Before telling you how to avoid altitude sickness during your trip to Peru, let us explain what we mean. Altitude sickness, also known as soroche, occurs when a person travels to a place with a higher altitude than they are used to. Remember that at higher altitudes there is less oxygen. Precisely these low oxygen levels manifest as discomfort in the body.
Altitude sickness is caused by a lack of oxygen at high altitudes, as we have already said. And to recognize it here we mention some symptoms:
Headache
Fatigue
Fatigue and/or shortness of breath
dizziness
nausea and vomiting
loss of appetite
Irritability
As you may have noticed, these inconveniences will spoil your trip, so we have prepared some tips to avoid altitude sickness during your trip to Peru. Something that will also serve you when you travel to other high altitude territories.
Tips on how to avoid altitude sickness during your trip to Peru
The first big tip is to acclimate yourself. When you arrive in a high-altitude territory, for example, Cusco in Peru, it is recommended that you simply spend the first day in the hotel taking quiet walks and not very long in the surroundings, if you decide to go out. If your trip has been long and exhausting, take advantage of the day to rest.
Already when you are acclimatized, you should have control over the rate of ascent. So you should avoid that on the second day of your trip to Cusco (example destination), you select to visit a high-altitude mountain. The key is to increase the height little by little.
Avoiding excesses and strenuous activities during the first two days can make a difference in your favor. In addition, controlling the cold is also important. The key may be to keep your head warm, since the ears and temples can easily get very cold. This will quickly make your head ache and, if you add to that the lack of oxygen, the consequences will be immediate.
A quick option that we find at the top of the list of tips to avoid altitude sickness is to take oxygen with you. In fact there are products specially designed for this either in small or medium atomizers. If you are on a tour contracted with a formal travel agency, it is likely that they will carry small oxygen cylinders with them in case one of the travelers becomes unwell.
Hydration is also important, and of course, don’t skip meals. Water contains two oxygen molecules and helps transport nutrients throughout the body. On the other hand, a correct diet, not an excessive one that generates digestive problems, will be important. Especially if you include foods that give you energy in a healthy and natural way.
Needless to mention, avoid alcohol and tobacco. You know your body, learn to listen to it. And if you have any additional medical problems, you should consult your doctor before traveling. One final piece of advice is to consider a travel assistance card as you don’t know when you will need it.
We hope that these tips to avoid altitude sickness during your trip to Peru and other parts of the world will be of help to you. If you want to know the destination that we have set as an example, Cusco, we invite you to visit our website.