← Back
South America

🇵🇪 Vaccines for Peru

Entry requirements & recommendations for travel to Peru

Peru requires Yellow Fever vaccination recommended for Amazon jungle areas, while Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu — despite Machu Picchu's jungle-adjacent setting, it sits at an altitude outside the Yellow Fever risk zone — carry no Yellow Fever or malaria risk. Altitude sickness is the dominant practical health consideration for the classic Cusco-Machu Picchu-Sacred Valley circuit, given Cusco sits above 3300m. Hepatitis A and Typhoid are recommended generally. Rabies is worth considering for extended rural stays. Healthcare in Lima is good; Cusco has facilities adequate for altitude-related issues given how common they are among visitors; Amazon lodge areas have very limited access.

Medical disclaimer: This is general information only — not personal medical advice. Requirements and risks change. Always consult a qualified travel health clinic before departure.
Required for entry

No vaccines required for entry to this destination.

Recommended by WHO & CDC
Hepatitis A
Food and water contamination risk.
💉 2 doses
📅 Book at least 4 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: 2 weeks after 1st dose. Full protection after 2nd dose (6–12 months later).
🛡 Protects for: 1st dose ~1 yr. 2nd dose: lifetime.
Recommended
Typhoid
Contaminated food and water.
💉 1 dose
📅 Book at least 3 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: 2 weeks after vaccination.
🛡 Protects for: 3–5 years. Booster recommended if re-exposure.
Recommended
Rabies
Animal bites risk.
💉 3 doses
📅 Book at least 5 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: After 3rd dose. 2nd dose 7 days after 1st, 3rd dose 21 days after 1st.
🛡 Protects for: Pre-exposure reduces post-bite treatment needed. Boosters based on blood tests.
Recommended
Yellow Fever
Recommended for Amazon jungle areas — not Lima or Machu Picchu.
💉 1 dose (lifetime)
📅 Book at least 3 weeks before travel
⚡ Effective: 10 days after vaccination. Certificate valid for life.
🛡 Protects for: Lifetime (single dose).
Recommended
Disease risks
  • ⚠Malaria (Amazon lowlands — not Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu or Inca Trail at altitude)
  • ⚠Dengue (Amazon and coastal lowlands)
  • ⚠Yellow Fever (Amazon jungle areas)
  • ⚠Altitude sickness (Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca)
  • ⚠Leishmaniasis (jungle)
Notes: No malaria or Yellow Fever risk in Lima, Cusco or Machu Picchu. Malaria prophylaxis and Yellow Fever vaccine for Amazon/jungle areas. Hepatitis A and Typhoid recommended throughout.
Approximate cost per person
Required vaccines
—
None required for entry
Recommended vaccines
~€596
(~$649)
per person · full courses
Hepatitis A (2 doses)€140 ($152)
Typhoid (1 dose)€45 ($49)
Rabies (3 doses)€273 ($297)
Yellow Fever (1 dose)€74 ($81)
Malaria tablets (4 weeks) (1 dose)€64 ($70)

💡 Approximate figures based on private European travel clinic rates (April 2026). Actual costs vary by clinic and country. Not all recommended vaccines will apply to every trip — discuss your specific itinerary with a travel health clinic.

Often combined with
BrazilColombiaBoliviaEcuador
Common questions
Do I need Yellow Fever vaccine for Peru?
Recommended for Amazon jungle area travel. Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu, despite Machu Picchu's jungle-adjacent appearance, sit outside the Yellow Fever risk zone given their altitude, so this isn't a consideration for the classic highland tourist circuit.
Is there malaria in Peru?
Malaria risk is confined to Amazon lowland areas. Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley — covering most tourist itineraries — carry no malaria risk given their altitude or coastal location. If your trip extends to Amazon lodges (such as around Iquitos or Puerto Maldonado), discuss antimalarial medication with a travel clinic.
Do I need vaccines for Machu Picchu?
Hepatitis A and Typhoid are recommended generally for Peru, applicable to a Machu Picchu trip. No malaria or Yellow Fever risk at Machu Picchu itself given its altitude. The dominant health consideration for this part of Peru is altitude sickness — see the dedicated question, as Cusco (the gateway to Machu Picchu) sits above 3300m.
How do I prevent altitude sickness in Peru?
This is the most relevant health consideration for the classic Cusco-Machu Picchu-Sacred Valley circuit, given Cusco sits above 3300m — higher than many visitors have experienced. Gradual acclimatisation (some itineraries build in a day or two in Cusco before further travel), staying hydrated, avoiding alcohol initially, and considering medication like acetazolamide (discuss with a travel clinic beforehand) all help. Machu Picchu itself, at around 2400m, is actually lower than Cusco, so symptoms often improve once descending to the ruins.