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Just a few ideas that will help you keep away from altitude illness whilst you’re travelling in Peru – and the remainder of South America.
Most 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 a lot of trekking routes all through South America which contain mountains or volcanoes that will even take you 1000’s of toes above sea stage.
Visiting excessive altitudes might 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 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 often happens at 2,500m above sea stage or increased, however it could possibly have an effect on folks in another way.
Signs embrace complications, lack of urge for food, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, insomnia and never sleeping nicely, and exhaustion or weak spot.
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 individuals are utterly unaffected, others are hit tremendous onerous. So it’s a good suggestion to be ready if you happen to’re not used to excessive altitudes.
Altitudes in Peru: Locations The place Illness May be a Drawback
Based on the NHS, signs of altitude illness often develop between 6 and 24 hours after reaching altitudes greater than 2,500m above sea stage.
In Peru, a number of the hottest locations are discovered at these altitudes:
- Cusco – 3,400m (11,200ft) above sea stage
- 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)
How you can Put together for Altitude Illness in Peru
There’s no manner of realizing how badly you’ll be affected, and specialists say it has nothing to do together with your health stage. However, it’s protected to imagine that if you hit a metropolis like Cusco at 11,152ft above sea stage, you’ll be affected in at the very least a small manner.Â
Fortunately, there are some issues you are able to do to put together for altitude illness.
How you can Keep away from Altitude Illness in Peru…
Enable time to acclimatise at an intermediate altitude earlier than going to the upper cities – it is going to be value it to keep away from dropping a number of 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 suggest taking the Peru Hop bus from Lima to Cusco. It’s a extremely enjoyable expertise and an effective way to satisfy different travellers. Learn my assessment 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.
Ideas for Dealing With Altitude Illness in Peru & South America
When you arrive at your last vacation spot, spend a number of days taking issues simple whilst you end acclimatising. Listed here are my high ideas for coping with altitude illness in Peru – and wherever else you could go to within the Andes.
Word: I’m not a medical skilled, however this recommendation is backed up by the NHS and my very own experiences, and none of it’s going to endanger you.
- Take it simple. Stroll slowly and keep away from train.
- Take deep breaths.
- Keep away from alcohol. For at the very least the primary few days, anyway!
- Don’t smoke, take medication, or use sleeping capsules.
- Keep hydrated.
- Keep away from large 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 largest meal of the day at lunch as an alternative of dinner. Your intestine will thanks.
- Drink coca tea. Yep, tea created from the identical coca leaves that make cocaine. There’s a stimulant in them (non-dangerous) which provides you an vitality 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 manner to do this. I additionally discovered that sweets and sugary drinks gave a pleasant vitality enhance and made me really feel significantly better for a number of hours.
Altitude Illness in Peru
Whereas altitude illness may be fairly disagreeable, it gained’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 whilst you’re in Peru. The Andean landscapes are among the many most stunning on this planet. Hopefully, you gained’t be affected all that badly by altitude illness.
Word – extreme altitude illness is a medical emergency. In case your signs worsen, or don’t enhance after a number of days, it is best to descend to a decrease altitude and/or search medical assist.Â
So, there you’ve gotten it: a number of easy recommendations on keep away from and deal with altitude illness in Peru. You probably have a query – or a tip of your personal – scroll down to go away a remark!
