🏥 Healthcare Overview

System: Mixed public/private (SIS for residents, tourists access private healthcare). Public hospitals are overcrowded; private clinics offer good quality care in Lima and major cities.

Quality: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Private healthcare in Lima, Cusco, and Arequipa is good and affordable by Western standards. Rural areas have limited medical facilities — serious cases require evacuation to Lima. Many private doctors speak some English. Pharmacies (Mifarma, Inkfarma) are widely available.

💡 Medical Tourism

Peru is not a major medical tourism destination, but dental tourism and cosmetic surgery in Lima are growing. Costs are significantly lower than the US. Private hospitals in Lima (e.g., Clinica Ricardo Palma, Clinica Anglo Americana) are reliable.

🏨 Hospitals & Clinics Near Tourist Areas

Recommended facilities for travelers — English-speaking staff available at most listed locations.

Clínica Anglo Americana 🗣️ English spoken

📍 Near: San Isidro, Lima

📞 +51-1-616-8900

English-speaking private hospital. International patient services.

Clínica San Pablo 🗣️ English spoken

📍 Near: Cusco

📞 +51-84-270-7000

Private hospital in Cusco, the gateway to Machu Picchu.

💊 Pharmacy Guide

Access: easy

Hours: Most pharmacies open 8am-10pm; some 24-hour pharmacies in Lima; chains include Mifarma, Inkfarma, and BTL

Prescription rules: A Peruvian prescription is technically required for many medications but enforcement varies. Antibiotics and common drugs are widely available OTC. Carry all medications in original packaging with a doctor's note.

Available Over-the-Counter

  • acetaminophen/paracetamol
  • ibuprofen
  • antacids
  • antibiotics (often OTC)
  • soroche/altitude sickness pills (Soroche-Pill, Diamox/acetazolamide)
  • rehydration salts
  • antihistamines
  • basic first aid

🗣️ Useful Pharmacy Phrases

💡 Handy phrases at the pharmacy

  • I need medicine for a headache: Necesito medicina para el dolor de cabeza
  • I need medicine for altitude sickness: Necesito medicina para el mal de altura (Altitude sickness (soroche) is common in Cusco and high-altitude areas)
  • I need a doctor: Necesito un médico

💡 Tips

Many medications available OTC that require prescriptions in the US (antibiotics, pain relievers). Pharmacists can be helpful. Bring a list of medications with generic names. Soroche (altitude sickness) medication is widely available — recommend it for Cusco and high-altitude destinations.

🏪 Pharmacy Chains You’ll See

Look for these storefronts:

  • Inkafarma — Red Inkafarma signage. Throughout Peru, the dominant chain
  • Mifarma — Orange Mifarma signage. Throughout Peru
  • Boticas y Salud — Blue and white signage. Throughout Peru

💊 Common OTC Medications by Local Brand

Knowing the local brand name makes asking for common over-the-counter medications much easier.

  • paracetamol/acetaminophen → Tylenol or paracetamol generic
    Tylenol is widely available; locals often ask for 'paracetamol' or 'acetaminofén'.
  • ibuprofen → Advil or Motrin
    Advil is the dominant retail brand.
  • loperamide (anti-diarrheal) → Imodium
    Available OTC at most pharmacies.

💉 Medications & Restrictions

Carry a doctor's letter listing all medications with generic names. Keep medications in original packaging. For controlled substances, carry the original prescription and a note explaining medical necessity in Spanish if possible. Carry Soroche pills for high-altitude travel (Cusco is 11,300 ft / 3,400m).

Controlled / Restricted Substances

🚫 Watch out for these

  • ⚠️ ADHD stimulant medications (Adderall, Ritalin, Vyvanse) — Stimulants are controlled substances. Bring documentation: original prescription, doctor's letter, and only the amount needed for your stay. You may need a permit from DIGEMID for larger quantities.
  • ⚠️ Codeine-containing medications — Codeine products require a prescription. Carry alternatives if possible or obtain a local prescription.
  • ⚠️ Psychotropic medications (diazepam, alprazolam, etc.) — Benzodiazepines require documentation. Carry a doctor's letter and only personal-use quantities.
  • ⚠️ Primapes (controlled) — Some stimulants and controlled substances require special import permits. Check with Peruvian consulate before travel.

🦷 Dental Care

Availability: Dental care available and affordable. Lima has quality clinics.

Typical cost range: $15-40 for consultation; $25-80 for fillings

Lima has good dental clinics. Cusco has basic dental services. Quality varies outside major cities.

🦷 Dental emergency?

Hospital emergency departments handle dental emergencies. Pharmacies can provide pain relief.

🛡️ Travel Insurance

⚠️ Strongly recommended

Average cost: $25-50/week

💡 Tip

Travel insurance with medical evacuation coverage is essential, especially for trekking (Inca Trail, Salkantay) and remote areas. Hospital costs in private clinics: $200-1,000/day. Medical evacuation from Cusco to Lima can cost $10,000-30,000+. Ensure coverage includes trip interruption and adventure activities.

📋 How to File an Insurance Claim

Private hospitals may require upfront payment. Keep all receipts (boletas) and medical reports. Clínica Anglo Americana provides English documentation. Public hospitals are free but quality varies.

💵 Typical Out-of-Pocket Costs

Estimated cash prices (USD):

  • Doctor visit (private clinic): $25-60
  • ER visit (no admission): $80-300
  • Overnight hospital stay: $150-500
  • Ambulance call-out: $30-150

Estimated typical out-of-pocket costs at private or international facilities. Public-system rates can be much lower (or free for residents). Actual costs vary by city, facility, and exchange rate.

🚁 Medical Evacuation

Local hospitals handle routine cases; for complex care that exceeds local capacity, regional referral options are well-established. São Paulo (Hospital Albert Einstein, Sírio-Libanês) is the leading South American medical hub. Buenos Aires and Santiago handle southern-cone cases.

Primary destination: São Paulo

Secondary destination: Buenos Aires or Miami

Typical cost band: $30,000-100,000

Common providers: Global Rescue, MedJet, International SOS — compare current quotes and policy terms before relying on any single provider.

💉 Vaccinations

Required

  • 🔴 Yellow Fever (required for travel to certain regions: Amazon basin, Manu National Park, and some areas; recommended for other jungle/lowland areas)

Recommended

  • 🟡 Hepatitis A
  • 🟡 Hepatitis B
  • 🟡 Typhoid
  • 🟡 Routine vaccinations (MMR, DTaP)
  • 🟡 COVID-19
  • 🟡 Rabies (for extended jungle stays or animal exposure)

Yellow fever vaccination is required for travel to certain endemic areas and recommended for most jungle and some highland areas. Check current requirements based on your specific itinerary. Altitude sickness (Soroche) is a significant risk — acclimatize slowly.

🚰 Water & Food Safety

⚠️ Use caution — bottled water recommended in some areas

Tap water is NOT safe to drink in Peru, including Lima. Use bottled or purified water always. Avoid ice in drinks outside of hotels and reputable restaurants. In high-altitude areas, the risk of waterborne illness is higher.

Food Safety Tips

Be cautious with street food. In restaurants and hotels, food is generally safe. Avoid raw salads or unpeeled fruits from street vendors. Eat cooked foods served hot. In tourist areas of Lima, Cusco, and Arequipa, restaurants maintain good hygiene. Avoid ceviche from informal vendors.

🧠 Mental Health Resources

🆘 Crisis Line: Línea 113: 113 (mental health support)

International crisis support: findahelpline.com — worldwide directory of crisis lines

English-speaking therapists: Available in Lima. Limited in Cusco and tourist areas.

Mental health services mainly in Spanish. English-speaking therapists in Lima's international clinics.

♿ Accessibility

Peru's accessibility is very limited. Lima has some accessible infrastructure. Cusco and Machu Picchu are very challenging.

Hospital accessibility: Private hospitals in Lima are accessible.

Accessible transport: Lima Metro Line 1 has some accessibility. Taxis are the main option.

💡 Accessibility tips

Machu Picchu has limited wheelchair access — the train to Aguas Calientes is accessible but the site itself requires significant climbing. Cusco's altitude (3,400m) and cobblestone streets add challenges. Acclimatize to altitude before exertion.

🫁 COVID & Respiratory Illness

Entry requirements: No COVID requirements.

Mask policy: Masks may still be required in healthcare settings.

Testing availability: Available at clinics.

Altitude sickness is the most significant health concern for tourists visiting Cusco and Machu Picchu. Diamox (acetazolamide) is available at pharmacies.

🚨 Emergency Contacts

🆘 Emergency: 117 (police), 106 (fire/ambulance), 105 (civil defense)

📚 Sources & References

Data compiled from official government health sources, WHO, and traveler-reported information.

⚠️ This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before traveling and verify current entry requirements with official sources.