What's on this page
A trip to the Peruvian Amazon is safe and comfortable for travelers of all kinds when you take a few simple precautions. This page is here to help you prepare — what to discuss with your doctor before you fly, how to stay comfortable during your trip, and how we look after you at the lodge. Nothing here replaces personal medical advice; please speak with a healthcare provider familiar with travel medicine before you go.
The most effective preparation happens 4 to 6 weeks before your departure date. That's enough time for vaccines to take full effect and for your doctor to start preventive medications, like malaria prophylaxis, if recommended. If your trip is sooner than that, still go — partial protection is better than none, and your doctor can advise on what's possible in your timeline.
The CDC recommends meeting with a healthcare provider who specializes in travel medicine — your regular doctor can usually refer you. If you're seeing other doctors for ongoing conditions, let them know about your travel plans so they can adjust medications and flag anything to watch for.
Recommended Vaccines
The CDC and WHO recommend the following for travelers heading to the Peruvian Amazon. Your doctor will personalize this list based on your health history.
What to know, and how to protect yourself
A handful of illnesses transmitted by mosquitoes are present in the Iquitos region. The good news: simple, proven precautions are highly effective at preventing them. Here's a brief overview of each.
A vaccine-preventable illness present in low-elevation areas of Peru, including Iquitos and the surrounding Amazon basin. The CDC recommends the vaccine for travelers over 9 months of age, given at least 10 days before travel. The vaccine provides long-lasting protection.
Present in low-elevation parts of Peru, including the Iquitos region. Your doctor may prescribe antimalarial medication based on your itinerary — take it exactly as directed, including any doses required before arrival and after you return home.
Carried by daytime-biting mosquitoes and present throughout the region. There's no widely available vaccine for travelers, so prevention is about avoiding mosquito bites. Most cases are mild — consult a doctor if you develop fever, headache, or body aches during or after your trip.
Also mosquito-borne and present in the region. Most adults experience mild or no symptoms. Travelers who are pregnant, trying to conceive, or whose partner is pregnant should speak with a healthcare provider before deciding to travel.
The same precautions work against all four illnesses, and they're easy to fold into your routine.
Most of your trip is taken care of. All meals and drinking water at Brisa Tropical Eco-Lodge are sourced and prepared with care as part of our all-inclusive tours, so you can eat and drink at the lodge with confidence.
While exploring Iquitos before or after your stay, follow standard travel guidance for the region: drink bottled or sealed water, avoid ice unless you know it's made from purified water, and stick with cooked, peeled, or freshly prepared food. Be cautious with raw salads or street food unless you trust the source. Traveler's diarrhea is the most common travel-related illness and usually passes quickly — packing an over-the-counter remedy is an easy precaution.
Iquitos sits a few degrees from the equator, with temperatures between 72–90°F year-round and high humidity. Between the heat and active days outdoors, dehydration can sneak up on you. A few simple habits keep you comfortable.
Peace of Mind
We take preparation seriously so you can focus on your trip. Brisa Tropical Eco-Lodge is staffed with licensed local guides who know the region in every season, and the lodge maintains first-aid equipment for everyday situations.
For situations that need a hospital, the lodge is connected to Iquitos by boat — typically 2 to 2.75 hours each way, depending on weather and river levels. Iquitos has hospitals capable of handling a wide range of medical needs, and we coordinate transport if it's ever necessary. In practice, most situations at the lodge are everyday ones handled in-house.
What to Bring
The lodge has first-aid equipment for common situations, so there's no need to pack a full first-aid kit. Just bring what's specific to you.
Confirm that any prescription medications are legal to bring into Peru before you fly.
If you become ill within a year of returning home — especially with fever, chills, or flu-like symptoms — see your doctor and mention your recent travel to the Amazon. Some illnesses, including malaria, can show symptoms weeks after exposure.
If you were prescribed antimalarial medication, finish the full course exactly as your doctor directed.
Important Note
This page is a general overview, not a substitute for personal medical advice. Recommendations vary by individual based on health history, current medications, and itinerary. Pregnant travelers, young children, older adults, and people with chronic medical conditions should be especially careful to consult a healthcare provider before traveling.
We're happy to help you think through your trip. Reach out with any questions — about health, packing, or what to expect on your tour.
