Visiting Peru and the lost city of the Incas is one of the best experiences a traveler can experience. But Peru is more than just ruins. The impressive Amazonian jungles located to the east of the country and Lake Titicaca are also unmissable sites in a tour of this Andean country.
Machu Picchu is located precisely between the Amazon jungle and the Andes mountain range, this location gives it a very peculiar climate, which is characterized by the presence of mosquitoes, itching is quite annoying, it causes stinging and irritates the skin; so if you are coming to Machu, we recommend you bring or buy an insect repellent in Cusco or Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu town), there are hundreds of shops where you can buy one. Do not forget, the insects in Machu Picchu can be very annoying, especially during the dry season. If you have a sensitive stomach, suffer from a disease or simply wish to prevent any, consider the following vaccinations for Peru Machu Picchu.
If you plan to visit this country, you need to take certain measures to protect your health. The CDC recommend visiting a traveler's health clinic at least four weeks before leaving.
Vaccines vary depending on your itinerary. A Passport Health traveler health specialist will help you decide which ones are best for you. The CDC recommend travelers receive the following vaccines:
Malaria is a disease that is transmitted through mosquito bites and is common especially in South and Central America. With an estimated 64,000 cases of malaria each year, Peru is no exception. The department of Loreto, a popular destination for tourists, concentrates a large percentage of malaria cases in the Amazon.
If you plan to travel to the jungles of Peru, we recommend you take some kind of antimalarial medicine with you. This is especially important during the summer.
Peru is, in general, a safe place to visit. You must follow the same rules that you would follow in any developing country when it comes to food and other activities:
Of all the recommended vaccinations for Peru Machu Picchu, few of them are the ones you really need if you only plan to visit Machu Picchu (Lima and Cusco) during your stay in Peru.
Below we will describe the vaccinations you probably need and those you can usually ignore on your trip to Cusco and Machu Picchu. But bear in mind that the information we provide is only a guide, but it does not replace the professional advice of a doctor. Consult your doctor before traveling to Peru.
The following vaccines are recommended for all travelers to Machu Picchu. It is possible that you have already received some of these, but revaccination may be necessary in some cases:
These are the vaccines that you can miss if you come exclusively to the Inca city of Machu Picchu (Lima / Cusco / Lima).
Avoid making effort or eating heavy meals during your first day in Cusco, this can contribute greatly to get sick of "altitude sickness".
Cusco is located at 3,399 m.s. what makes altitude sickness a real concern. We recommend you acclimatize on arrival. Machu Picchu is just below the limit where altitude sickness normally occurs (2,500 m). The classic Inca road to Machu Picchu, however, rises to a height of risk (4,500 m). While Machu Picchu is below the critical height, the Huayna Picchu mountain if you have enough altitude for you to feel the symptoms of altitude sickness, that is why we recommend taking at least 1 day to acclimatize, you can do it in the city of Cusco, or even better, in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Diarrhea is a common disease in Peru due to the stomach sensitivity of some travelers, who can not stand the changes in the cooking and preparation and ingredients of food, to prevent this disease avoid eating heavy meals, at least until their Organism gets used to the new foods and the change of altitude and climate.
These are some hygiene tips that you should consider while you are traveling in Machu Picchu. The change of altitude, climate, environment, eating habits, among others, require some rules of hygiene and sanitation that every traveler should know.
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