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With a multitude of varied topographies, mix of cultures, and world-renowned cuisines, Peru offers travelers a little of everything. Most international flights arrive to Lima, the capital of Peru. From there travelers can set-out to visit popular regional cities of Cusco for Inca ruins and gateway to Machu Picchu, Iquitos for Amazon river tours, or Juliaca to explore Lake Titicaca. Because of the varied geographies you may encounter on your trip, vaccination and health advice can vary depending on your specific plans. For many travelers, the first vaccination topic they come across is yellow fever, so let’s start there.
Do I Need a Yellow Fever Vaccine for Peru?
No one likes the answer “maybe” or “depends,” but for a trip to Peru, this is often what you find when reading if the yellow fever vaccine is recommended. That’s because the illness is only found in certain regions of Peru below elevation of about 7,500 feet. Yellow fever is a virus spread from mosquito bites, and an infection can be life-threatening and vaccination should be taken seriously if you are going to a region at risk.
In general, if you plan to visit areas of the Amazon rainforest in Peru the yellow fever vaccine is recommended. This includes places like Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, and National Parks/Reserves like Manu and Pacaya Samiria.
Other cities in Peru are yellow-fever free including Lima, Cusco, Trujillo, and Arequipa. Keep in mind that in lower elevation valleys surrounding Cusco there can be a risk of yellow fever. While the city of Cusco does not have yellow fever, other parts of Cusco Province does have risk and vaccination is needed.
Vaccine Recommendations for Peru
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends travelers be up-to-date on different vaccinations before traveling to Peru. Some vaccines are good for life-time while other vaccines need to be updated regularly. Recommendations may also vary depending on your specific travel plans and age.
Vaccines to Protect Against Food and Water Illness:
Diseases Spread Person-to-Person Protect:
Disease from Animal Bites
Routine Vaccines for Older Adults
Malaria Risk and Medication for Peru
Malaria is another mosquito disease found in parts of Peru. In general, the same regions of Peru that have risk for yellow fever also have risk for malaria including the rainforest, other low elevation areas, and mountain valley communities at less than 8,500 feet. The mosquito species that transmits malaria is different than the mosquito for yellow fever, and it is adapted to live at higher elevation, so it’s important to know your travel plans in detail.
Medication to prevent malaria is by prescription only, and several options are available. The most commonly used malaria medication is taken daily and is very well tolerated by most people with few side effects. It’s important to begin malaria medication before you arrive to a risk zone, so it’s best to plan ahead and schedule an appointment several weeks before your trip.
Altitude Illness While Traveling in Peru
Because many popular tourist regions of Peru are above elevations of 8,000 feet, high altitude illness, also known as mountain sickness can occur in travelers not accustomed to such elevation. This includes the popular trek along Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, Cusco, some parts of Sacred Valley (e.g. Ollantaytambo), and Lake Titicaca.
Medication is available by prescription to help prevent or alleviate symptoms and is taken twice daily and started the day before arriving to high altitude. Although not as effective as acetazolamide, there is research indicating Ibuprofen 600 mg taken three times a day can also help with altitude sickness.
Other Health Considerations
Even with all your preparation with vaccinations and medication, you still need to be careful with the food and beverages you consume and be prepared for traveler’s diarrhea while on vacation in Peru.
Pesky mosquitos can carry other illnesses like Dengue Fever and Chikungunya and are found in parts of Peru. It’s always recommended to purchase a travel health insurance policy in case you become sick or injured while on holiday.
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Destination Health Travel Clinic provides vaccinations, medication for malaria, and medication for high altitude illness for your trip to Peru. We discuss these health topics along with others to ensure you travel well. Appointments are available at any of our three Massachusetts travel clinics; call or schedule online today.
If you have plans to visit Cusco, Machu Picchu, or hiking the Inca Trail, read more specific recommendations for your trip here.