How Does Tourist Healthcare Work in Peru?
Last verified: 2025-06 · Americas
1The Quick Answer
Lima has good private clinics, but outside the capital medical facilities are limited and altitude sickness is a serious risk at Cusco (3,400 m) and Lake Titicaca (3,800 m).
2What You Need to Know
Clínica Anglo Americana and Clínica San Borja in Lima provide international-standard private care and have English-speaking staff. Outside Lima, facilities drop off sharply, and emergency evacuation from highland or jungle areas can be extremely expensive without insurance. Altitude sickness (soroche) affects many visitors in Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and on highland treks — rest for 24–48 hours upon arrival, stay hydrated, and drink coca tea to ease symptoms. Travel insurance that explicitly covers altitude-related illness and medical evacuation is essential for any trip beyond Lima.
3Practical Tips
Practical Tips
- 1Arrive in Cusco at least one full day before any trekking or strenuous activity to acclimatize — even fit travellers can be hit hard by the altitude.
- 2Coca tea ('mate de coca') is freely available, legal, and genuinely helps mild altitude sickness; accept it when offered at your hotel.
- 3Carry a basic medical kit including rehydration sachets, altitude medication (acetazolamide/Diamox, prescribed before travel), and antidiarrheals.
Important Warning
Altitude sickness can rapidly become life-threatening (HACE or HAPE); descend immediately if symptoms include severe headache, confusion, or difficulty breathing and seek medical help.
How does this compare?
Tourist Healthcare rules in nearby and similar countries:
Good private hospitals exist in all major tourist areas; farmacias are everywhere and carry most over-the-counter medications.
Carry comprehensive travel insurance — private hospitals in major cities are excellent but extremely expensive, and the free public system (SUS) involves long waits.
Canada's public healthcare does not cover tourists — even a short ER visit costs $1,000+ CAD, so travel insurance is absolutely mandatory.
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More About Peru
Tip around 10% at tourist restaurants and tip guides generously (50–100 PEN per day), but always check whether service is already included on your bill.
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Lima has the Metropolitano BRT and Uber/InDriver for safer city travel, while intercity travel relies on reputable bus companies and pre-booked trains to Machu Picchu.
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Drug laws are extremely strict — cocaine possession carries severe penalties — and Machu Picchu has rigorous rules including no drones and mandatory time-slot entry.
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Call 105 for police, 117 for ambulance, 116 for fire, and the free iPeru tourist helpline on 0800-11-0000 for tourist-specific assistance.
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Dress modestly at churches, pack warm layers for the highlands where temperatures swing dramatically, and bring rain gear for jungle and wet-season travel.
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The legal drinking age is 18, pisco is the beloved national spirit, and traditional drinks like chicha de jora and chicha morada are an important part of Andean culture.
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