Before leaving for Peru, it’s important to ask yourself an essential health-related question: what vaccinations are required for this type of trip when coming from France or another European country?
In general, no vaccinations are required:
In most cases, no vaccinations are strictly required to enter Peru. If you’re arriving directly from Europe, whether to visit Lima, Cusco, Arequipa or Lake Titicaca, you won’t be subject to any particular vaccination requirements.
Take the necessary precautions:
On the other hand, the situation may change if you decide to visit specific areas, particularly in the Amazon around cities such as Puerto Maldonado, Iquitos or Pucallpa, where the yellow fever vaccine is strongly recommended and sometimes even required. It is advisable to have it done at least ten days before departure to be sure of protection and to have a valid vaccination certificate, which may be requested on entry to certain jungle areas.
The typhoid vaccine is also recommended, especially if you plan to eat often in small local restaurants or stay in isolated rural areas.
The hepatitis B vaccine is useful if you’re planning a long stay, or if you expect to have medical contact or unprotected sex.
Rabies vaccination is also worth considering if you’re planning to trek in the mountains, go wild camping or visit remote areas where contact with stray animals is possible. Although rabies is rare, it is fatal once reported, and post-exposure care can be difficult to obtain in more remote areas.
Before you leave, it’s also essential to check that you’re up to date with your basic vaccinations, in particular the DTP, which covers diphtheria, tetanus and polio, as well as whooping cough and measles, which are sometimes grouped together in adult booster shots. If you have any doubts about your vaccination coverage, it’s best to consult your GP or a vaccination center specialized in travel medicine at least one month before you leave.
Finally, it’s worth noting that even if vaccinations are a key factor in preparing for your trip, other diseases not covered by vaccines, such as malaria or dengue fever, can circulate in certain areas, particularly in the Amazon.
In addition to yellow fever, several vaccinations are strongly recommended, even if they are not compulsory. The vaccine against hepatitis A is one of the most important, as this disease is transmitted by contaminated water or food, and the risk exists throughout the country, including in large cities and hotels.
For malaria, preventive treatment may be prescribed depending on your itinerary, while for dengue fever there is as yet no vaccine for travellers, making protection against mosquitoes absolutely essential.
Preparing your vaccination booklet before a trip to Peru is therefore not a mere formality, and it’s important to do so in advance, especially if you’re planning to visit the Amazon, so that you can travel with peace of mind.
Our advice is to check with a health professional, who will adapt the recommendations to your profile, but also to the length of your stay and the regions you’ll be visiting.
