Peru Travel Insurance: Coverage Guide for Machu Picchu and Treks

Do You Need Travel Insurance for Peru?

You do not legally need travel insurance to enter Peru as a US tourist, but you should have it. Most US health plans offer little overseas coverage, Medicare generally pays nothing abroad, and private clinics in Cusco expect payment upfront. An evacuation from the Andes to Lima or the US can cost far more than the trip itself.

• No proof of insurance is checked at Peruvian immigration.
• Private clinics often require a deposit or card guarantee.
• Altitude sickness is the most common medical issue in Cusco.
• Treks reach remote areas far from hospitals.
• Machu Picchu tickets and Inca Trail permits are non-refundable.

Entry rules are explained in the Peru visa requirements guide, and wider risks are covered in our is Peru safe guide.

What Should Peru Travel Insurance Cover?

Peru travel insurance should cover emergency medical treatment, medical evacuation and repatriation, trip cancellation and interruption, and baggage loss or delay. Trekkers also need adventure activity cover at the right altitude. Medical and evacuation limits matter most, since a helicopter or air ambulance from the Andes is the largest possible cost.

Why Altitude Limits Matter for Inca Trail and Trek Insurance

Altitude limits matter because many travel insurance policies only cover hiking below a set height, often 3,000 to 4,500 meters. Peru's popular treks climb higher: the Inca Trail reaches about 4,215 m, Salkantay about 4,600 m and Rainbow Mountain about 5,036 m. Above your policy limit, injuries and evacuation may not be covered.

Symptoms and acclimatization are explained in the Cusco altitude guide, and trek effort is compared in the Inca Trail difficulty guide.

How Does Trip Cancellation Cover Work for Machu Picchu Bookings?

Trip cancellation cover reimburses prepaid, non-refundable costs when you cancel for a covered reason, such as illness, injury or a family emergency. For Machu Picchu trips this matters because entry tickets and Inca Trail permits cannot be refunded or changed. Standard policies do not cover simply changing your mind, unless you buy Cancel For Any Reason upgrades.

• Buy soon after your first deposit to get full benefits.
• Keep receipts for tickets, permits, trains and tours.
• Check if strikes and natural disasters count as covered.
• Cancel For Any Reason usually refunds only part of costs.
• Pre-existing condition waivers often need early purchase.

How tour deposits, refunds and permits are handled is set out in our booking and cancellation policy, and permit rules are in the Inca Trail permits guide.

How Much Does Travel Insurance for Peru Cost?

Travel insurance for Peru typically costs around 4 to 10 percent of your prepaid trip cost for a comprehensive plan with cancellation cover. Medical-only plans cost less. Price rises with age, trip cost, trip length and add-ons such as adventure sports, higher altitude limits or Cancel For Any Reason upgrades.

• Traveler age has the biggest effect on price.
• Higher declared trip cost raises cancellation premiums.
• Medical-only plans suit trips with few prepaid costs.
• Adventure and altitude riders add cost for trekkers.
• Annual plans can save money for frequent travelers.

Full trip budgets are broken down in the Machu Picchu cost guide.

How to Choose the Best Travel Insurance for Peru

To choose the best travel insurance for Peru, start with medical and evacuation limits, confirm the altitude and trekking activities are covered, then compare cancellation terms for your prepaid costs. Read the exclusions closely. A policy that looks cheap may exclude trekking above 3,000 meters, which rules out most Andes treks.

1. List your highest altitude and every planned activity.
2. Add up non-refundable costs: tickets, permits, flights, tours.
3. Compare medical limits, ideally $100,000 or more.
4. Confirm evacuation cover of $250,000 or more for treks.
5. Check exclusions for altitude, strikes and pre-existing conditions.
6. Look for 24/7 assistance with Spanish-speaking staff.
7. Save the policy and emergency number offline on your phone.

How Do You Make a Claim While in Peru?

To make a claim while in Peru, call your insurer's 24/7 assistance line before treatment if possible, so they can approve care or pay the clinic directly. Keep every receipt, medical report and police report. For theft, file a report at a Peruvian police station or tourist police office, since insurers rarely pay without one.

1. Call the assistance line as soon as it is safe.
2. Ask whether the clinic can bill the insurer directly.
3. Collect medical reports, receipts and prescriptions.
4. File a police report for theft with the tourist police.
5. Photograph damaged items and keep transport tickets.
6. Submit the claim online soon after returning home.