Central America combines tropical mosquito-borne disease, food and waterborne illness and, in some places, yellow fever entry rules. The right plan depends on exactly where you go.
Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travel to parts of eastern Panama, and several Central American countries, including Costa Rica, ask for proof of vaccination if you arrive from a country with yellow fever risk. As an official yellow fever center, we give the vaccine and issue the International Certificate.
Our certified specialists will recommend the right vaccines based on your specific destination and travel plans.
Central America is small, but risks still vary from country to country.
A surf week in Costa Rica, a dive trip to Belize, a mission team in Honduras and a backpacking route through Guatemala each need a different plan. At your consultation we review every country on your route, the season, how rural you will be and your health history, then recommend only the vaccines for Central America that fit your trip.
For most visitors to Costa Rica, hepatitis A and typhoid protection, routine vaccines and good mosquito bite prevention cover the main risks. Costa Rica asks for proof of yellow fever vaccination from travelers arriving from many South American and African countries, which matters if Costa Rica is one stop on a longer trip. Yellow fever vaccination is also recommended for parts of eastern Panama, including the Darien region.
Malaria is present in parts of Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama and a few other areas, while most resort and city destinations carry little or no risk. If your route includes a malaria area, we discuss prescription malaria prevention at your visit. Dengue and chikungunya are found across the region, so we recommend an EPA-registered repellent such as DEET or picaridin on every trip, and the chikungunya vaccine may be recommended during active outbreaks.
Central America is a common destination for church and humanitarian teams from Arizona. Longer stays, rural clinics and construction work raise the case for hepatitis B, typhoid and rabies pre-exposure vaccination. See our mission trip travel health page for group planning.
We recommend booking 4 to 6 weeks before departure. Leaving sooner? Call (480) 435-2774, because many travel vaccines can still be given on short notice. Our Scottsdale travel clinic serves travelers from across the Phoenix metro, and you can book online any time.
Arizona’s only independent travel clinic with certified specialists
Don’t wait until the last minute. Yellow Fever and other vaccines require time to become effective.
Book at least 6-8 weeks before travel for optimal protection
