Travel Vaccinations for Peru
Registered Centre
Bewdley: UKYFVC10241 Colwall: UKYFVC9908
Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, the Amazon — Peru is on a lot of bucket lists, and the trip usually combines high-altitude Andes with lowland jungle. Two very different environments, both with their own health considerations.
Vaccinations are part of it. Yellow Fever, malaria prophylaxis for Amazon travel, and the usual food and water cover. But altitude sickness is the issue that catches more travellers out than anything else — Cusco sits at 3,400m and the climb to Machu Picchu starts there.
Vaccine Table
Estimated total cost: £355 – £555 (plus malaria prophylaxis for Amazon)
| Vaccine | Status | Doses | Price/Dose | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yellow Fever | Recommended | 1 | £90 | Recommended for travel below 2,300m in jungle regions (Amazon basin, parts of Cusco region). Not needed for Lima, Cusco city or Machu Picchu itself, but the certificate is useful and valid for life. |
| Hepatitis A | Recommended | 1 | £75 | Standard recommendation. Food and water risk across the country. |
| Hepatitis B | Recommended | 3 | £55 | Worth having for longer trips or adventure travel. |
| Typhoid | Recommended | 1 | £45 | Risk especially outside main hotels and in rural areas. |
| Rabies | Consider | 2 | £90 | Risk in rural areas, jungle and Andean villages. Worth discussing if you're doing the Inca Trail or longer hikes. |
| Cholera | Consider | 2 | £42 | Worth discussing for rural travel. |
| Diphtheria, Tetanus & Polio | Check | 1 | £45 | Keep routine boosters current. |
Malaria Information
Malaria risk: Present in the Amazon basin (Iquitos, Madre de Dios, Loreto). No risk in Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Arequipa or coastal areas. Antimalarials are recommended for jungle travel. Your pharmacist will match the recommendation to your specific itinerary.
Altitude Sickness Read This First
This is the single biggest health issue for most Peru travellers. Cusco is 3,400m and Lake Titicaca is 3,800m. Most people feel something on arrival, and a small number develop acute mountain sickness.
- Acclimatise: If possible, spend a day or two in Cusco before doing any major activity. Don’t fly straight in and start hiking.
- Diamox (acetazolamide): A prescription medication that helps prevent altitude sickness. Speak to us before travel — we can prescribe it under PGD.
- Hydration and pacing: Drink more water than you think you need. Avoid alcohol for the first 48 hours. Walk slowly.
- Warning signs: Headache, nausea, dizziness, breathlessness at rest. Mild symptoms are common; severe symptoms need immediate descent and medical attention.
When to Get Vaccinated
6-8 weeks before – Ideal, especially for multi-dose courses and to talk through altitude meds.
4 weeks before – Still workable for Yellow Fever, Hep A, Typhoid.
Short notice? – Yellow Fever is single-dose and effective within 10 days. Call us.
Travel Health Tips for Peru
- Water: Bottled or filtered only, throughout the country. Avoid ice except in established restaurants.
- Food: Ceviche is one of the great Peruvian dishes — eat it at busy restaurants with high turnover. Stick to hot, freshly cooked food elsewhere. Avoid salads and unpeeled fruit from street vendors.
- Yellow Fever card: Carry it with your passport if you’re going to the Amazon. Some internal flights and tour operators check.
- Inca Trail: If you’re doing the trail or any multi-day trek, get vaccinated well in advance and consider rabies pre-vaccination. Medical help on the trail is hours away.
- Sun: Andean sun is intense due to thin air. Factor 50, hat, sunglasses — even on cloudy days.
destinations
Related Destinations
Brazil
Mexico
Kenya
Booked Machu Picchu? Let's get you sorted.
Book a free travel consultation. We’ll cover the vaccines and talk you through altitude medication if you’re heading to the Andes.