Methods to Keep away from Altitude Illness in Peru & the Andes

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A couple of ideas that can assist you keep away from altitude illness whilst 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 lots of trekking routes all through South America which contain mountains or volcanoes that can even take you hundreds of ft above sea degree.

Visiting excessive altitudes could trigger altitude illness, which might have an effect on anybody not used to increased elevations. For those who’re travelling to Peru or planning a mountain trek within the Andes, it’s a good suggestion to organize 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 often happens at 2,500m above sea degree or increased, however it may well have an effect on folks in another way.

Signs embody complications, lack of urge for food, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, insomnia and never sleeping nicely, and exhaustion or weak point.

In my expertise in Cusco, folks had been most affected by the ultimate symptom. I had little or no power whereas I used to be at altitude, and located easy issues like strolling upstairs or mild hills extremely draining.

Apparently, your age, intercourse, and health ranges don’t have anything to do with whether or not or not you’ll get altitude illness. Some individuals are utterly unaffected, others are hit tremendous exhausting. So it’s a good suggestion to be ready in case you’re not used to excessive altitudes.

Altitudes in Peru: Locations The place Illness May be a Downside

At 3,400m above sea degree, Cusco could be a unhealthy spot for altitude

In accordance with the NHSsigns of altitude illness often develop between 6 and 24 hours after reaching altitudes greater than 2,500m above sea degree.

In Peru, among 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 very 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)

Methods to Put together for Altitude Illness in Peru

The Lares Trek in Peru reaches altitudes of 4550m

There’s no approach of figuring out how badly you’ll be affected, and consultants say it has nothing to do along with your health degree. However, it’s protected to imagine that if you hit a metropolis like Cusco at 11,152ft above sea degree, you’ll be affected in a minimum of a small approach.

Fortunately, there are some issues you are able to do to organize for altitude illness.

Methods to Keep away from Altitude Illness in Peru…

Enable time to acclimatise at an intermediate altitude earlier than going to the upper cities – will probably be price it to keep away from dropping just a few days to illness if you arrive at your final vacation spot.

For those who can, journey overland to Cusco (or whichever metropolis you’re headed to) and spend a few nights someplace halfway. For those who’re backpacking, I extremely advocate taking the Peru Hop bus from Lima to Cusco. It’s a very enjoyable expertise and a good way to fulfill different travellers. Learn my evaluation of the Peru Hop expertise for more information.

Earlier than arriving at altitude, you also needs to drink loads of water and eat numerous carbs, to organize your physique with loads of power.

Suggestions for Dealing With Altitude Illness in Peru & South America

When you arrive at your closing vacation spot, spend just a few days taking issues simple whilst you end acclimatising. Listed below are my high ideas for coping with altitude illness in Peru – and wherever else you could go to within the Andes.

Observe: 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 simple. Stroll slowly and keep away from train.
Take deep breaths.
Keep away from alcohol. For a minimum of the primary few days, anyway!
Don’t smoke, take medication, or use sleeping tablets.
Keep hydrated.
Keep away from massive meals and heavy meals at night time. Digestion happens at a a lot slower charge at altitude, so go for small parts, and eat your greatest meal of the day at lunch as a substitute of dinner. Your intestine will thanks.
Drink coca tea. Yep, tea constituted of the identical coca leaves that make cocaine. There’s a stimulant in them (non-dangerous) which supplies you an power enhance 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 power enhance and made me really feel significantly better for just a few hours.

Altitude Illness in Peru

Whereas altitude illness might be fairly disagreeable, it gained’t final perpetually. 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 whilst you’re in Peru. The Andean landscapes are among the many most stunning on the earth. Hopefully, you gained’t be affected all that badly by altitude illness.

Observe – extreme altitude illness is a medical emergency. In case your signs worsen, or don’t enhance after just a few days, you need to descend to a decrease altitude and/or search medical assist.

So, there you will have it: just a few easy tips about how you can keep away from and deal with altitude illness in Peru. You probably have a query – or a tip of your individual – scroll down to go away a remark!

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