Peru Jabs and Immunisations

Peru Medical Advice

Jabs and Immunisations for Peru

What Jabs and Immunisations Do I Need?

We want to make sure that you enjoy your holiday in Peru to the full, and so it's obviously important to make sure that you have had all the jabs and immunisations you might need for Peru, so that you can just enjoy your holiday without any medical worries.

The first thing for us to say is that you should always get professional medical advice before travelling abroad: advice can change from time to time and your own personal circumstances can affect the advice you need. However, it's always helpful to understand the advice and any medical issues for yourself, so read on for our guide to all the jabs and innoculations you might need for your holiday in Peru.

Standard Jabs and Immunisations for Peru

There are no compulsory jabs or immunisations required for entry to Peru, but as with travel to any developing country, it's always recommended that you check you are up-to-date with your boosters for all the following:

  • Tetanus
  • Typhoid
  • Polio
  • Hepatitis A

As well as these common immunisations, we know that some medical professionals also recommend that you are innoculated against Hepatitis B. As always, you should follow professional advice, but the general consensus among medical professionals is that Hepatitis B is only required if you are spending extended periods of time in rural areas and accommodation. Much as we enjoy getting you off the beaten track, this is unlikely to apply to any holiday in Peru.

Peru Yellow Fever and Malaria map

We're also aware that whether or not you need a rabies jab for Peru is sometimes unclear. Again, please do seek professional advice but we would suggest that, while not eradicated, rabies is not common in Peru and in any case you should always be within 24 hours of a rabies jab so we can get you it within Peru if necessary.

Yellow Fever and Malaria

Peru holidays which include travel into jungle areas east of the Andes, for example on our Full Monty holiday, usually mean you will need a Yellow Fever jab and a short course of anti-Malaria medication. Both these mosquito-borne diseases are present east of the Peruvian Andes at altitudes lower than 2,500m although it is very rare for travellers to contract either disease during short trips. Our jungle lodges are screened but on some of our more adventurous trips there is some camping involved (although nets are provided) and on all our jungle trips we recommend liberal use of a good insect repellent with a high 'deet' content.

Altitude Sickness in Peru

When you arrive in Cusco or Puno, you are likely to notice the thin air immediately. Although the altitude here in itself is unlikely to cause anyone any problems, more active trips taking you further up into the mountains can be different, and if you are planning to do any trekking in Peru, for example the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, we always make sure you have a good acclimatisation programme and will advise you accordingly. In our experience, nothing is more important than a solid acclimatisation programme, but there are also drugs (the most well-known is Diamox) which you can take to help alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. However it is important to remember that these drugs only mask symptoms and don't actually help your body to acclimatise any quicker.

It's not a quick fix, but by far the best thing to do is to have an itinerary which allows you to acclimatise gradually, to drink as much water and coca tea (which will help your body to acclimatise), and to avoid large meals, alcohol and cigarettes.

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