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Cusco, Peru is the gateway for travelers visiting the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu. Most visitors spend several days to a week in the area exploring this mountainous region, and and be sure to prepare for altitude illness and receive travel vaccines before arriving to stay healthy on your adventure.
What Vaccinations Are Recommended for Cusco and Machu Picchu?
Regardless of where you plan to travel internationally, it’s always recommended to be up-to-date on routine immunizations like COVID, hepatitis B, flu, measles (MMR), polio, and tetanus. For people with weakened immune systems and older adults, vaccinations for pneumonia, RSV, and shingles are suggested before departing too. The hepatitis A vaccine is not always routinely given in the US but is important for your trip. Check your vaccine record, and if you haven’t yet been vaccinated The human rabies vaccine may also be a good idea if you have plans to visit rural areas, hiking, or staying for longer than a few weeks in Peru.
Do I Need the Typhoid Fever Vaccine for Cusco?
The typhoid fever vaccination is generally recommended for travelers to Cusco and Machu Picchu because the bacteria can easily contaminate food you may consume. There is a risk of typhoid fever throughout all of Peru, so vaccination before travel against typhoid fever will be beneficial for the length of your trip.
Should I Get the Yellow Fever Vaccination to Visit Cusco and Machu Picchu?
There is no risk of yellow fever in the city of Cusco nor at the Machu Picchu ruins. However, if you plan to visit lower elevation areas of Peru before or after Cusco the yellow fever vaccine may be recommended. This includes all travelers with plans to visit Amazon rainforest regions including the cities of Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos.
Altitude Sickness in Cusco and Machu Picchu
For many travelers, altitude illness, also know as mountain sickness is a concern when visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu. In fact, about half of travelers to Cusco, Peru report symptoms and it can happen to anyone regardless of age or physical fitness. For people who develop severe symptoms of altitude illness the only remedy is to descend to lower elevation. Travelers might be offered coca leaf tea to combat mountain sickness, however, there are no studies showing it is an effective treatment and is not endorsed by public health.
Instead, some suggestions to combat altitude illness include limiting alcohol intake, staying well hydrated, and avoiding strenuous exercise the first 48 hours to allow your body to acclimatize. Medication to prevent and improve altitude illness symptoms are also available.
Medications to Help Altitude Illness
Many visitors to Cusco and Machu Picchu opt to take medication for high elevation sickness, especially if they have plans for trekking. Acetazolamide (Diamox) is taken twice daily and available by prescription. While not as effective as acetazolamide, an over-the-counter option is Ibuprofen 600 mg (three times daily) which studies suggest also helps with altitude sickness.
I Plan to Hike Inca Trail, Should I Take Altitude Medication with Me?
A typical four day Inca trail trek stars near Ollantaytambo and ending at Machu Picchu. The elevation at the starting and ending points are near 8,000 feet and the highest elevation is reached at Dead Woman’s Pass at ~13,800 feet. Additionally, three of the campsites are at or above 9,000 feet. For these reasons, high altitude medication is highly suggested, especially since physical exertion makes it more likely for you to experience altitude sickness.
Do I Need Malaria Tablets for Cusco and Machu Picchu?
There is no malaria at high elevation regions of Peru including the city of Cusco and the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Keep in mind, malaria is a risk in other regions of Peru including the Amazon rainforest. If your travel plans include other regions of Peru, read about health advice here.
Visit Destination Health Clinic Before Your Trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu
Because we specialize in travel health, you can expect expert vaccine and health advice for your Cusco and Machu Picchu Peru vacation. Schedule your appointment at any of our convenient Massachusetts locations by calling the office nearest you or online anytime.