Think about this: You may have simply arrived within the stunning Peruvian Andes, which is stuffed with majestic mountains, mysterious ruins, and vibrant cultures.
The size of Peru’s high-altitude websites really 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 might shortly rework your journey right into a nightmare.
This weblog dives into all you’ll want to find out about altitude illness in Peru, offering insightful data and sensible recommendation to make your journey to Peru’s excessive areas a breath of recent air in each manner.
Right here is an outline:
What’s altitude illness?
Vacationers who journey to excessive altitudes, corresponding to Cusco, Arequipa, Colca Canyon or Puno, the place the air strain and oxygen ranges are a lot decrease, might 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 critical illness. Though not everyone seems to be in danger, it’s important to know the medical results of altitude illness as a result of extreme circumstances might be harmful.
The vast majority of vacationers in Peru who get altitude illness are those that arrive by aircraft from a location with better temperatures and decrease altitude. The sudden adjustments in altitude and temperature, the place the air is thinner, and it’s colder, are accountable for this.
Journey locations in Peru susceptible to altitude illness
The various panorama of Peru varies in altitude from coastal deserts to excessive mountain summits. It is perhaps pleasing to journey to the nation’s high-altitude areas, however it’s essential to concentrate on 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 subject
- Cusco: You possibly can attain Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley from Cusco, which is situated round 11,000 ft. (3,400 m) above sea degree. Spend a day or two in Cusco earlier than starting hikes or treks to larger altitudes to permit for acclimatization.
- Machu Picchu: Whereas the Inca citadel is barely about 7,970 ft (2,430 m) excessive, most of the hikes and trails that go there have high-altitude points. 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 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 very best navigable lake on this 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 remains to be rising slowly.
Associated learn: The place to go in Peru In addition to Machu Picchu
What are the signs of altitude illness?
The vast majority of vacationers sometimes expertise signs of altitude illness 6 to 24 hours after ascending over 9,842 ft. (3000 m). The decreased air strain and oxygen ranges could cause a variety of signs.
The next are some basic indicators of altitude illness
- Complications
- Nauseous and dizzy feeling
- Tiredness
- Sleeping difficulties
- Respiratory points
- Lack of urge for food
Altitude illness usually 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 all the time a manner round an issue. On this state of affairs, cautious planning is important.
There are some suggestions to stop altitude illness. The following tips come from vacationers who’ve visited Peru earlier than and from those that stay within the Peruvian highlands.
Avoiding the altitude illness
Your high-altitude experiences in Peru don’t should be impaired by altitude illness. You possibly can cut back threat and fully benefit from the Andes’ magnificence with cautious planning and smart choices.
Under are some important strategies to ensure a risk-free and joyful journey.
Take the fitting drugs
The next are a number of the hottest medicines used to stop and treatment altitude illness and related signs:
- Altitude illness tablets (e.g., Sorojchi tablets, obtainable in Peruvian pharmacies)
- Acetazolamide, branded as “Diamox,” is used to each forestall and treatment excessive altitude illness.
- Paracetamol with Ibuprofen for Complications
- Gravol or Promethazine to alleviate nausea.
Each pharmacy sells medicines, and the employees at your lodge or hostel may even have the ability to help you.
To stop altitude illness, it is best to take Diamox or Sorojchi tablets 1-2 days previous to ascending to larger altitudes. You need to nonetheless train warning and enhance your altitude progressively quite than shortly.
Drink Coca Tea or Chew Coca Leaves
Within the mountains of Peru, mate de coca, or coca tea, is essentially the most usually consumed beverage. You possibly can 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.
Vital: In case you should undergo a drug check in your job, keep away from coca tea. Even when the leaves solely comprise a tiny quantity of cocaine, a drug check might nonetheless come out optimistic.
Chewing coca leaves is kind of common amongst others. They declare it helps them focus higher and is part of their tradition. We’ve completed it on plenty of 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 best “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 situated at decrease altitudes. After that, you may go on climbing excursions, corresponding to to Humantay Lake or the Rainbow Mountains.
Typically, it is best to keep away from ascending larger than 984–1,640 ft. (300–500 m) daily and take a time without work each 1,968–2,952 ft. (600–900 m), or each 3–4 days.
This Better of Cusco in 4 Days Tour gives 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 embody soups, rice, pasta, potatoes, bread, fruit, and poultry, which offer your physique with the vitality it requires. A high-carb food plan has been confirmed to enhance temper and is a brilliant methodology to stop altitude illness. Nevertheless, fluctuate it up and add lean protein, corresponding to rooster, and a few wholesome fat, corresponding to avocado or almonds.
As a result of they take much less oxygen in 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 in your physique to digest. As an example, consuming salty meals will make you lose water out of your physique extra shortly.
As a result of altitude, many vacationers expertise a scarcity of urge for food after arriving. They eat as much as 40% much less energy than common consequently. Subsequently, even in the event you don’t really feel hungry, it’s essential that you simply eat sufficient meals if you get to your vacation spot.
Different tricks to keep away from altitude illness
Listed here are another suggestions that it is best to observe to keep away from the altitude illness in Peru:
- Drink quite a lot of water: Add 1.5 l to your each day utilization, as preserving your physique hydrated is essential.
- Keep away from alcohol and don’t do strenuous actions: It’s advisable 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 might be experiencing issue with altitude, complications, or respiratory 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 respiratory difficulties.
Acute Mountain Illness (AMS) and Persistent Mountain Illness (CMS)
Acute Mountain Illness (AMS) and Persistent Mountain Illness (CMS) are totally 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 toes). The signs are described above.
However, continual mountain illness, often known as Monge’s illness, is a long-term sickness that develops over years of residing at excessive altitudes. It’s characterised by an overproduction of pink blood cells in response to the extended lack of oxygen related to residing at excessive altitudes. This leads to a situation referred to as polycythemia, which thickens the blood and may result in pulmonary hypertension, coronary heart failure and different critical issues.
Persistent Mountain Illness (CMS)
Persistent 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 pink blood cells in an try to hold extra oxygen to the tissues.
Whereas this will likely appear useful, it will increase the viscosity (thickness) of the blood, making it more durable for the center to pump blood all through the physique.
Over time, this elevated workload on the center can result in critical issues, corresponding to:
- Proper-sided coronary heart failure: The suitable facet of the center, which is accountable for pumping blood to the lungs for oxygen, can change into enlarged and weakened over time as a result of elevated strain required to push blood via the lungs.
- Pulmonary hypertension: Elevated blood viscosity can result in hypertension within the lungs’ arteries, affecting regular respiratory.
- 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 continual mountain illness might expertise irregular bleeding as a consequence of adjustments in blood clotting mechanisms.
As CMS impacts a number of organ programs, sufferers may additionally expertise non-specific signs corresponding to fatigue, dizziness and decreased bodily endurance. As CMS progresses, sufferers might develop cyanosis (blue or purple coloring of the pores and skin) as a consequence of poor oxygen supply to the physique’s tissues.
It’s vital to notice that CMS is an antagonistic response to excessive altitude and isn’t skilled by everybody who lives in such situations. Some populations are genetically tailored to residing at excessive altitudes and don’t develop CMS. Medical intervention, together with focused treatment and recommendation on way of life adjustments, will help those that are adversely affected.
Private expertise with altitude illness
Annually, we spend a considerable amount of our time in high-altitude places, corresponding to Puno, Cusco, Arequipa or Huaraz. For that cause, we’re nicely conscious of the significance of getting used to the altitude and easy methods to forestall it.
What personally helped us essentially the most had been the next issues:
- Take Soroche tablets 1-2 days earlier than flying out to excessive locations.
- Drink quite a lot of water and coca tea to maintain the signs low.
- Don’t eat quite a lot of carbs, and keep away from strenuous exercise/excursions for the primary 24 – 48 hours.
Everybody reacts in a different way to locations situated at excessive altitudes, however it’s crucial to take the fitting measures to keep away from spending your holidays in your lodge 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, take note these vital classes:
- Gradual ascent and acclimatization are your finest allies.
- Hold your self hydrated, make good meals decisions, and search medical recommendation when crucial.
- Don’t push your limitations, and take note of your physique.
In case you think about all of those factors, then you may 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 possibly can select to journey in a small group (max eight folks) or on a personal tour. One other good choice is that you might ebook your personal lodging or let this be completed by the Exploor group (2-5 star choices to select from).
Key advantages of this tour choice
- 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 personal 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 discipline, acknowledged with a outstanding 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 corresponding to Moray, the Maras salt mines, Ollantaytambo, in addition to stopping at a standard 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 subsequent 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 interesting 2 hour guided tour of an important areas throughout the Machu Picchu ruins. Study its fascinating historical past and immerse your self in Inca tradition as your information unveils outstanding buildings that showcase historic knowledge at its best.
As soon as your exploration is full, you’ll be transfered again to Cusco for one more night time.
Day 3: Rainbow Mountain – Expertise Vinicunca with out the crowds
Begin early to take pleasure in some quiet moments on the high of the Andes! Marvel on the vibrant colours of Rainbow Mountain, with its breathtaking pink landscapes, and meet llamas and alpacas alongside the way in which. Your small group (additionally the personal excursions) ensures exclusivity by making certain you might be among the many first to achieve 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 provide breathtaking views. After a 1.5-2 hour hike, you’ll 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, prepare and shuttle bus tickets for Machu Picchu are included.
- Trekking poles, first help package and oxygen for the treks included.
- Vegetarian and vegan choices can be found.
Essentially the most outstanding facet of selecting Exploor is the conquer the crowds. You make a degree of getting up early to be among the many first to discover your locations. Given the present reputation of Peru, this method actually transforms your expertise. Plus, smaller teams provide you with extra flexibility throughout your journey.
