What vaccinations do you need for your trek to Machu Picchu?

We often talk about the common vaccines for a lot of our trips such as Everest Base Camp or Kilimanjaro. These are the familiar jabs that most people have boosters for every 10 years - typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria etc. These are the main ones to think of when planning for Machu Picchu and we recommend ensuring that you’re up to date with these vaccinations.

There are a few optional ones for you to consider as well, such as hep B and rabies. No, rabies for example is not massive out there in Peru, but if you’re doing trips like this regularly, or you travel to places like Africa, Asia, South America, then rabies can be present. Sometimes in monkeys, which you’re less likely to touch, but it is also a potential risk with other animals that you may encounter such as dogs & cats.

For more information on rabies and the other optional vaccines, you can make an appointment with a health clinic, such as Nomad Travel Clinics, to discuss your options. When it comes to these kind of injections and decisions, we can advise you from our personal experience, but we always suggest that you go speak to a medical professional. They can suggest and give you a rundown of exactly what you need for your trip. Remember, if you're booked with us then EverTrekkers benefit from discounted vaccinations with Nomad - find more info here.

You can also check out Fit for Travel which is a great NHS website that gives you the rundown of exactly what you need in terms of your vaccinations for specific areas of the world.

When travelling to South America, you have to also think about the Zika virus which can be present down in this part of the world. More common in areas such as Brazil or Argentina, but we've heard people speaking about it when it comes to Peru, so again, it's something to think about & consider.

Like anything, don't let the viruses or vaccinations put you off. We often talk about ‘managed danger’ - high altitude treks always have an element of danger, but it’s the preparation, research & knowledge that manages it and allows you to embrace your adventure!

Hopefully this has given you a good basis of what you’ll need to consider and discuss with a medical professional, so that you can find out exactly what you need before you head on your awesome trek to Machu Picchu!