Travel Health

Americas vaccine
requirements by country.

The Americas split cleanly in two from a health perspective. North America and the Caribbean require almost nothing. South America and Central America are a different story: yellow fever, malaria, typhoid, and hepatitis A are all very much on the table depending on where you're headed.

35 countries covered

💉 Yellow fever for Amazon region

🏭 Malaria zones flagged

📄 Entry requirements included

⚠️ Vaccine requirements change frequently. Always verify with the destination country's embassy and your national health authority before travel. Consult a travel clinic at least 6-8 weeks before departure.

Mandatory entry vaccines for USA, Canada & most Caribbean

North America and most island destinations require no vaccines at the border

Yellow Fever: the key vaccine for South America

Required for entry or strongly recommended for Amazon basin travel in Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia, and more

Zika

Zika virus remains active in parts of the Americas

No vaccine exists. Mosquito protection essential in tropical areas, especially if pregnant

6-8

Weeks before departure

Book your travel clinic early. Yellow fever and some other vaccines need time to take effect.

What to Get

Core vaccines for travel in the Americas

Requirements vary enormously between North and South America. These are the vaccines that come up most frequently across the continent.

💉

Yellow Fever

Required for Amazon basin travel & some entry requirements

The most important vaccine for South America. Mandatory for entry to several countries if arriving from endemic regions, and strongly recommended for Amazon basin travel in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador. One dose is valid for life.

🧔

Hepatitis A

Strongly recommended for all of Latin America

Transmitted through contaminated food and water. Essential for Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and all of Central America — if you eat street food, get this vaccine.

💧

Typhoid

Recommended for Central & South America

Particularly important for Central America, the Andean countries, and anywhere food and water safety is uncertain. Less critical for North America and high-end resort travel in the Caribbean.

🏭

Malaria Prophylaxis

Essential for rural Central & South America

Not needed for most cities or tourist hotspots. Essential for Amazon travel, rural Central America, and jungle/lowland areas in Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela. Cities like Rio, Bogota, Lima, and Mexico City are malaria-free.

🐕

Rabies

Consider for extended stays & wildlife areas

Recommended for travelers spending extended time outdoors, working with animals, or visiting remote areas in Latin America where post-bite treatment is hard to access quickly.

😆

Hepatitis B

Recommended for most of Latin America

Recommended for travelers who may receive medical care, tattoos, or have other potential blood/fluid exposures during their trip anywhere in Latin America.

🏭

Zika Awareness

No vaccine — prevention is key

Zika is still circulating in parts of Central America, the Caribbean, and tropical South America. No vaccine exists. Use mosquito repellent, wear long sleeves, and if you are pregnant or trying to conceive, consult your doctor before travel.

✅

Routine Vaccines

Always check before travel

MMR, DTP, and Polio should be up to date for all travel. Measles outbreaks have occurred in Venezuela, Brazil, and parts of the Caribbean in recent years. Check your MMR status before departure.

All 35 Countries

Country-by-country requirements

Countries are listed alphabetically across North America, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. Each country guide link points to the correct directory on Atlas Guide.

🇦🇬

Antigua & Barbuda

365 beaches for 365 days

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country No malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 1+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Typhoid
Routine vaccines (MMR, DTP)

🔵 Also Consider

Zika awareness (mosquito protection)

🇦🇷

Argentina

Tango, wine, and Patagonian beauty

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country 🏭 Malaria risk (north)

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Yellow Fever vaccination if visiting the Iguazu Falls area or northeastern provinces (Misiones, Corrientes, Chaco, Formosa)
Malaria prophylaxis (northwestern provinces: Salta, Jujuy, near Bolivia border)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B

🔵 Also Consider

Rabies (rural and wildlife areas)
Routine vaccines (MMR, DTP)

ⓘ Buenos Aires, Patagonia, Mendoza, Bariloche, and the Lake District are all malaria-free with no yellow fever risk. Iguazu Falls is in the recommended yellow fever zone. The northwestern Andean provinces near Bolivia carry some malaria risk.

🇧🇸

Bahamas

Pink sand and crystal-clear waters

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country No malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 1+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines (MMR, DTP)

🔵 Also Consider

Zika awareness

🇧🇧

Barbados

Rum, cricket, and coral reefs

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country No malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 1+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Typhoid
Zika awareness

🇧🇿

Belize

Maya ruins and barrier reef diving

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country 🏭 Malaria risk (rural)

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 1+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Malaria prophylaxis (rural mainland districts; Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are low risk)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B

🔵 Also Consider

Rabies
Zika awareness
Routine vaccines

🇧🇴

Bolivia

Salt flats and Andean highlands

💉 Yellow Fever required for lowlands 🏭 Malaria risk (lowlands)

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Yellow Fever vaccination if visiting the Amazon lowlands (Beni, Pando, Santa Cruz departments)
Malaria prophylaxis (lowland jungle areas below 2500m; La Paz and altiplano are safe)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B

🔵 Also Consider

Rabies
Routine vaccines

ⓘ La Paz (3600m), the Salar de Uyuni salt flats, and the Andean altiplano have no malaria risk and no yellow fever risk. The Amazon lowlands in the north and east carry both. Know where you're going before deciding on vaccines.

🇧🇷

Brazil

Carnival spirit and Amazon adventures

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country / Amazon travel 🏭 Malaria risk (Amazon)

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 9 months+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Yellow Fever vaccination if visiting the Amazon, Pantanal, Iguazu Falls area, or any state outside the major coastal cities
Malaria prophylaxis (Amazon basin states: Amazonas, Para, Roraima, Rondonia, Acre, Amapa, Mato Grosso)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Rabies

🔵 Also Consider

Zika awareness
Routine vaccines (MMR: measles outbreaks have occurred)

ⓘ Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Salvador, and the northeast coastal cities have no malaria risk and are generally low yellow fever risk. The Amazon and Pantanal are a completely different health landscape. If you're doing any jungle travel, treat this like any other tropical destination.

🇨🇦

Canada

Vast wilderness and multicultural cities

No mandatory entry vaccines No malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

No mandatory vaccines for entry

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Routine vaccines (MMR, DTP)

🔵 Also Consider

Hepatitis A (standard precaution)
Hepatitis B

ⓘ Canada has excellent healthcare and virtually no endemic disease risk. One of the safest and most straightforward travel destinations in the world from a health perspective.

🇨🇱

Chile

Atacama to Patagonia, nature unleashed

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country No malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines (MMR, DTP)

🔵 Also Consider

Rabies (rural areas)

ⓘ Chile is malaria-free and has no yellow fever risk. Santiago, Patagonia, the Atacama, and Easter Island all carry no significant endemic disease risk. One of South America's easier destinations from a health perspective.

🇨🇴

Colombia

Coffee, color, and Caribbean coasts

💉 Yellow Fever for Amazon/jungle areas 🏭 Malaria risk (rural lowlands)

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Yellow Fever if visiting Amazon, Pacific coast lowlands, or jungle areas
Malaria prophylaxis (rural lowlands: Pacific coast, Amazon, Uraba, Choco; Bogota, Medellin, Cartagena are safe)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Rabies

🔵 Also Consider

Zika awareness
Routine vaccines

ⓘ Bogota (2600m), Medellin, Cartagena, and the Coffee Region are malaria-free. The Pacific coast (Choco), Amazon lowlands, and jungle border regions carry significant risk. Yellow fever vaccination is recommended before visiting any jungle or lowland area.

🇨🇷

Costa Rica

Pura vida and eco-adventures

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country 🏭 Low malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 9 months+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines (MMR, DTP)

🔵 Also Consider

Malaria prophylaxis (Caribbean coast, Limon province, and the southern border with Panama)
Rabies
Zika awareness

ⓘ San Jose, the Central Valley, Arenal, Monteverde, Manuel Antonio, and the Pacific coast have no significant malaria risk. The Caribbean coast (Puerto Viejo area) and remote southern regions near Panama carry some risk.

🇨🇺

Cuba

Classic cars, salsa, and frozen-in-time Havana

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country No malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 1+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Zika awareness

🇩🇴

Dominican Republic

Punta Cana and mountain valleys

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country 🏭 Low malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 1+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Malaria prophylaxis (rural areas and border with Haiti; Punta Cana resort area is low risk)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Zika awareness

ⓘ Punta Cana and major resort areas have very low malaria risk. Rural areas, the Haitian border zone, and agricultural communities carry greater risk. Even if staying at a resort, basic precautions against mosquito bites are recommended.

🇪🇨

Ecuador

Galapagos and Andean cloud forests

💉 Yellow Fever for Amazon/jungle areas 🏭 Malaria risk (lowlands)

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Yellow Fever if visiting the Amazon region or areas below 2300m in the east
Malaria prophylaxis (Amazon lowlands, Esmeraldas, and Pacific coast lowlands; Quito and the highlands are safe)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B

🔵 Also Consider

Rabies
Zika awareness
Routine vaccines

ⓘ Quito (2850m), the Galapagos Islands, and the Andean highlands carry no malaria or yellow fever risk. The Amazon (Tena, Coca, Lago Agrio) and Pacific coast lowlands carry both. The Galapagos require no special health measures beyond routine vaccines.

🇸🇻

El Salvador

Surfing and volcanic landscapes

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country 🏭 Low malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Malaria prophylaxis (rural areas, primarily rainy season)
Rabies
Zika awareness

🇬🇹

Guatemala

Maya heritage and volcanic lakes

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country 🏭 Malaria risk (lowlands)

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 1+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Malaria prophylaxis (lowland departments below 1500m: Peten, Pacific and Atlantic coasts; Guatemala City and Antigua are safe)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Rabies
Zika awareness

ⓘ Guatemala City, Antigua, and Lake Atitlan are at altitude above 1500m with no significant malaria risk. Tikal (Peten jungle) and the Atlantic and Pacific coastal lowlands carry risk. If visiting Tikal, take prophylaxis.

🇭🇹

Haiti

Art, citadelles, and resilient culture

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country 🏭 Malaria risk throughout

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Malaria prophylaxis (high risk throughout the country including Port-au-Prince)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Cholera (outbreaks have occurred)
Rabies
Zika awareness

⚠ Haiti is experiencing a severe humanitarian and security crisis due to gang violence. Most governments advise against all travel. If traveling for humanitarian work, malaria prophylaxis is essential as the entire country carries risk including the capital.

🇭🇳

Honduras

Maya ruins and Bay Islands diving

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country 🏭 Malaria risk (rural)

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 1+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Malaria prophylaxis (rural lowland areas; Bay Islands are low risk)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Rabies
Zika awareness

🇯🇲

Jamaica

Reggae, rum, and Blue Mountains

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country No malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 1+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Zika awareness

🇲🇽

Mexico

Ancient ruins and vibrant traditions

No mandatory entry vaccines 🏭 Low malaria risk (rural)

🔴 Required for Entry

No mandatory vaccines for entry

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines (MMR, DTP)

🔵 Also Consider

Malaria prophylaxis (rural areas in Oaxaca, Chiapas, Sinaloa, Nayarit; Cancun, Mexico City, CDMX, Los Cabos are malaria-free)
Rabies
Zika awareness

ⓘ Mexico City, Cancun, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara, and all major tourist destinations are malaria-free. Malaria risk is limited to rural southern states (Chiapas, Oaxaca) and the Pacific coast rural areas. Typhoid and Hepatitis A are the key vaccines for Mexico regardless of destination.

🇳🇮

Nicaragua

Volcanic islands and colonial cities

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country 🏭 Malaria risk (rural)

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Malaria prophylaxis (rural lowland areas; Managua and Granada are low risk)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Rabies
Zika awareness

🇵🇦

Panama

Canal, cloud forests, and two oceans

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country 🏭 Malaria risk (Darien, indigenous areas)

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 1+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Malaria prophylaxis (Darien province, Guna Yala (San Blas), and indigenous Comarca areas; Panama City is malaria-free)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Yellow Fever vaccination if visiting the Darien region
Rabies
Zika awareness

ⓘ Panama City, Bocas del Toro (islands), and Boquete are low malaria risk. The Darien Gap region carries high malaria and yellow fever risk. The San Blas islands (Guna Yala) carry some risk. Do not attempt the Darien Gap overland route.

🇵🇾

Paraguay

Guarani culture in South America's heart

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country 🏭 Some malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Yellow Fever vaccination if visiting rural eastern or northern areas
Malaria prophylaxis (eastern border region with Brazil; Asuncion is low risk)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B

🔵 Also Consider

Rabies
Routine vaccines

🇵🇪

Peru

Machu Picchu and Incan treasures

💉 Yellow Fever for Amazon areas 🏭 Malaria risk (Amazon lowlands)

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Yellow Fever if visiting the Amazon (Iquitos, Puerto Maldonado, Madre de Dios)
Malaria prophylaxis (Amazon lowlands below 2000m; Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lima, and highlands are safe)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Rabies

🔵 Also Consider

Zika awareness
Routine vaccines

ⓘ Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Lake Titicaca, and the Andes are all above 2000m and carry no malaria or yellow fever risk. Iquitos and the Amazon basin are a completely different health situation. Consult a travel clinic if combining both.

🇹🇹

Trinidad & Tobago

Carnival capital of the Caribbean

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country No malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country (age 1+)

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Zika awareness

🇺🇸

United States

Diverse landscapes and endless possibilities

No mandatory entry vaccines No malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

No mandatory vaccines for entry

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Routine vaccines (MMR, DTP, Polio)

🔵 Also Consider

Hepatitis A (standard precaution)
Hepatitis B

ⓘ The US has excellent healthcare and no significant endemic disease risk for travelers. It is one of the lowest vaccine-burden destinations in the world. Ensuring routine vaccines are up to date before arrival is the main recommendation.

🇺🇾

Uruguay

South America's most laid-back gem

💉 Yellow Fever if from endemic country No malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Routine vaccines

🔵 Also Consider

Rabies (rural areas)

ⓘ Uruguay is malaria-free, has no yellow fever risk, and is one of South America's safest and most straightforward health destinations. Montevideo, Punta del Este, and Colonia are all low-burden destinations.

🇻🇪

Venezuela

Angel Falls and Canaima tepuis

💉 Yellow Fever required for jungle areas 🏭 High malaria risk

🔴 Required for Entry

Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from endemic country

🟡 Strongly Recommended

Yellow Fever if visiting Canaima, Angel Falls, Orinoco Delta, or any jungle/savanna area
Malaria prophylaxis (high risk throughout except Caracas; Canaima and Gran Sabana are particularly high risk)
Hepatitis A
Typhoid
Hepatitis B
Rabies

🔵 Also Consider

Routine vaccines (measles outbreaks have occurred)
Zika awareness

⚠ Venezuela is experiencing a severe political and humanitarian crisis with widespread shortages of medicines and medical supplies. Most governments advise against all but essential travel. If visiting Canaima or Angel Falls, malaria prophylaxis and yellow fever vaccination are both essential.

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Read the full country guide first.

Every Atlas Guide country page covers safety, visa requirements, costs, emergency numbers, and honest local advice. Always free.

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Americas vaccinerequirements by country.

Core vaccines for travel in the Americas

Country-by-country requirements

Ready to explore the Americas?Read the full country guide first.

Americas vaccine
requirements by country.

Ready to explore the Americas?
Read the full country guide first.