Vaccination & Health requirement to visit Peru

Vaccination & Health requirement to visit Peru

Pre-Travel Health Consultation

See a Travel Medicine Doctor or Clinic

To ensure you are fully prepared for your journey, we strongly advise scheduling an appointment with a travel medicine specialist 4 to 6 weeks before your departure. This timeframe allows for any necessary vaccinations to become fully effective.

• Discuss your specific itinerary in detail. Health recommendations for the Amazon jungle are quite different from those for high-altitude treks in the Andes or visits to coastal cities like Lima.
• Provide your doctor with your complete medical history and existing vaccination records for a thorough review.
• This consultation is the ideal time to obtain prescriptions for travel-specific medications you may need, such as those for preventing altitude sickness or malaria.

Check Your Routine Vaccinations

The foundation of travel health is ensuring your routine immunizations are up to date. Before considering travel-specific vaccines, please confirm with your doctor that you are current on the following:

• Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)
• Tetanus-Diphtheria-Pertussis (Tdap)
• Chickenpox (Varicella)
• Polio
• Your yearly flu shot

Vaccination Requirements for Peru

Required Vaccinations for Entry

Yellow Fever:
Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is generally NOT required for entry into Peru for most travelers arriving from North America, Europe, or Australia. However, it is mandatory if you are arriving from a country with a risk of Yellow Fever transmission. This includes neighboring countries such as Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador. You must carry your International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) as proof.

For an official list, please consult the World Health Organization (WHO) or the CDC list of countries.

Strongly Recommended Vaccinations

For your own safety and well-being, leading health organizations like the CDC and WHO highly recommend considering the following vaccinations before your trip to Peru.

• Hepatitis A: Recommended for most travelers, as this virus can be contracted through contaminated food or water, regardless of where you are staying.
• Typhoid: Recommended for most travelers, particularly if you plan to visit smaller cities or rural areas. It is also a wise precaution for more adventurous eaters.
• Yellow Fever: This is a critical point of differentiation from the entry requirement. While not required for entry for many, this vaccination is strongly recommended if your itinerary includes travel to the Amazon Basin or any jungle areas east of the Andes mountains at elevations below 2,300m (7,546 ft). Key destinations in this zone include Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado.

Region-Specific Health Risks & Precautions

Altitude Sickness (Soroche)

Affected Areas: High-altitude regions in the Andes, including Cusco (3,399m), Puno/Lake Titicaca (3,827m), and treks like the Inca Trail.

Prevention & Management:
Acclimatization is the most crucial factor in preventing altitude sickness, and it is important to remember that physical fitness does not guarantee immunity. A gradual ascent is your best defense.

• Plan your itinerary to allow for gradual ascent. We recommend spending at least two full days acclimatizing in a city like Cusco before undertaking more strenuous activity or ascending to higher altitudes.
• Stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Local custom also suggests sipping coca tea (mate de coca), which can help alleviate mild symptoms.
• Avoid heavy meals and alcohol for the first 24 to 48 hours after arriving at a high altitude to allow your body to adjust.
• Consult your doctor about prescription medication, such as Acetazolamide (Diamox), which can be taken before ascent to help prevent symptoms.

Mosquito-Borne Illnesses

Affected Areas: Primarily the Amazon rainforest regions (Iquitos, Manu, Puerto Maldonado) and other tropical areas below 1,500m (4,900 ft).

Key Illnesses: Malaria, Dengue Fever, and Zika.

Prevention:
The most effective strategy to protect yourself from these illnesses is to diligently prevent mosquito bites.

• Use an EPA-registered insect repellent containing an effective active ingredient like DEET, Picaridin, or Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus on exposed skin.
• Wear light-colored, long-sleeved shirts and long pants, especially during the peak mosquito activity hours of dawn and dusk.
• Choose accommodations that have air conditioning or well-screened windows and doors. If these are not available, sleep under a permethrin-treated bed net.
• Based on the specific regions of the Amazon you will be visiting, your travel doctor will discuss whether a prescription for anti-malarial medication is necessary for your trip.

Food & Water Safety

General Precautions: These guidelines are applicable throughout your travels in Peru to help prevent traveler’s diarrhea and other gastrointestinal issues.

Guidelines:

• Drink only bottled, boiled, or filtered water. It is crucial to avoid tap water, even for brushing your teeth.
• Do not consume ice in drinks unless you are certain it was made from purified water. In higher-end hotels and restaurants, this is generally safe.
• Ensure that all food you eat is thoroughly cooked and served hot.
• If you choose to sample street food, select vendors that are busy and have a high turnover of local customers, as this is often a sign of freshness and quality.
• Eat only fruits and raw vegetables that you have washed in purified water and peeled yourself. Otherwise, opt for cooked vegetables.
• We advise you to pack a small, personal medical kit. This should include anti-diarrheal medication, oral rehydration salts, antiseptic wipes, adhesive bandages, and any personal medications you require.