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Just a few suggestions that will help you keep away from altitude illness when you’re travelling in Peru – and the remainder of South America.
Lots of the hottest locations in Peru are at pretty excessive altitudes within the Andes mountain vary – like Cusco and Machu Picchu.
As well as, there are various trekking routes all through South America which contain mountains or volcanoes that may also take you 1000’s of toes above sea degree.
Visiting excessive altitudes might trigger altitude illness, which might have an effect on anybody not used to greater elevations. In the event you’re travelling to Peru or planning a mountain trek within the Andes, it’s a good suggestion to arrange for altitude illness…
What’s Altitude Illness?
Altitude illness happens when your physique doesn’t get sufficient oxygen from the air at excessive altitudes. It normally happens at 2,500m above sea degree or greater, however it could have an effect on folks in a different way.
Signs embody complications, lack of urge for food, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, insomnia and never sleeping properly, and exhaustion or weak point.
In my expertise in Cusco, folks have been most affected by the ultimate symptom. I had little or no vitality whereas I used to be at altitude, and located easy issues like strolling upstairs or mild hills extremely draining.
Curiously, your age, intercourse, and health ranges don’t have anything to do with whether or not or not you’ll get altitude illness. Some persons are utterly unaffected, others are hit tremendous onerous. So it’s a good suggestion to be ready in the event you’re not used to excessive altitudes.
Altitudes in Peru: Locations The place Illness May be a Downside
Based on the NHS, signs of altitude illness normally develop between 6 and 24 hours after reaching altitudes greater than 2,500m above sea degree.
In Peru, a number of the hottest locations are discovered at these altitudes:
- Cusco – 3,400m (11,200ft) above sea degree
- Machu Picchu – 2,430m (7,972 ft)
- Inca Trek – the best level on the path is 4200m (13,776 ft)
- Arequipa – 2,335m (7,660ft)
- Colca Canyon – the trekking route from Arequipa to Colca Canyon reaches altitudes of 4,870 m (15,685 ft) at Mirador de los Andes.
- Lake Titicaca – 3,812m (12,507ft)
- Huaraz – 3,052m (10,013ft)
Find out how to Put together for Altitude Illness in Peru
There’s no approach of understanding how badly you’ll be affected, and consultants say it has nothing to do along with your health degree. However, it’s secure to imagine that whenever you hit a metropolis like Cusco at 11,152ft above sea degree, you’ll be affected in not less than a small approach.
Fortunately, there are some issues you are able to do to put together for altitude illness.
Find out how to Keep away from Altitude Illness in Peru…
Permit time to acclimatise at an intermediate altitude earlier than going to the upper cities – it will likely be price it to keep away from shedding a couple of days to illness whenever you arrive at your final vacation spot.
In the event you can, journey overland to Cusco (or whichever metropolis you’re headed to) and spend a few nights someplace halfway. In the event you’re backpacking, I extremely suggest taking the Peru Hop bus from Lima to Cusco. It’s a extremely enjoyable expertise and an effective way to fulfill different travellers. Learn my overview of the Peru Hop expertise for more information.
Earlier than arriving at altitude, you also needs to drink loads of water and eat plenty of carbs, to arrange your physique with loads of vitality.
Suggestions for Dealing With Altitude Illness in Peru & South America
When you arrive at your closing vacation spot, spend a couple of days taking issues straightforward when you end acclimatising. Listed here are my prime suggestions for coping with altitude illness in Peru – and anyplace else you might go to within the Andes.
Notice: I’m not a medical skilled, however this recommendation is backed up by the NHS and my very own experiences, and none of it is going to endanger you.
- Take it straightforward. Stroll slowly and keep away from train.
- Take deep breaths.
- Keep away from alcohol. For not less than the primary few days, anyway!
- Don’t smoke, take medicine, or use sleeping tablets.
- Keep hydrated.
- Keep away from large meals and heavy meals at night time. Digestion happens at a a lot slower fee at altitude, so go for small parts, and eat your greatest meal of the day at lunch as an alternative of dinner. Your intestine will thanks.
- Drink coca tea. Yep, tea constructed from the identical coca leaves that make cocaine. There’s a stimulant in them (non-dangerous) which provides you an vitality increase and genuinely alleviates the signs of altitude illness.
- Eat extra sugar! The NHS recommends consuming extra energy while at altitude, and sugar is a pleasant, fast approach to do this. I additionally discovered that sweets and sugary drinks gave a pleasant vitality increase and made me really feel a lot better for a couple of hours.
Altitude Illness in Peru
Whereas altitude illness may be fairly disagreeable, it received’t final eternally. And there are a number of issues you are able to do to assist fight it!
No matter you do, don’t let it put you off travelling within the Andes when you’re in Peru. The Andean landscapes are among the many most lovely on the earth. Hopefully, you received’t be affected all that badly by altitude illness.
Notice – extreme altitude illness is a medical emergency. In case your signs worsen, or don’t enhance after a couple of days, you need to descend to a decrease altitude and/or search medical assist.
So, there you may have it: a couple of easy recommendations on learn how to keep away from and deal with altitude illness in Peru. In case you have a query – or a tip of your personal – scroll down to depart a remark!
