Brazil and Peru Travel Vaccinations
What vaccinations do I need for Brazil and Peru?
It depends on where you’re going, for how long, and what you’ll be doing. As a guide, UK travel health guidance groups the vaccinations for Brazil and Peru like this — your pharmacist will confirm exactly what you need at your consultation:
| Protects against | Who should consider it | Doses & schedule |
|---|---|---|
| Most travellers Hepatitis A | All travellers — spread through contaminated food and water, including in good hotels and resorts. | 1 dose, ideally 2 weeks before travel. Booster at 6–12 months gives ~25 years’ protection. |
| Most travellers Tetanus, diphtheria & polio | All travellers whose last booster was more than 10 years ago. | Single combined booster injection. |
| Most travellers Typhoid | Most travellers — especially for longer trips, rural travel or adventurous eating. | 1 injection, ideally 2 weeks before travel. Protects ~3 years. |
| Certificate Yellow fever | Recommended for the Amazon in both countries, the Pantanal and much of inland Brazil (including Iguassu Falls) — but not for Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu or the coastal cities. Some onward countries require a certificate after a stay here. | Single injection at least 10 days before travel. Certificate now valid for life. |
| Some trips Rabies | Jungle lodges and longer stays — the Amazon has vampire bats, and dog rabies persists in parts of both countries. Treatment after a bite is very hard to obtain in remote areas. | Course of 3 injections over 21–28 days — book early. |
| Some trips Hepatitis B | Longer stays, healthcare or volunteer work, new tattoos or piercings, or activities with a risk of blood contact. | 3 injections — an accelerated course over 21 days is available. |
| Some trips Cholera | Aid and humanitarian workers or travel to areas with very limited sanitation. Not needed for typical tourism. | Oral vaccine: 2 doses, 1–6 weeks apart, completed at least 1 week before travel. |
| Some trips Dengue fever | Dengue is widespread in Brazil — including the big cities — and occurs in lowland Peru. Vaccination is available at our clinic to all eligible travellers, whether or not you’ve had dengue before. | 2 doses, 3 months apart — start early if your trip qualifies. |
Neither Brazil nor Peru demands a yellow fever certificate from travellers arriving directly from the UK — but vaccination is recommended for Amazon and inland itineraries, and some countries you travel to afterwards will require the certificate. Bring your full route to your consultation, or see our yellow fever page. Vaccine prices are kept up to date on our travel clinic price list. Vaccine prices are kept up to date on our travel clinic price list.
Do I need malaria tablets for Brazil and Peru?
Only for some itineraries. Malaria in both countries is concentrated in the Amazon basin — around Manaus and the Brazilian jungle states, and in Peru’s lowland rainforest around Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado. Tablets are often advised for jungle lodges and river trips there.
The classic highlights don’t need tablets. Rio, São Paulo, the Brazilian coast, Iguassu Falls, Lima, Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu are not malarial — for Cusco and the Inca Trail, altitude is the bigger concern, and we can advise on altitude sickness at your consultation.
Bring your itinerary to your consultation: we check it against current UK risk maps and, where cover is needed, supply your antimalarial tablets in the same visit. Dengue is the other mosquito risk — widespread in Brazilian cities — so bite prevention (50% DEET repellent, covering up, screened rooms) matters for every traveller, and dengue vaccination is available at our clinic for eligible travellers.
How our travel clinic works
Book online in 2 minutes
Choose a time that suits you — same-week appointments are usually available, and families can be seen together in one visit.
Personalised risk assessment
Your pharmacist reviews your itinerary, health history and previous vaccinations against current UK travel health guidance, and agrees a plan with you.
Vaccinated the same visit
Most vaccinations — and antimalarial tablets, if you need them — are given there and then. You only pay for what you actually need.
The diseases explained
More detail on each illness you can be protected against before travelling to Brazil and Peru:
Hepatitis A
A viral liver infection spread through contaminated food and water — risk exists even for careful eaters staying in good hotels, which is why vaccination is advised for virtually all travellers to Brazil and Peru. Illness causes weeks of fatigue, nausea and jaundice. A single injection before travel protects, and a booster 6–12 months later extends protection for around 25 years.
Typhoid
A bacterial infection from contaminated food and water causing prolonged fever, headache and abdominal illness. Risk is highest for adventurous eaters and travellers staying with friends and relatives. One injection gives around three years’ protection.
Tetanus, diphtheria & polio
These are covered by the UK childhood programme, but protection fades. Tetanus enters through cuts and animal scratches; diphtheria spreads person-to-person. Travellers whose last dose was over ten years ago need a single combined booster.
Yellow fever
A serious mosquito-borne viral infection of Africa and South America. One dose at least 10 days before travel gives long-lasting protection, and comes with the International Certificate of Vaccination (ICVP) that border officials can demand. We are a registered yellow fever vaccination centre — see our yellow fever page.
Rabies
Brazil and Peru has rabies in its animal population, and a lick, scratch or bite from a dog, cat, monkey or bat can transmit it. Once symptoms appear rabies is almost always fatal — and treatment after a bite can be expensive and hard to obtain quickly. Pre-travel vaccination is a course of three injections over 3–4 weeks, so it rewards booking early. Particularly advised for longer stays, rural travel, children and anyone likely to be around animals.
Hepatitis B
A blood-borne viral liver infection transmitted through unprotected sex, tattoos, piercings, medical procedures and injuries. Advised for longer stays, healthcare workers and anyone whose plans carry a risk of blood contact. The standard course is three injections; an accelerated 21-day schedule suits imminent departures.
Cholera
A severe diarrhoeal illness from heavily contaminated water. Risk to conventional tourists is very low; the oral vaccine is reserved for aid workers and travel to areas with very poor sanitation.
Dengue fever
Dengue is a common mosquito-borne infection in Brazil and Peru and, unlike malaria, the mosquitoes that carry it bite during the day and thrive in towns. A second infection can be more severe than the first. A dengue vaccination is available at our travel clinic — open to all eligible travellers, whether or not you’ve had dengue before — given as two doses three months apart, so it rewards booking early. Bite avoidance remains important even when vaccinated. Read more on our dengue fever page.
Where in Brazil and Peru are you going?
Rio & Brazil’s cities and coast
No malaria, but dengue is a real urban risk — repellent and dengue vaccination are worth discussing. Hepatitis A, typhoid and up-to-date boosters cover most city and beach stays.
The Amazon: Manaus, Iquitos & jungle lodges
Yellow fever vaccination, malaria tablets and rabies cover (vampire bats) all come into play here — this is the itinerary that most rewards an early consultation, ideally 6–8 weeks out.
Cusco, the Inca Trail & the Andes
Machu Picchu and the highlands are free of malaria and yellow fever risk — focus on hepatitis A, typhoid, boosters and altitude acclimatisation. Trail permits sell out months ahead, so sort travel health when you book.
Iguassu Falls & the Pantanal
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for both. The Pantanal’s wildlife and remoteness also strengthen the case for rabies cover and a good first-aid kit.
Planning your timing
The two countries peak at different times: most UK travellers hit Brazil from December to March (summer and Carnival) and Peru from May to September (the dry Andean trekking season). Inca Trail permits and Amazon lodges are booked months ahead — so sort vaccinations as soon as your trip is confirmed, and no later than 6–8 weeks before you fly: yellow fever needs 10 days to become valid and the rabies course takes 3–4 weeks.
Everyday health essentials for Brazil and Peru
Food & water: drink bottled or boiled water, avoid ice of unknown origin, choose freshly cooked food served hot, and peel fruit yourself. Bites: 50% DEET repellent, cover arms and legs at dawn and dusk, sleep under nets or in screened rooms. Sun & heat: high-SPF sunscreen, hydration, and shade in the middle of the day. If you're unwell after you return — especially with fever — see a doctor promptly and mention your travel history. Our pharmacists can advise on travel first-aid kits, oral rehydration and stomach remedies at your appointment.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book my Brazil and Peru vaccinations?
Ideally 6–8 weeks before travel — multi-dose courses such as rabies take 3–4 weeks to complete. Flying sooner? Single-dose protection against hepatitis A and typhoid works at shorter notice — book the earliest appointment you can and we’ll prioritise.
Do I need a yellow fever vaccination for Brazil or Peru?
It’s recommended for the Amazon in both countries, the Pantanal and much of inland Brazil including Iguassu Falls — but not for Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu or the coastal cities. No certificate is demanded on arrival from the UK, though onward travel to some countries after visiting will require one. Single dose, at least 10 days before travel, valid for life.
Do I need malaria tablets for Machu Picchu or Rio?
No — Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lima, Rio and the main coastal cities are not malarial. Tablets only come into consideration for Amazon and other lowland jungle itineraries; we check your exact route at your consultation.
How much do travel vaccinations cost?
You only pay for the vaccinations you actually need, agreed at your consultation. Current prices are on our travel clinic price list.
Can my family be vaccinated at the same appointment?
Yes — we routinely see couples and families together. Book one slot and mention the number of travellers, or call us on 01276 21002 and we’ll arrange it.
What should I bring to my appointment?
Your itinerary (destinations, dates, rural stops), your vaccination history if you have it, and a note of any medicines you take or allergies.
Rated by 1,200+ patients of our Camberley pharmacy and clinics.
GPhC registered pharmacy 1105418 · Superintendent pharmacist Jirina Thielens (GPhC 2069634).
This guide follows UK national travel health guidance (TravelHealthPro / NHS) and was last reviewed in August 2026. Recommendations can change — your consultation always reflects the latest advice.
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