Do you need travel insurance for Peru?

Yes — comprehensive travel insurance is essential for Peru, and it's one thing no one should travel without. It isn't a legal requirement to enter the country, but Peru combines long-haul distance, high altitude and some remote areas, so the potential cost of a medical problem or an emergency evacuation is exactly what insurance exists for. Many tour operators also require you to have it.

For over-50s, two details matter more than the headline price. First, make sure the policy covers the altitude you'll reach — Cusco sits at 3,400 m and Lake Titicaca higher still, and many standard policies quietly cap cover at a lower altitude unless you tell them. Second, declare any pre-existing medical conditions so you're properly covered. Get those two right and the rest is straightforward.

Below we explain why insurance matters so much in Peru, exactly what your policy needs to cover, what to watch for if you're over 50 or 70, and how to make claiming painless.

The quick answer

• Travel insurance is essential for Peru — not legally required, but no one should go without it.
• Your UK GHIC/EHIC card does not work in Peru; it only covers parts of Europe.
• Check the policy covers the altitude you'll reach (Cusco 3,400 m, Lake Titicaca ~3,800 m).
• Declare all pre-existing conditions and make sure they're covered.
• Ensure strong emergency medical and repatriation cover — evacuation from remote areas is costly.
• List any activities — trekking (including the Inca Trail), cycling, rafting — so they're covered.
• Buy it when you book so cancellation cover starts straight away.
• Carry your policy number and 24-hour emergency line with you.

It isn't a legal entry requirement, so no one checks it at the airport. But that's not the point: travelling to Peru without proper cover is a genuine risk, and it matters more than for a typical European break.

• Your GHIC/EHIC is useless here. The UK's health card only covers state healthcare in Europe. In Peru you rely entirely on private care, which you pay for — and good private clinics in Lima or Cusco aren't cheap.
• Remote areas mean expensive evacuation. If something happens at altitude, in the Amazon or on a trek, getting you to a hospital — sometimes by air — can run to tens of thousands of pounds. Insurance is what stands between you and that bill.
• Long-haul trips have more to go wrong before you even arrive — cancelled flights, missed connections, delayed baggage — and good cover protects the significant cost of the trip itself.
• Many operators require it. Reputable tour companies often make comprehensive insurance a condition of travel, precisely because they know the stakes.

In short, insurance isn't the box-ticking formality it can feel like for a weekend in Europe. In Peru it's the difference between a manageable problem and a financial disaster.

Not all policies are equal, and the cheapest often isn't enough for Peru. Look for:

• Emergency medical treatment and hospital cover — a high limit (commonly £2 million or more).
• Emergency repatriation and evacuation — including getting you home if needed; essential given Peru's remote regions.
• The altitude you'll reach. This is the one people miss: many policies cover you only up to a certain altitude (often around 2,500–3,000 m) unless you specifically declare higher travel. Cusco, Lake Titicaca and the mountain passes exceed common limits, so confirm your itinerary's altitude is covered.
• Pre-existing medical conditions, declared and accepted (more on this below).
• Your activities. Standard sightseeing is fine, but trekking (including the Inca Trail), mountain biking, rafting or horse riding may need to be added — check the activity list.
• Cancellation and curtailment, to protect the cost of the trip if you can't go or must cut it short.
• Travel disruption — missed departures and connections, and delayed or lost baggage.
• Personal liability and 24-hour emergency assistance.

If you're doing the Inca Trail or other treks, tell your insurer — trekking at altitude is exactly the sort of thing a basic policy excludes.

Age shouldn't stop you insuring a Peru trip, but it does change what to look for.

Declare your health honestly. Whatever your age, declare all pre-existing medical conditions — heart conditions, blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory issues and so on. It may raise the premium, but an undeclared condition can void your entire policy just when you need it. It isn't worth the risk.

Mind the age caps. Some standard and annual policies have upper age limits or reduce cover for older travellers. If you're over 70 — and certainly over 75 or 80 — you may need a specialist over-70s or medical-conditions insurer. Several UK providers focus on exactly this and will happily cover a Peru trip, altitude included.

Match the cover to the trip. Confirm the altitude and any activities are included, and choose a generous medical and repatriation limit. Don't simply renew last year's European policy and assume it works — Peru's altitude and distance make it a different proposition.

A GP check helps. If you have health concerns, a quick word with your GP before you travel both reassures you about the trip and helps you answer the insurer's medical questions accurately.

None of this is difficult — a phone call or an online form — but getting it right means you can relax and enjoy Peru knowing you're properly protected.

A few practical habits make insurance work smoothly if you ever need it:

• Buy it when you book, not just before you fly, so cancellation cover starts immediately.
• Read what's covered and excluded — particularly altitude, activities and pre-existing conditions.
• Carry your policy number and the 24-hour emergency assistance line on your phone and on paper, and leave a copy with someone at home.
• If you need treatment, contact the emergency line early — they can approve care and arrange payment — and keep all receipts and medical paperwork for any claim.
• Note that coca tea and mild altitude symptoms aren't claims; insurance is for the serious, unexpected events.

How our experience helps

We ask our travellers to have comprehensive cover for good reason, and our teams on the ground know how to help if something goes wrong — pointing you to trusted clinics, assisting with language, and coordinating with your insurer's assistance line. Because our itineraries are well paced and build in acclimatisation, serious problems are rare — but the reassurance of proper cover, combined with a local team who know what to do, is exactly what lets our over-50s travellers relax into the trip.

Frequently asked questions

Is travel insurance compulsory for Peru? It's not a legal entry requirement, but it's essential in practice, and many tour operators require it. Travelling without it exposes you to potentially very large medical and evacuation costs.

Does my EHIC or GHIC card work in Peru? No. Those cards only cover state healthcare within Europe. In Peru you rely on private care, which you must pay for — hence the need for insurance.

Why does altitude matter for my policy? Many policies limit cover to a maximum altitude unless you declare higher travel. Cusco (3,400 m) and Lake Titicaca (~3,800 m) exceed common limits, so confirm your itinerary's altitude is included.

I have a pre-existing condition — can I still get cover? Usually yes, but you must declare it. Specialist medical-conditions insurers cover most situations; failing to declare can invalidate the whole policy.

Do I need special cover for the Inca Trail? If you're trekking, tell your insurer and check that trekking at altitude is included — basic policies often exclude it. Standard sightseeing needs no special add-on.

I'm over 70 — where do I get insurance? Several UK insurers specialise in older travellers and pre-existing conditions and will cover Peru, altitude included. Don't assume a standard annual policy covers you — check the age limits.

When should I buy my policy? As soon as you book, so cancellation cover is in force straight away and protects your deposit and trip cost.

Related reading

• Is Peru safe for travellers over 60?
• Will the altitude affect you in Cusco and at Machu Picchu?
• Is Peru a good first long-haul trip over 60?
• Do UK travellers need a visa for Peru?