Overview
Peru's health picture splits by geography. The Amazon lowlands (Loreto, Madre de Dios) carry malaria and yellow-fever risk, while the highland circuit (Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca) and Lima on the coast are malaria-free, where altitude is the main thing to plan for.
Recommended vaccines
Malaria by region
Preventive tablets are advised in the high-risk Amazon. Elsewhere mosquito-bite protection is usually enough, with tablets for higher-risk travellers in the moderate zones.
Malaria risk is regional, concentrated in the areas detailed below.
Loreto and the northern part of Amazonas.
Other areas below 2,500 m east of the Andes, including Iquitos.
Above 2,500 m (Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca), plus Lima and the Pacific coast.
Other health risks
Prepare your trip
Leaving in under 2 weeks? Still book a clinic: a first hepatitis A dose already protects, and yellow fever needs at least 10 days. A travel clinic will prioritise what fits your timeline.
Frequently asked questions
Is any vaccine required for Peru?
No vaccine is required for entry from Belgium, but yellow fever is strongly recommended for risk regions.
Is there a malaria risk?
Malaria: high risk depending on the region. Preventive tablets are advised in the high-risk Amazon. Elsewhere mosquito-bite protection is usually enough, with tablets for higher-risk travellers in the moderate zones.
How far ahead of departure should I start?
Ideally 6 to 8 weeks before departure, to complete multi-dose schedules. Yellow fever, where it applies, must be given at least 10 days before arrival.
Our sources
Indicative information for a typical traveller, not medical advice. What you need depends on your itinerary, region, season and duration. See an approved travel clinic 6–8 weeks before departure: only they can give yellow fever and issue the certificate.