Altitude Sickness in the Andes of Peru
The cosmopolitan city of Cusco is located at about 10,800 feet above sea level and this altitude for a person who is coming from sea level can be noticed immediately. Right after leaving the plane or the bus, it is possible to notice that not enough air is reaching your lungs. Sometimes, when air is not reaching your lungs in the usual amount, you can experience some difficulty to breath and you can experience an uncomfortable experience. This is caused by low atmospheric pressure conditions which occur at high elevations.
Most of the time, altitude sickness symptoms can be first felt at about 7,000 feet above sea level. It is important to know that not every single person is going to experience altitude sickness. Unfortunately, there is no way to know if you are going to get sick until you are there. The risk of getting altitude sickness increase once you start going higher. You will know that you are getting sick if your experience some of the following symptoms: strong headache, dizziness, nausea, stomach illness, and sometimes nose bleeding. Studies have shown that being in good physical shape does not reduce the risk of getting altitude sickness
We always recommend avoiding a straight visit to a high altitude city such as Cusco or Puno. A recommendation we always provide is to start visiting a lower city located at 6,000 feet or lower. Arequipa (the Colonial City) is a good choice and you won't regret your visit to this beautiful town. This is usually the best way to go when visiting high altitude cities.
If you do not have enough time to visit a mid-low altitude city prior your visit to Cusco, we recommend that your first day in Cusco you do not exercise and you do not overeat (just take it easy and relax). Also, you should arrive to Cusco or another high altitude city at least two full days prior to starting a high energy activity such as hiking the Inca Trail.
Another recommendation we always provide to reduce the risk of getting altitude sickness is to take some over the counter medicine or drink a coca leaf tea. If you decide to take some over the counter medicine, please make sure you do it at least 48 hours prior to your arrival and you keep taking them constantly until you leave or you are back from your trek. Also, native Peruvians use a natural source to reduce the effects of altitude sickness as well as fatigue. This natural source is the coca leaf and needs to be chewed constantly upon arrival.
The most important recommendation we can give you as travel specialists is to follow our recommendations to enjoy your visit to Cusco.
In addition to the methods mentioned above, you should drink plenty of liquids, avoid high energy activities the first two days, and you should not overeat or eat fatty meals.
By Renato Romero - Founder of My Peru Guide LLC
