Travel insurance is essential when you’re planning a trip to Peru. Having the right plan can make or break your budget if something unexpected happens. No matter how well you plan, things happen. Whether it’s a medical emergency, a canceled flight, or lost luggage, travel insurance has you covered.
In this guide, we’ll break down the best travel insurance options for Peru. We’ll cover the different types of insurance to consider, recommend some of the top providers, and give you tips on what to look for before choosing your plan. Let’s get started!
Types of Travel Insurance to Consider
1. Health and Medical Insurance
While Peru has some decent healthcare options in larger cities like Lima and Cusco, you might not find the same level of care in other areas. If you get sick or injured, you don’t want to be stuck with huge medical bills. Medical travel insurance covers you for doctor visits, hospital stays, and even medical evacuations if needed.
Make sure your plan covers: medical visits, emergency evacuation, and repatriation.
Also, check whether pre-existing conditions are covered, as some policies exclude them. Look for a provider that has 24-hour emergency assistance; you never know when you might need help.
2. Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance
If you’ve booked tours, hotels, and flights in advance, you might want travel insurance that covers trip cancellation. This type of insurance compensates you if something happens and you can’t travel. Whether it’s a family emergency, illness, or a canceled flight, this can help you recover non-refundable costs.
Trip interruption works similarly; it covers expenses if your trip gets cut short due to unforeseen issues, like natural disasters or political unrest.
3. Flight Insurance
Flights to Peru can be expensive, so adding flight-specific insurance may be a good idea. This insurance typically covers delays, cancellations, or missed connections. You’ll get reimbursed for any major disruptions that impact your air travel.
Make sure the policy you’re considering also covers expenses if you are forced to spend extra nights due to severe delays.
4. Baggage and Personal Belongings Insurance
Lost luggage happens more often than you think, and when it does, it’s stressful—especially if you’re in a foreign country. Baggage insurance ensures that if your suitcase doesn’t arrive on time, or if your belongings get stolen, you’ll get reimbursed. Most policies cover the essentials like clothing, toiletries, and electronics.
Some plans even include coverage for delayed baggage; this means you’ll get money to buy immediate necessities until your bags arrive.
5. Adventure and Sports Coverage
Peru is famous for its trekking, especially the Inca Trail and hiking in the Andes. If you’re planning on doing any risky activities like hiking, paragliding, or scuba diving, make sure your insurance includes adventure sports coverage. Not all policies cover these types of activities, or they charge extra to add them on.
Think about what you plan to do. If it involves anything considered “high-risk,” make sure it’s in your insurance policy.
Top Travel Insurance Providers for Travel to Peru
Here are some of the best travel insurance providers that offer coverage for travel to Peru. Each one has a variety of plans, and you can tailor them to fit your needs. It’s important to compare — some offer cheaper rates but may lack important coverage.
1. World Nomads
World Nomads is perfect for travelers looking for flexible plans. They focus on insuring adventure travelers, making them a great fit if you’re hiking or doing extreme sports in Peru. Their plans include coverage for medical emergencies, evacuation, trip cancellation, baggage loss, and adventure activities.
Their standout feature is the ability to buy or extend coverage while you’re already traveling. This is great for long-term travelers or those with trip changes.
World Nomads also has 24/7 emergency assistance, including support for medical and trip issues. One thing to note: their premiums can be higher if you add adventure sports.
2. SafetyWing
SafetyWing offers affordable travel medical insurance, especially for long-term travelers and digital nomads. They offer solid health coverage and include benefits like emergency evacuation, hospital visits, and coverage for COVID-19-related issues.
However, SafetyWing focuses mostly on medical coverage. Their trip interruption and baggage protection are limited, making it a better fit if you’re mainly concerned about health and are less worried about flights or personal belongings.
3. VisitorsCoverage
VisitorsCoverage is one of the largest and most established travel insurance companies. They have different premium plans based on destination, length of stay, and activities. VisitorsCoverage is a solid choice if you’re looking for comprehensive protection. Their plans offer solid medical coverage, trip interruption, and cancellation coverage, plus baggage loss protection.
Their policies aren’t as flexible or tailored for adventurers as World Nomads, but they are reliable and known for good customer service in emergencies. One thing to keep in mind: they often exclude adventure sports unless you purchase specific add-ons.
4. Faye (International Medical Group)
Faye offers a variety of travel insurance plans, from short-term to long-term. Their travel medical insurance is highly rated and includes emergency medical exam coverage, hospital stays, and evacuation benefits.
They also offer add-ons for trip cancellation, lost baggage, and gear protection. Faye tends to have affordable options for those on a budget. It’s a solid choice for family trips or backpackers who want standard coverage without breaking the bank. Keep in mind that you need to read the fine print on what is covered—they don’t offer as much for extreme adventures.
What to Look for When Choosing Travel Insurance
1. Coverage Limits
Take time to read the policy’s coverage limits. Make sure they offer adequate coverage for medical expenses, evacuation, and personal belongings. You don’t want to be stuck with a $100,000 medical bill because your policy only covers a fraction of it.
2. Deductibles
Check how much you’ll have to pay before your insurance kicks in. A higher deductible usually means lower premiums, but you’ll pay more out of pocket if something happens. Consider what you can afford in case of an emergency.
3. Claim Process
Look into how the company handles claims. Do they have an easy, user-friendly process online? Do they offer 24/7 customer service while you’re traveling? The last thing you want is to deal with a complicated process during an emergency.
4. COVID-19 Coverage
COVID-19 is still a factor, so make sure your policy covers pandemic-related issues. Many companies now include it as part of their standard coverage, but it’s worth double-checking.
5. Pre-existing Conditions
If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, check whether they’re covered. Some policies have exclusions, or they might require documentation before approving coverage. It’s essential to know where you stand before you travel.
6. Activity Coverage
If you plan on adventurous activities like trekking to Machu Picchu, paragliding, or other extreme sports, ensure your policy covers these. It’s common for them to be excluded unless you add an extra adventure package to your plan.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re trekking through the Andes or exploring Lima’s historical sites, travel insurance offers peace of mind. From medical coverage to lost baggage and flight delays, it ensures you’re covered when things go wrong.
Take the time to compare plans based on your unique trip needs. Budget, trip details, and activities will help you choose the right insurance for your trip to Peru. With the right coverage, you’ll be able to focus on exploring instead of worrying about the “what ifs.”
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