According to the CDC, you will want to get all of the routine vaccinations that they say you should get whether or not you are traveling (such as MMR, DPT, influenza, polio and chickenpox). For South American travel, you should get vaccinations for stuff like Hep A, Hep B, and Typhoid. If you think there’s any chance you might be going off the beaten path and away from the big cities, you might want to get vaccinated for Yellow Fever and Rabies. Also, be sure to get some anti-malarial pills, and make sure to take (or buy) some mosquito repellent! Drink only bottled water or things in cans – don’t drink from the taps. You may also want to brush your teeth using bottled water (sounds posh, but it’s a good safety measure if you want to avoid getting sick). Also, bring antibacterial Moist Wipes – you never know when you’ll need them!!
