While I’m all about jumping on the next plane to a random place with no plans, some things are worth doing in advance. This is especially for a country full of outdoor adventure activities like Peru. I talked to Dr. Suni Su, who gave excellent health tips to visit Peru. Check out what we discussed.
See A Doctor Before You Go
Make sure you’re good to go health-wise by visiting your primary care doctor or a travel clinic. You should provide them with at least a rough itinerary and with the type of trip in mind. Backpackers will have different risks than someone seeking the 5-star luxury treatment (they will also have more fun :) ).
The doctor will make sure you’re updated with all relevant vaccines. For Peru this generally means Hepatitis A/B, Influenza, Typhoid, Rabies, and Yellow Fever.
Where You Go Matters
The medications recommended to you will also depend on where you go in Peru. For example, Malaria is common in parts of the jungle but not in the coast or Andes.
And altitude sickness is another issue. This doesn’t appear until you reach about 10,000 feet (or 3,000 meters) above sea level. Although symptoms vary between people (and some people have none at all), it can be dangerous.
The absolute best way to deal with altitude sickness is to prevent it. Ask your doctor for a medication if you may travel at high altitudes (think Cusco, Machu Picchu, or other areas of the Andes like Chachapoyas).
And consider lower-altitude locations first, working you way up. For example, if you visit Southern Peru, you could visit Arequipa and then the Sacred Valley before staying in Cusco and doing the Inca Trail.
If you are on any medication currently, you will need to ask it is allowed in Peru.
It’s also smart to look up the medical clinics in the area(s) you visit. If in Lima you can call 116 for emergencies.
Do I Need Travel Insurance?
Short answer: yes! Long answer: read the fine print. Does the plan you’re considering cover all the activities you may do?
In the USA many insurance plans already include travel. But you will have to do your research on that too, since plans vary so much.
Conclusion
Lastly, relax and have fun! The vast majority of people I talk to have no or minimal health issues when visiting Peru. And as you see, these health tips to visit Peru are pretty simple and easy to follow. You’ll be ready for a safe and epic adventure with a couple easy, proactive steps.
