Vaccinations
If you will be traveling to Peru, it is required that your pet is vaccinated. They should receive their Rabies vaccine between 21 days and 12 months before your trip. In addition to Rabies, you must be also able to show proof of Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, and Parovirus vaccinations. If you are traveling with a cat, you will need to show proof of their Feline Vioral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Panleukopenia (FVRCP) vaccinations.
Certifications
Aside from the vaccination report, you will need to carry with you a Veterinary Certificate for Peru, that has been completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian (or CFIA, if in Canada). You will also need a ticks and tapeworm examination conducted shortly before your trip. These forms will all need to be endorsed by the USDA, CFIA, or, if you’re not in the USA or Canda, with your national Governing Authority. These documents will need to be endorsed within 14 days of departure.
Fees
There are also fees involved with traveling with your pet to Peru. Of course, the above vet examinations and certifications have costs involved. In addition, airlines will have their own extra fees as well. For example, with JetBlue and United Airlines, there is a fee of $125 each way for pets permitted to travel in-cabin.
In addition, when you arrive at Peru’s Lima Airport, you will be directed to the SENASA Office. Here you will have to pay a small fee for a pet certificate, which you should keep in a safe, accessible place throughout your time in Peru. There is also a small Peruvian customs fee.
Microchips
Though not required, microchips are a really good idea if you are traveling with your pet to Peru. The chips themselves are about the size of a grain of rice and are implanted under the skin as a permanent method of electric identification. Before you leave for your trip, ensure that all your contact information is up-to-date. This is very helpful in case your pet gets lost, as there is a much higher chance that a shelter, vet, or local council will be able to scan their chip and contact you.
Age requirements
Unvaccinated puppies and kittens under 12 weeks need an import permit to enter Peru. In addition, you should check directly with both your international airline and domestic Peruvian airlines to see if there are any further requirements. Some airlines may not permit puppies under a certain age to fly. Typically, for domestic airlines within Peru, the pup or kitten must be at least 8 months old. For international, 16 weeks is typically the requirement, but these specifications can vary from airline to airline.
Breeds requiring special permission on Latam
Peru Travel Advisor and Lima resident Matthew Hay provided some insight about certain dog breeds that need special permission to travel with Latam, a popular Peruvian airline. This is a top option for travelers journeying between Lima and Cusco. “My girlfriend’s sister took her English Bulldog (Nala) to the U.S. and needed to take her as an emotional support dog to be allowed,” Hay shares. “Latam also said the dog needed a muzzle to be allowed to travel. She also needed a note from a psychologist to say Nala is an emotional support dog.”
The following breeds need this special permission for Latam airlines, as they are short-muzzled:
Affenpinscher, Boston Terrier, Bulldog (all breeds), Cane Corso or Italian Mastiff, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel, Brussels Griffin, Japanese Chin (Japanese Spaniel), Lhasa Apso, English Mastiff, Pekingese, Pug (all breeds), Chinese Shar-pei, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Spaniel, Bull Terrier, American Bulldog, American Bully, Akita Ken, Argentinian Mastiff, Brazilian Mastiff, Anatolian Shepherd Dog, Rottweiler, Japanese Tosa, American Staffordshire Terrier (Amstaff), English Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Staffie), American Pitbull Terrier, Boxer, Bullmastiff, Bordeaux Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, and Presa Canario (Canary Mastiff).
Nala mid-flight with Latam Airlines. Photo by Daniela Forton.
Machu Picchu tour
“For your Machu Picchu Tour, only service dogs for the blind (seeing-eye dogs) are allowed into the site, no other exceptions,” says Leila Dancuart, Sales Management Team Member for Peru for Less. “In Aguas Calientes, the little village at the base of Machu Picchu, the budget hotel Gringo Bills allows your pup to stay in the room while you go on your Machu Picchu Tour, so this is a good alternative option as well.”