Q: sand flies in Machu Picchu and Lima
Oct 27, 2015, 8:16 am
#1
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Q: sand flies in Machu Picchu and Lima
Been thinking of a trip to Peru, in particular Machu Picchu. However, have read in tripadvisor about sand fly bites 
- mozzies and insects love my blood. Question: Are sand flies bad all year round? Or, are there months when they are not as bad?
Thanks!
- mozzies and insects love my blood. Question: Are sand flies bad all year round? Or, are there months when they are not as bad?Thanks!
Oct 27, 2015, 9:34 am
#2
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Don't know about season, but DEET should work and no problem finding repellents with 20% or higher DEET in Cusco if it's not available in your home country.
Last edited by rkkwan; Oct 27, 2015 at 10:48 am
Oct 28, 2015, 4:43 am
#3
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Nov 3, 2015, 4:40 pm
#4
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Just got back from Machu Picchu a couple days ago (now in Cuzco). BRING REPELLENT. The flies are awful in Machu Picchu. I just used regular Off and it worked fine. Before I used Off, I got a million bites on my arms. It's taken three days but they are no longer murderously itchy. I haven't noticed much in the way of insects elsewhere, though there were also sand flies in Aguas Calientes.
Nov 4, 2015, 10:48 am
#5
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Just got back from Machu Picchu a couple days ago (now in Cuzco). BRING REPELLENT. The flies are awful in Machu Picchu. I just used regular Off and it worked fine. Before I used Off, I got a million bites on my arms. It's taken three days but they are no longer murderously itchy. I haven't noticed much in the way of insects elsewhere, though there were also sand flies in Aguas Calientes.
Nov 4, 2015, 1:53 pm
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Nov 4, 2015, 2:06 pm
#8
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Was in MP almost exactly a year ago. Going all over MP, Huana Picchu and Gate of the Sun, didn't notice any/many mosquitos or sandflies. That said, I noticed that many who had done the Inca Trail had lots of sand fly or other insect nasty bites. My main problem was mosquitoes at Easter Island a few days before.
Nov 5, 2015, 3:21 pm
#9
Join Date: Mar 2015
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Flies and mozzies I can handle (80% DEET already packed). But are there leeches? I hate hate hate leeches. We're doing the Inca Trail and a two day Amazon canoe/hike/lodge trip from Puerto Maldonado in December.
I realise that hiking the Amazon in rainy season is possibly a poor choice for someone who hates leeches, but I guess it's worth the adventure.
I realise that hiking the Amazon in rainy season is possibly a poor choice for someone who hates leeches, but I guess it's worth the adventure.
Nov 6, 2015, 8:39 am
#10
Join Date: Sep 2004
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Flies and mozzies I can handle (80% DEET already packed). But are there leeches? I hate hate hate leeches. We're doing the Inca Trail and a two day Amazon canoe/hike/lodge trip from Puerto Maldonado in December.
I realise that hiking the Amazon in rainy season is possibly a poor choice for someone who hates leeches, but I guess it's worth the adventure.
I realise that hiking the Amazon in rainy season is possibly a poor choice for someone who hates leeches, but I guess it's worth the adventure.
Nov 28, 2015, 9:51 am
#12
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I have done more research and found a product called mosi guard (containing no DEET, but a eucalyptus oil) which some claimed to be effective. So, I am going to give it try for our Peru trip next year. We are not going to do the Inca trail or trek.
Nov 29, 2015, 8:49 am
#13
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I was at Machu Picchu a week ago and the sand flies (fleas?) were intense. I didn't realize I was getting bit until it was too late. They were primarily in the main part of the park, where there are sandy areas. I didn't have issues with them or with mosquitoes the day we hiked to the Sun Gate.
Long pants would also help. I was wearing capris and got far more bites than my husband who was wearing full length pants.
When we got to Cuzco after MP we could tell who had already been by the presence of bites around their ankles.
Long pants would also help. I was wearing capris and got far more bites than my husband who was wearing full length pants.
When we got to Cuzco after MP we could tell who had already been by the presence of bites around their ankles.
Dec 19, 2015, 11:48 pm
#15
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Location: Heraklion, Greece
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I was at Machu Picchu a week ago and the sand flies (fleas?) were intense. I didn't realize I was getting bit until it was too late. They were primarily in the main part of the park, where there are sandy areas. I didn't have issues with them or with mosquitoes the day we hiked to the Sun Gate.
Long pants would also help. I was wearing capris and got far more bites than my husband who was wearing full length pants.
When we got to Cuzco after MP we could tell who had already been by the presence of bites around their ankles.
Long pants would also help. I was wearing capris and got far more bites than my husband who was wearing full length pants.
When we got to Cuzco after MP we could tell who had already been by the presence of bites around their ankles.
Originally Posted by A1pax
I have done more research and found a product called mosi guard (containing no DEET, but a eucalyptus oil) which some claimed to be effective. So, I am going to give it try for our Peru trip next year. We are not going to do the Inca trail or trek.
PS I'm a vector biologist.