Travel health
The Americas split in two. The US, Canada and most Caribbean islands need little beyond routine vaccines. Large parts of South and Central America call for yellow fever protection, hepatitis A and typhoid, and care with mosquitoes. Here's what each country asks for, and what doctors recommend.
General guidance, not medical advice. Entry rules change and depend on your route, health and nationality. Check the destination's embassy and see a travel health clinic 6 to 8 weeks before you go. Last checked September 2026.
The quick answer
No country here asks every traveller for a yellow fever certificate, but the vaccine is recommended for large parts of South America and eastern Panama. The CDC widened its map in 2026, adding parts of central Colombia, Bolivia and Peru, including Machu Picchu.
You don't need proof to enter if you fly in from Europe or North America, but the vaccine protects you in the Amazon and other risk areas. Get it at least 10 days before you go.
Many countries ask for it if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, such as Brazil, Colombia or Peru, so moving between countries in the region can trigger the rule. French Guiana requires it from every traveller. These countries have no yellow fever risk areas of their own:
What to get
Four things come up on most trips south of the US border. See the vaccine field guide for doses and timing.
No country here asks every traveller for it, but the vaccine is recommended for most of Brazil and Paraguay and for risk areas of Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama and Argentina. The CDC widened its map in 2026, including Machu Picchu. Get it at least 10 days before you go.
Advised for Mexico, Central and South America and much of the Caribbean, especially if you'll eat street food or travel outside resorts. The US and Canada need routine vaccines only, but measles outbreaks since 2025 mean your MMR should be complete.
14 of 28 countries have some risk, mostly in the Amazon, rural Central America and Haiti. Argentina, Paraguay, El Salvador and Belize are certified malaria-free, and big cities like Rio, Lima, Bogotá and Mexico City have no risk.
Dengue reached record levels across the Americas in 2024, and Oropouche has spread to Cuba, Brazil and Peru. There are no routine travel vaccines for them, so use repellent and cover up. If you're pregnant, talk to a doctor before visiting affected areas.
All 28 countries
Open a country for its entry rules, recommended vaccines and malaria risk. Use the filters to narrow the list.
Showing 28 of 28
Malaria: No malaria.
Malaria: Certified malaria-free by the WHO in 2019.
Malaria: No regular malaria transmission.
Malaria: No malaria.
Malaria: Certified malaria-free by the WHO in 2023.
Malaria: Risk below 2,500 m, mainly in the Amazon departments of Beni and Pando. None in La Paz, Sucre, Potosí or the Uyuni salt flats.
Malaria: Risk in the Amazon states, including Amazonas, Pará, Acre, Rondônia, Roraima and Amapá, and parts of Mato Grosso and Tocantins. None in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Salvador, the coast or Iguaçu Falls.
Brazil doesn't require proof of yellow fever vaccination to enter, but some countries may ask for it at the airline counter when you fly onward from Brazil.
Malaria: No malaria.
Canada has had a large measles outbreak since 2025. Make sure your MMR vaccination is complete.
Malaria: No malaria and no yellow fever risk, including Easter Island and Patagonia.
Malaria: Risk in rural areas below 1,700 m, especially the Pacific coast (Chocó), the Amazon and Urabá. None in Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena or the Coffee Region.
Yellow fever cases have risen in Tolima and nearby areas. The CDC advises a booster for some travellers vaccinated more than 10 years ago who are heading to higher-risk areas. Some national parks have asked visitors for proof of vaccination, so carry your yellow card.
Malaria: Very low risk, limited to a few rural areas of Limón province. Most travellers only need protection against bites.
Malaria: No malaria.
Oropouche and dengue have circulated widely since 2024. There's no vaccine for either, so use repellent and cover up, especially if you're pregnant.
Malaria: Low risk, mainly in provinces near the Haitian border. Very low in Punta Cana and other resort areas.
Malaria: Risk in the Amazon provinces and the northern Pacific coast (Esmeraldas). None in Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca, the highlands or the Galápagos.
Malaria: Certified malaria-free by the WHO in 2021.
Malaria: Low risk in rural areas below 1,500 m, mainly Escuintla and Alta Verapaz. None in Guatemala City, Antigua or around Lake Atitlán.
Malaria: Risk across the country, including Port-au-Prince.
A severe security and humanitarian crisis driven by gang violence. Most governments advise against all travel.
Malaria: Risk in many rural areas and on the Bay Islands, highest in La Mosquitia (Gracias a Dios). Lower in Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula.
Malaria: No malaria.
Malaria: Very low risk, limited to a few rural areas, mainly in Chiapas. None in Mexico City, Cancún, the Riviera Maya, Los Cabos or other tourist areas.
Mexico has had large measles outbreaks since 2025. Make sure your MMR vaccination is complete.
Malaria: Risk mainly on the Caribbean coast and in some northern areas. Low in Managua, Granada and León.
Malaria: Risk in Darién, Guna Yala (San Blas), Bocas del Toro and the Ngäbe-Buglé region. None in Panama City or the Canal Zone.
Malaria: Certified malaria-free by the WHO in 2018.
Malaria: Risk in the Amazon below 2,000 m, including Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado. None in Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Arequipa or Lake Titicaca.
Machu Picchu is now inside a yellow fever recommended area. There's still no malaria risk there.
Malaria: No malaria.
Malaria: No malaria.
The US has had large measles outbreaks since 2025. Make sure your MMR vaccination is complete.
Malaria: No malaria and no yellow fever risk.
Malaria: Risk in many rural areas, highest in Bolívar (including Canaima and Angel Falls) and Amazonas. Very low in Caracas.
A severe political and humanitarian crisis with shortages of medicines. Most governments advise against all but essential travel.
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Common questions
No country we cover asks every traveller for it, but the vaccine is recommended for most of Brazil and Paraguay and for risk areas in Peru, Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Panama and Argentina. Several countries also ask for a certificate if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, which can apply when you travel between countries in the region. Chile and Uruguay have no yellow fever risk.
Under the CDC's 2026 guidance, yes: Machu Picchu falls in a newly recommended area. Peru doesn't require proof for entry if you fly in from a country without yellow fever risk, but the vaccine is recommended, especially if you'll also visit the Amazon. Get it at least 10 days before you go.
Usually only for specific rural routes. Malaria risk is limited to parts of the Amazon, rural Central America and Haiti, and 14 of the countries we cover have no malaria at all, including Argentina, Chile, Cuba, Jamaica and Uruguay. Cities like Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Bogotá, Quito and Mexico City are malaria-free.
No vaccines are required for entry. Make sure your routine vaccines are up to date, especially measles (MMR), because all three countries have had large measles outbreaks since 2025. For Mexico, hepatitis A and typhoid are also recommended.
No Caribbean country we cover requires vaccines from every traveller, but many ask for a yellow fever certificate if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk, such as Brazil. Hepatitis A is recommended for most islands, and typhoid for Haiti, the Dominican Republic and longer stays elsewhere. Protect yourself against mosquito bites, because dengue is common.
Check the official word
Yellow fever entry rules follow the CDC Yellow Book's country list, alongside WHO and UK guidance. Use these to double-check anything important for your trip.
Last checked: September 2026.
Every region page uses the same labels, so you can compare rules at a glance. Then read the full country guide for safety, visas, money and local tips.