, I would not recommend choosing accommodation based on the idea that you will work from cafés every day. For families who depend on remote work, your accommodation should still have reliable internet and a comfortable workspace.
For me, places like MIGAS and Pakakuna are excellent alternatives when I want to get out of the house for a few hours rather than replacements for a reliable home office.
What About the Time Zone?
The Sacred Valley follows Peru Time (PET).
For people working with clients or teams in the United States, this can make the Sacred Valley particularly convenient. Your workday can overlap well with much of North America.
For example, when it is morning in Urubamba, it is also morning or early afternoon across much of the United States, depending on the season and the specific location.
For people working with Europe, the time difference is greater. This can mean starting work later in the day if you need to overlap with European colleagues or clients.
Before coming, it is worth thinking about both your internet requirements and your working schedule. A great internet connection is important, but your lifestyle also needs to work with the time zone of the people you work with.
My Honest Experience
I don't want to give the impression that the Sacred Valley is Silicon Valley with mountains around it.
This is still a region where infrastructure can vary, especially outside the main towns. You should not assume that every beautiful house has excellent internet or that every remote location will be suitable for video calls.
But I also don't want families to think that coming here means disconnecting from their professional lives.
I live here. I work here. I teach online every day, and a reliable internet connection is an essential part of my livelihood.
So far, I have personally never had a connection problem that stopped me from doing my work.
My advice is simple: choose your accommodation carefully, ask specific questions about the internet before booking, have mobile data as a backup, and do not automatically assume that the most remote property will have the infrastructure you need.
If you do that, I believe the Sacred Valley can be a genuinely excellent place to combine remote work, family life, travel, worldschooling, and adventure.
Peru Journey with Rodrigo runs four-week worldschooling hubs in Peru for children aged 8–14 — one in the Sacred Valley, one in the Amazon.
Sacred Valley Hub → | Amazon Hub → | 2027 dates →
Planning your own trip instead? You can book a paid one-to-one call with Rodrigo — $100.
