When traveling I take a mosquito net and plenty of string to hang it. A net is small and worth its weight on gold when you are trying to sleep and one of those pesky buggers in your sleeping space. Yeah, its might take up the space of a small grapefruit after you have used it once, but its very light.

Ok, fun facts on risk...

Dengue is present in all of the countries on you route. Very rare in Chile.
Yellow fever and malaria are only reported in eastern Peru and Bolivia (basically the Amazon portions of these countries.) Search for "malaria maps" and you see the hot zones.

PREVENTION

Malaria is not fun to get. Once you are infected, you are for life. I take anti-malaria tablet when I travel with any chance of exposure. There are roughly three options:

1. cheap (but makes the skin more light sensitive, easier to sun burn)
2. a little more expensive and take it once a week (can make you feel edgy and increases vivid dream...)
3. most expensive, taken daily, none of the above issues.

There are also factors like, number of days before and after that the pills need to be taken.

From what I have read, Brazil no longer asks for proof of yellow fever inoculation. I got a shot in 2008.

Dengue, nothing you can take to prevent it, just Deet, mosquito netting and long sleeves. It really sucks if you get it. I friend got it in the Caribbean and was laid up for days...

Use 100% Deet products. Deet has been around for decades and is very safe. Of course you can search the Internet and find someone who will tell you different, including that using the Internet causes brain rot. Which is completely true. I bought a few tiny bottles of Ben's 100% Deet. Good stuff. Deet stops working when you sweat, so apply early and often, like sun screen.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride