Think about this: You will have simply arrived within the stunning Peruvian Andes, which is crammed with majestic mountains, mysterious ruins, and vibrant cultures.
The dimensions of Peru’s high-altitude websites truly takes your breath away as you make your journey as much as the dizzying heights of Machu Picchu or the breathtaking great thing about Cusco. A harmful menace for the reckless traveler, altitude illness could rapidly remodel your journey right into a nightmare.
This weblog dives into all you could learn about altitude illness in Peru, offering insightful info and sensible recommendation to make your journey to Peru’s excessive areas a breath of contemporary air in each means.
Right here is an outline:
What’s altitude illness?
Vacationers who journey to excessive altitudes, comparable to Cusco, Arequipa, Colca Canyon or Puno, the place the air stress and oxygen ranges are a lot decrease, could expertise altitude illness, generally referred to as acute mountain illness (AMS).
Your physique will get much less oxygen at excessive altitudes, which may trigger quite a lot of signs, from minor discomfort to severe illness. Though not everyone seems to be in danger, it’s vital to know the medical results of altitude illness as a result of extreme circumstances may be harmful.
Nearly all of vacationers in Peru who get altitude illness are those that arrive by airplane from a location with higher temperatures and decrease altitude. The sudden modifications in altitude and temperature, the place the air is thinner, and it’s colder, are liable for this.
Journey locations in Peru liable to altitude illness
The various panorama of Peru varies in altitude from coastal deserts to excessive mountain summits. It could be pleasurable to journey to the nation’s high-altitude areas, nevertheless it’s essential to pay attention to the place altitude illness is extra prone to occur.
Listed here are a number of locations in Peru the place altitude illness is a possible situation
- Cusco: You’ll be able to attain Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley from Cusco, which is positioned round 11,000 ft. (3,400 m) above sea stage. Spend a day or two in Cusco earlier than starting hikes or treks to increased altitudes to permit for acclimatization.
- Machu Picchu: Whereas the Inca citadel is simply about 7,970 ft (2,430 m) excessive, most of the hikes and trails that go there have high-altitude elements. If you wish to discover this pure treasure, a gradual ascent and acclimatization are essential.
- Arequipa: Also called the “White Metropolis,” Arequipa sits at a peak of round 7,660 ft. (2,335 m). Spend a couple of days adjusting to the altitude earlier than touring the town or beginning treks to the Colca Canyon.
- Lake Titicaca: At elevations of as much as 12,500 ft. (3,810 m), Lake Titicaca is the best navigable lake on the planet. Be cautious of the altitude when visiting the Uros islands or different locations close by. The best technique for making the journey throughout the crystal-clear waters continues to be rising slowly.
Associated learn: The place to go in Peru In addition to Machu Picchu
What are the signs of altitude illness?
Nearly all of vacationers usually expertise signs of altitude illness 6 to 24 hours after ascending over 9,842 ft. (3000 m). The lowered air stress and oxygen ranges could cause a spread of signs.
The next are some traditional indicators of altitude illness
- Complications
- Nauseous and dizzy feeling
- Tiredness
- Sleeping difficulties
- Respiratory points
- Lack of urge for food
Altitude illness typically lasts between two and three days. That is typical, provided that it takes a traveler in Peru about two days to acclimate. Nevertheless, there may be at all times a means round an issue. On this state of affairs, cautious planning is crucial.
There are some suggestions to stop altitude illness. The following pointers come from vacationers who’ve visited Peru earlier than and from those that reside within the Peruvian highlands.
Avoiding the altitude illness
Your high-altitude experiences in Peru don’t should be impaired by altitude illness. You’ll be able to cut back danger and fully benefit from the Andes’ magnificence with cautious planning and smart selections.
Under are some important strategies to ensure a risk-free and joyful journey.
Take the appropriate medication
The next are among the hottest medicines used to stop and treatment altitude illness and related signs:
- Altitude illness drugs (e.g., Sorojchi drugs, accessible in Peruvian pharmacies)
- Acetazolamide, branded as “Diamox,” is used to each stop and treatment excessive altitude illness.
- Paracetamol with Ibuprofen for Complications
- Gravol or Promethazine to alleviate nausea.
Each pharmacy sells medicines, and the workers at your resort or hostel will even have the ability to help you.
To stop altitude illness, it’s best to take Diamox or Sorojchi drugs 1-2 days previous to ascending to increased altitudes. You need to nonetheless train warning and enhance your altitude progressively quite than rapidly.
Drink Coca Tea or Chew Coca Leaves
Within the mountains of Peru, mate de coca, or coca tea, is probably the most typically consumed beverage. You’ll be able to simply put together coca tea your self. Simply add some coca leaves to sizzling water, wait a couple of minutes, then, if wanted, add some sweetness.
Necessary: If you happen to should undergo a drug check on your job, keep away from coca tea. Even when the leaves solely comprise a tiny quantity of cocaine, a drug check may nonetheless come out constructive.
Chewing coca leaves is sort of widespread amongst others. They declare it helps them focus higher and is part of their tradition. We’ve achieved it on various walks, together with the 5-day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu and the Rainbow Mountain Vinicunca journey, and it actually helped us.
Moreover, each vacationer store sells coca leaves within the type of cookies or different treats. They’re the perfect “on-the-go” snack.
Adapt to the altitude progressively
Usually, it takes your physique a couple of days to regulate to the elevated altitude. You need to want two to 3 days to get used to it due to this.
The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu needs to be seen first after arriving in Cusco as a result of they’re positioned at decrease altitudes. After that, you possibly can go on mountain climbing excursions, comparable to to Humantay Lake or the Rainbow Mountains.
Typically, it’s best to keep away from ascending increased than 984–1,640 ft. (300–500 m) day by day and take a day without work each 1,968–2,952 ft. (600–900 m), or each 3–4 days.
This Better of Cusco in 4 Days Tour supplies all of that in a single tour. Discover extra particulars on the backside of the article.
Eat low-fat dishes and keep away from fatty meals
Nice low-fat meals embrace soups, rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, fruit, and poultry, which give your physique with the power it requires. A high-carb weight loss plan has been confirmed to enhance temper and is a brilliant methodology to stop altitude illness. Nevertheless, range it up and add lean protein, comparable to rooster, and a few wholesome fat, comparable to avocado or almonds.
As a result of they take much less oxygen on your metabolism than fats and protein do, carbohydrates are glorious for you.
Keep away from consuming something creamy or salty as a result of these meals take longer on your physique to digest. As an example, consuming salty meals will make you lose water out of your physique extra rapidly.
Because of the altitude, many vacationers expertise a scarcity of urge for food after arriving. They eat as much as 40% much less energy than ordinary consequently. Subsequently, even should you don’t really feel hungry, it’s essential that you just eat sufficient meals once you get to your vacation spot.
Different tricks to keep away from altitude illness
Listed here are another suggestions that it’s best to observe to keep away from the altitude illness in Peru:
- Drink plenty of water: Add 1.5 l to your each day utilization, as conserving your physique hydrated is essential.
- Keep away from alcohol and don’t do strenuous actions: It’s beneficial to keep away from alcohol, smoking, and fascinating in strenuous bodily exercise within the first 24 – 48 hours.
- Get Agua de Florida: It’s a tiny bottle of herbal-infused yellow fragrance. This one helps in case you’re experiencing issue with altitude, complications, or respiration points. Inhaling it’s thought of to be useful.
- Purchase Oxishot: A small dischargeable referred to as Oxishot has as much as 8 l of oxygen in it. It reduces your complications, weariness, and respiration difficulties.
Acute Mountain Illness (AMS) and Power Mountain Illness (CMS)
Acute Mountain Illness (AMS) and Power Mountain Illness (CMS) are completely different manifestations of sickness that may happen with publicity to excessive altitude.
Acute mountain illness is rapid and often happens inside a couple of hours of ascending to altitudes above 2,500 metres (about 8,000 ft). The signs are described above.
However, power mountain illness, also called Monge’s illness, is a long-term sickness that develops over years of dwelling at excessive altitudes. It’s characterised by an overproduction of purple blood cells in response to the extended lack of oxygen related to dwelling at excessive altitudes. This ends in a situation referred to as polycythemia, which thickens the blood and may result in pulmonary hypertension, coronary heart failure and different severe problems.
Power Mountain Illness (CMS)
Power Mountain Illness (CMS), or Monge’s illness, is the physique’s adaptive response to long-term publicity to excessive altitude. The important thing physiological response in CMS is a situation referred to as polycythemia, the place the physique overproduces purple blood cells in an try to hold extra oxygen to the tissues.
Whereas this may occasionally appear useful, it will increase the viscosity (thickness) of the blood, making it tougher for the guts to pump blood all through the physique.
Over time, this elevated workload on the guts can result in severe problems, comparable to:
- Proper-sided coronary heart failure: The fitting facet of the guts, which is liable for pumping blood to the lungs for oxygen, can change into enlarged and weakened over time as a result of elevated stress required to push blood via the lungs.
- Pulmonary hypertension: Elevated blood viscosity can result in hypertension within the lungs’ arteries, affecting regular respiration.
- Stroke: Thicker, slower-moving blood will increase the danger of blood clots, which may trigger a stroke if a clot blocks an artery within the mind.
- Irregular bleeding: Though uncommon, some sufferers with power mountain illness could expertise irregular bleeding as a result of modifications in blood clotting mechanisms.
As CMS impacts a number of organ techniques, sufferers can also expertise non-specific signs comparable to fatigue, dizziness and lowered bodily endurance. As CMS progresses, sufferers could develop cyanosis (blue or purple coloring of the pores and skin) as a result of poor oxygen supply to the physique’s tissues.
It’s necessary to notice that CMS is an hostile response to excessive altitude and isn’t skilled by everybody who lives in such circumstances. Some populations are genetically tailored to dwelling at excessive altitudes and don’t develop CMS. Medical intervention, together with focused remedy and recommendation on way of life modifications, may help those that are adversely affected.
Private expertise with altitude illness
Every year, we spend a considerable amount of our time in high-altitude areas, comparable to Puno, Cusco, Arequipa or Huaraz. For that cause, we’re properly conscious of the significance of getting used to the altitude and methods to stop it.
What personally helped us probably the most have been the next issues:
- Take Soroche drugs 1-2 days earlier than flying out to excessive locations.
- Drink plenty of water and coca tea to maintain the signs low.
- Don’t eat plenty of carbs, and keep away from strenuous exercise/excursions for the primary 24 – 48 hours.
Everybody reacts otherwise to locations positioned at excessive altitudes, nevertheless it’s essential to take the appropriate measures to keep away from spending your holidays in your resort room or on the hospital.
Navigating altitude illness in Peru
Altitude illness presents a barrier when exploring Peru’s high-altitude treasures, that are a pleasure to find. To make your journey safer and extra pleasurable, consider these necessary classes:
- Gradual ascent and acclimatization are your greatest allies.
- Maintain your self hydrated, make good meals decisions, and search medical recommendation when vital.
- Don’t push your limitations, and take note of your physique.
If you happen to think about all of those factors, then you possibly can uncover our Better of Cusco in 4 days tour with none doubts and points with altitude illness.
4 Days: Better of Cusco
This wonderful 4-day Machu Picchu tour will provide you with a singular and vivid expertise of Cusco’s nature, native tradition, historical past, structure and the unbelievable New Surprise of the World.
Prepare for 4 unforgettable locations in simply 4 days: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Rainbow Mountain and Lake Titicaca.
The professional guides will make sure you keep away from the crowds and uncover the most effective spots for beautiful images.
You’ll be able to select to journey in a small group (max eight folks) or on a non-public tour. One other good possibility is that you may guide your individual lodging or let this be achieved by the Exploor staff (2-5 star choices to select from).
Key advantages of this tour possibility
- Discover the wonders of Machu Picchu with an professional information who has led over 1000 excursions.
- Embark on our intimate group excursions with 2-8 fellow adventurers (or go for an unique non-public tour), making certain early entry to the websites and avoiding giant crowds.
- Expertise impeccable planning and execution as they’re proud to be seasoned professionals within the area, acknowledged with a exceptional 95% Excellence ranking on TripAdvisor.
Worth: from USD 839 per particular person
Cusco itinerary
Day 1: Sacred Valley – Immerse your self in an genuine tour of the Valley’s must-see ruins
You’ll be picked you up at round 6:45 am to start exploring the principle websites of the Sacred Valley. You’ll go to locations comparable to Moray, the Maras salt mines, Ollantaytambo, in addition to stopping at a conventional chicheria to pattern Inca beer and a neighborhood textile middle.
On the finish of this enriching tour, you’ll have two choices: return to Cusco or proceed on to Aguas Calientes, the place you’ll go to Machu Picchu the following day.
Lunch is included, and also you’ll keep in a single day in both Cusco or Aguas Calientes.
Day 2: Machu Picchu – Uncover this surprise of the world with our educated information
Embark on an enchanting 2 hour guided tour of a very powerful areas throughout the Machu Picchu ruins. Find out about its fascinating historical past and immerse your self in Inca tradition as your information unveils exceptional buildings that showcase historical knowledge at its best.
As soon as your exploration is full, you can be transfered again to Cusco for an additional night time.
Day 3: Rainbow Mountain – Expertise Vinicunca with out the crowds
Begin early to get pleasure from some quiet moments on the prime of the Andes! Marvel on the vibrant colours of Rainbow Mountain, with its breathtaking purple landscapes, and meet llamas and alpacas alongside the best way. Your small group (additionally the non-public excursions) ensures exclusivity by making certain you’re among the many first to succeed in the summit.
Breakfast and lunch are included. In a single day in Cusco.
Day 4: Lake Humantay – Benefit from the turquoise lake earlier than the large teams arrive
Located at an altitude of 4200m, this hidden gem is surrounded by majestic glacier mountains that supply breathtaking views. After a 1.5-2 hour hike, you can be one of many fortunate vacationers to benefit from the tranquil great thing about the turquoise Humantay Lake with the snow-capped Mt. Humantay as a backdrop.
Breakfast and lunch are included. In a single day in Cusco.
Good to have:
- Entrance, practice and shuttle bus tickets for Machu Picchu are included.
- Trekking poles, first support package and oxygen for the treks included.
- Vegetarian and vegan choices can be found.
Essentially the most exceptional side of selecting Exploor is the overcome the crowds. You make a degree of getting up early to be among the many first to discover your locations. Given the present recognition of Peru, this method really transforms your expertise. Plus, smaller teams provide you with extra flexibility throughout your journey.
