Think about this: You’ve gotten simply arrived within the lovely Peruvian Andes, which is full of majestic mountains, mysterious ruins, and vibrant cultures.
The dimensions 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 fantastic thing about Cusco. A harmful risk for the reckless traveler, altitude illness might shortly rework your journey right into a nightmare.
This weblog dives into all you have to learn about altitude illness in Peru, offering insightful info and sensible recommendation to make your journey to Peru’s excessive areas a breath of recent air in each means.
Right here is an outline:
What’s altitude illness?
Vacationers who journey to excessive altitudes, equivalent 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 essential to grasp the medical results of altitude illness as a result of extreme circumstances may 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 liable for this.
Journey locations in Peru vulnerable to altitude illness
The varied panorama of Peru varies in altitude from coastal deserts to excessive mountain summits. It could be pleasant to journey to the nation’s high-altitude areas, nevertheless it’s essential to pay attention to the place altitude illness is extra more likely to occur.
Listed below are a number of locations in Peru the place altitude illness is a possible challenge
- Cusco: You may attain Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley from Cusco, which is positioned 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 facets. 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 just a few 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 Apart from 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 diminished air strain and oxygen ranges could cause a variety 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, on condition that it takes a traveler in Peru about two days to acclimate. Nevertheless, there’s all the time 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 need to be impaired by altitude illness. You may cut back danger and fully benefit from the Andes’ magnificence with cautious planning and sensible selections.
Under are some important strategies to ensure a risk-free and joyful journey.
Take the suitable medication
The next are a number of 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 employees at your resort or hostel may even have the ability to help you.
To forestall altitude illness, you need to take Diamox or Sorojchi drugs 1-2 days previous to ascending to larger altitudes. It is best to nonetheless train warning and improve your altitude steadily slightly than shortly.
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 may simply put together coca tea your self. Simply add some coca leaves to scorching water, wait a couple of minutes, then, if wanted, add some sweetness.
Necessary: Should you should undergo a drug check to your job, avoid coca tea. Even when the leaves solely include a tiny quantity of cocaine, a drug check may nonetheless come out constructive.
Chewing coca leaves is sort 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 steadily
Usually, it takes your physique just a few days to regulate to the elevated altitude. It is best to want two to 3 days to get used to it due to this.
The Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu must be seen first after arriving in Cusco as a result of they’re positioned at decrease altitudes. After that, you possibly can go on climbing excursions, equivalent to to Humantay Lake or the Rainbow Mountains.
Typically, you need to keep away from ascending larger than 984–1,640 ft. (300–500 m) daily 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 offer your physique with the power it requires. A high-carb food plan has been confirmed to enhance temper and is a brilliant methodology to stop altitude illness. Nevertheless, range it up and add lean protein, equivalent to hen, and a few wholesome fat, equivalent to avocado or almonds.
As a result of they take much less oxygen to 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 to your physique to digest. As an example, consuming salty meals will make you lose water out of your physique extra shortly.
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 in consequence. Due to this fact, even for those who don’t really feel hungry, it’s essential that you just eat sufficient meals if you get to your vacation spot.
Different tricks to keep away from altitude illness
Listed below are another ideas that you need to comply with to keep away from the altitude illness in Peru:
- Drink numerous water: Add 1.5 l to your day by day utilization, as maintaining 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 problem with altitude, complications, or respiration points. Inhaling it’s thought-about to be useful.
- Purchase Oxishot: A small dischargeable known 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 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 quick and normally happens inside just a few hours of ascending to altitudes above 2,500 metres (about 8,000 toes). The signs are described above.
Alternatively, persistent 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 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 known as polycythemia, the place the physique overproduces purple blood cells in an try to hold extra oxygen to the tissues.
Whereas this will appear helpful, 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, equivalent to:
- Proper-sided coronary heart failure: The appropriate facet of the center, which is liable for pumping blood to the lungs for oxygen, can develop 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 respiration.
- Stroke: Thicker, slower-moving blood will increase the chance of blood clots, which may trigger a stroke if a clot blocks an artery within the mind.
- Irregular bleeding: Though uncommon, some sufferers with persistent mountain illness might expertise irregular bleeding attributable to adjustments in blood clotting mechanisms.
As CMS impacts a number of organ techniques, sufferers may expertise non-specific signs equivalent to fatigue, dizziness and diminished bodily endurance. As CMS progresses, sufferers might develop cyanosis (blue or purple coloring of the pores and skin) attributable to poor oxygen supply to the physique’s tissues.
It’s essential 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 medicine and recommendation on way of life adjustments, may also 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, equivalent to Puno, Cusco, Arequipa or Huaraz. For that cause, we’re properly conscious of the significance of getting used to the altitude and the best way to stop it.
What personally helped us probably the most had been the next issues:
- Take Soroche drugs 1-2 days earlier than flying out to excessive locations.
- Drink numerous water and coca tea to maintain the signs low.
- Don’t eat numerous carbs, and keep away from strenuous exercise/excursions for the primary 24 – 48 hours.
Everybody reacts in a different way to locations positioned at excessive altitudes, nevertheless it’s essential to take the suitable 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, be mindful these essential classes:
- Gradual ascent and acclimatization are your greatest allies.
- Preserve your self hydrated, make good meals decisions, and search medical recommendation when vital.
- Don’t push your limitations, and take note of your physique.
Should you contemplate 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 superb 4-day Machu Picchu tour gives you a novel and vivid expertise of Cusco’s nature, native tradition, historical past, structure and the unimaginable New Marvel 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 one of the best spots for beautiful pictures.
You may select to journey in a small group (max eight individuals) or on a non-public tour. One other good choice is that you might e-book your personal lodging or let this be completed by the Exploor staff (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 subject, acknowledged with a exceptional 95% Excellence ranking on TripAdvisor.
Value: 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 primary websites of the Sacred Valley. You’ll go to locations equivalent to Moray, the Maras salt mines, Ollantaytambo, in addition to stopping at a standard chicheria to pattern Inca beer and an area textile heart.
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 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’ll be transfered again to Cusco for one more evening.
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 purple 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 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’ll be one of many fortunate vacationers to benefit from the tranquil fantastic 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 help equipment 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 some extent of getting up early to be among the many first to discover your locations. Given the present reputation of Peru, this method really transforms your expertise. Plus, smaller teams provide you with extra flexibility throughout your journey.
