Latin America is a treasure trove of adventure, culture, and biodiversity—but it also presents unique health risks that are easy to prepare for with the right vaccines and precautions. From the jungles of the Amazon to the highlands of the Andes, each destination may come with its own recommendations.
This guide outlines the essential and optional vaccines to consider before your journey. It’s designed for international Terravelers heading to South America’s most fascinating countries: Ecuador (including the Galápagos), Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, and beyond.
Before we dive into region-specific shots, let’s start with the basics. Most travelers from North America and Europe are already vaccinated against several key diseases. Check if you’re up to date on the following:
MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella)
DTP (Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis)
Polio
Influenza (Flu)
COVID-19 (still required in some areas for entry or transport)
✅ Tip: A tetanus booster is recommended if your last one was more than 10 years ago—especially if you’re planning hikes, jungle tours, or biking adventures.
Some vaccines aren’t part of every country’s standard schedule, but they’re highly recommended for travel in Latin America:
Transmitted via contaminated food and water, Hep A is common throughout Latin America.
Dose: 2 doses, 6 months apart
Protection duration: At least 20 years
Also spread through unsafe food and drinks—especially a concern in rural areas or street food-heavy regions.
Options: Injectable (lasts 2–3 years) or oral capsules (less common)
Countries of concern: Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia
Spread via blood and bodily fluids. Important for longer stays, healthcare work, or adventure travel (tattoos, medical treatment, etc.).
Dose: Series of 3 shots over 6 months (accelerated schedule possible)
This one is critical for several regions in South America.
Required or recommended for:
Amazon Basin (Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Brazil)
Border crossings (proof required when entering some countries from affected zones like Brazil or many African countries)
Live vaccine: Single dose offers lifelong protection
Certificate validity: Lifetime (International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis)
📍Example: If you’re visiting Cuyabeno in Ecuador or the Peruvian or Colombian Amazon, you should get the yellow fever shot.
⚠️ Note: Some countries (Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador among others) may require proof of yellow fever vaccination if you’re arriving from a yellow fever zone—even if you’re just transiting through the Amazon in another country.
Depending on your activities and where exactly you’re traveling, these may be worth discussing with your doctor:
Consider if you’ll be in remote areas, working with animals, or doing adventure activities like caving or hiking far from medical care.
Pre-exposure series: 2–3 shots
Post-bite treatment is still required even with the vaccine
Approved in some countries, but not widely available yet.
Use case: Long-term travelers, people with prior dengue exposure
Alternative: Use strong mosquito repellent and protective clothing. Find out more here!
Let’s break it down by country for quick reference:
Hep A and Typhoid: Recommended
Yellow Fever: Required for Amazon, not for Galápagos
Hep B: For longer trips
Rabies: If visiting Cuyabeno or remote areas
Hep A, Typhoid, Yellow Fever: Highly recommended
Hep B: Considered
Rabies: For remote Andes or jungle treks
Hep A, Typhoid, Yellow Fever: Recommended (especially if visiting Tayrona, Amazon, or Llanos)
Rabies: Optional for rural areas
Hep A, Typhoid: Commonly recommended
Yellow Fever: Required only if arriving from another yellow fever country
Rabies: For long stays in wildlife-heavy areas
Hep A: Recommended for rural and southern areas
Typhoid: For rural travel
Yellow Fever: Not a risk
Preventive medication may be recommended in Amazon zones (Ecuador, Peru, Colombia)
Talk to your doctor about:
Atovaquone/proguanil (Malarone)
Doxycycline
Zika virus: No vaccine. Use repellent.
Chikungunya and Dengue: No vaccines for general travelers. Repellent, long sleeves, and permethrin-treated clothes are key.
✅ Best protection: Use a repellent with Icaridin (20%) or DEET (30-50%) and sleep under mosquito nets in jungle lodges.
Vaccines take time to become effective. Here’s a suggested schedule before travel:
| Time Before Travel | Vaccines to Get |
|---|---|
| 6–8 weeks | Yellow fever, Hep A, Hep B, Typhoid, Rabies (if needed) |
| 4–6 weeks | Booster shots, malaria prophylaxis discussion |
| 2–4 weeks | Flu, COVID-19 (if needed), last-minute checks |
| < 2 weeks | Final travel doctor visit, repellent packing |
💡Always remember to get a doctor’s advice on vaccines at the time of booking your trip!
Backpackers – Typhoid, Hep A, Rabies (if rural or remote)
Luxury travelers – Hep A, Yellow Fever (if Amazon visits), general boosters
Families with children – Confirm MMR, Hep A, check age restrictions for yellow fever vaccine
Volunteers/long-term stays – Hep B, Rabies, full vaccine series
Adventure travelers – Yellow Fever, Rabies, Malaria prevention
🏥 Travel insurance: Choose a plan that covers emergency medical evacuation, a full foreign health insurance (but also a travel cancellation insurance, bag loss, delayed flights etc.)
💉 Bring proof: Carry a digital and paper copy of your vaccine certificates.
🌍 Stay informed: Check your destination’s official entry requirements. They can change quickly.
🧳 Packing tip: Bring your own high-quality repellent—brands in Latin America may vary in effectiveness. Also the costs might be higher.
Travel regulations, health recommendations, and entry requirements in Latin America can change rapidly—sometimes with little notice. Governments may update yellow fever zones, introduce new entry rules, or temporarily require additional documentation, especially in response to outbreaks, seasonal risks, or political changes.
That’s why the most important vaccine-related advice we can give is this: Stay alert and informed.
As your trusted travel agency, Terra Sur Travels always shares information to the best of our knowledge and keeps an eye on changes in key countries like Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Chile, and Costa Rica. We aim to provide up-to-date health and safety advice before and during your trip. But we cannot guarantee real-time accuracy of official health requirements, as these are controlled by national health authorities and may be updated faster than we can publish.
Check your destination’s embassy website (and your own)
Consult a certified travel medicine doctor for personalized and medically up-to-date advice
Double-check airline and border entry requirements for proof of vaccination
✈️ Some countries require proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you arrive from another country with known transmission—even if you never intended to enter those zones.