Reviewed by a GPhC-registered Pharmacist at Newdays Pharmacy | Published: 2026 | Book an appointment
| Quick Answer: UK travellers to Peru need yellow fever vaccination for the Amazon lowland regions, hepatitis A, and typhoid. Altitude sickness is a significant health risk for visitors to Cusco and Machu Picchu, and acetazolamide tablets can be prescribed at Newdays Pharmacy. Malaria tablets are needed for the Amazon basin. Highland tourist destinations including Machu Picchu and Cusco are malaria free. |
Peru is one of South America’s most spectacular destinations for UK travellers, attracting visitors to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Cusco, the Amazon jungle, and Lake Titicaca. It has a complex travel health profile that varies enormously by altitude and region. The Amazon basin carries yellow fever and malaria risk; the high altitude regions carry altitude sickness risk. Newdays Pharmacy provides personalised travel health consultations for Peru and South America from our Berkshire branches, including yellow fever vaccination as a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre.
Yellow Fever and Peru
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended and may be required for entry to certain areas of Peru, including the Amazon rainforest regions around Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado. Proof of yellow fever vaccination is required if you travel onward to other South American or African countries where yellow fever is endemic. Yellow fever vaccination can only be given at a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre. Newdays Pharmacy is a registered centre and can administer the vaccine and issue the official International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP). The certificate is valid from ten days after vaccination and is now issued as a lifelong document.
Other Recommended Vaccinations for Peru
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travellers to Peru. Contaminated food and water are significant risks across the country including in Cusco, Lima, and tourist areas.
Typhoid
Typhoid is recommended for most travellers, particularly those eating local food or visiting areas outside international hotels. The combined hepatitis A and typhoid injection provides dual protection conveniently in a single injection course.
Rabies
Pre exposure rabies vaccination is recommended for travellers to jungle regions, adventure travellers, and those planning extended rural stays. Medical facilities with rabies immunoglobulin are not reliably available in remote Amazonian areas of Peru.
Altitude Sickness: The Key Risk for Machu Picchu and Cusco Visitors
Altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness, AMS) is the most significant health risk for most UK visitors to Peru. Cusco sits at approximately 3,400 metres above sea level and the highest pass on the Inca Trail exceeds 4,200 metres. Symptoms of AMS include headache, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness, typically beginning within hours of ascending to altitude. Acetazolamide (Diamox) is a prescription medicine used for altitude sickness prevention and is available at Newdays Pharmacy as part of a travel health consultation. The standard adult dose is 125 mg – 250 mg twice daily, started twenty four to forty eight hours before ascending above 2,500 metres. It is a sulfonamide based medicine and is not suitable for patients with sulfonamide allergy.
Malaria in Peru
Malaria is present in the Peruvian Amazon region at altitudes below 1,500 metres. The popular highland tourist destinations including Machu Picchu, Cusco, the Sacred Valley, and Lake Titicaca are malaria free due to altitude. Antimalarial tablets are recommended for travellers visiting Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, and other Amazon jungle regions. If your itinerary covers only the highland regions, antimalarial tablets are not required.
| Book Now: Book a Travel Health Consultation at Newdays Pharmacy: newdayspharmacy.com/book-an-appointment/ We serve patients from Windsor, Eton, Twyford, Reading, and across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire. |
| Clinical Disclaimer: This article is intended for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any treatment or medication. Information is accurate as of the date of publication and reviewed by a GPhC-registered pharmacist. Newdays Pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC). Branch registration numbers: Eton/Windsor 1029048 | Twyford 1028983 | Coley Park Reading 1029008. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yellow fever vaccination is not required for the standard Machu Picchu and Cusco highland itinerary. It is recommended for travellers who will also visit the Peruvian Amazon lowlands. If you are travelling onwards to Brazil, Bolivia, or other South American countries, a yellow fever certificate may be required. Newdays Pharmacy is a registered Yellow Fever Vaccination Centre and can advise based on your specific routing. .
Book your pre-exposure course at Newdays Pharmacy at least four weeks before departure.
Yes. Acetazolamide (Diamox) is available on prescription as part of a travel health consultation at Newdays Pharmacy. Our pharmacist will assess your suitability and advise on the correct dose and when to start taking it before your ascent to Cusco.
Discuss the most appropriate option with our travel health pharmacist during your consultation.
It depends on your itinerary. Malaria tablets are needed for the Amazon lowland regions but not for Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lima, or the Sacred Valley. Discuss your full itinerary with our travel health pharmacist at Newdays to confirm which areas carry malaria risk.
Early booking is essential to complete all recommended courses before you travel.