SHARE:
How to combat altitude sickness in Peru…
If you’ve never before ventured to South America, Peru is the perfect place to start. A beautiful, peaceful, country awaits, with smiling friendly people, jaw-dropping scenery, surprisingly yummy food and endless possibilities for action and adventure.
Many travellers, myself included, make their first journey to Peru to ‘hike the highlights’. With Machu Picchu firmly on the New 7 Wonders of the World list, it is a well-trodden, yet well-worthy path to take. Even though there are many wonderful areas to explore throughout the country, making Cusco and the Sacred Valley your first trip is highly recommended. If you can allow yourself 2 weeks to travel to Peru however, you can add a few more side-trips that will make your journey even more special and unique.
Arriving in another world…
As Peru generally offers an active holiday, be sure to take it easy when you arrive. A 12 hour flight from the UK and immediate connection to trek around Cusco at 11,000ft is guaranteed to bring on the wibbly jibblies, so try and arrive gently. The Wyndham Costa del Sol Hotel is literally steps from Lima International Airport and provides a comfortable welcoming place where you can rest for the night, grab a refreshing drink or snack at the bar, check into your morning flight and enjoy a tasty breakfast before setting off to Cusco.
Flying High above Cusco
A daytime flight to Cusco is also something special. Try and book a window seat! Even if you take off from a murky overcast Lima, it won’t be long before you realise the ground follows you up, allowing spectacular views over the Andes. It’s a strange feeling when your plane barely descends, but instead, the city of Cusco rises up to meet you!
When altitude attacks!
Soroche (altitude sickness) is an intriguing insight of what’s going on inside our bodies. It can overpower the youngest, strongest and fittest of your group (of which I am neither!) but you can take measures to suffer less. Even though I considered myself a hardy mountain girl, having spent 7 years living in the Rockies at 8,000 feet, I didn’t quite expect the head rush, dizziness, breathlessness and slight panic when I jumped out of the car and ascended my first short flight of 500 year old Incan steps at Chinchero. Freezing in fear, I gripped the arm of my brilliant and patient guide, Santiago, and his calm words and reminder to take it easy, helped relieve the shock that my oxygen-starved, jet-lagged, tired and excited body was going through.
We slowly meandered through the gorgeous hilltop site of Chinchero, enjoyed stunning viewpoints over the Sacred Valley and Moray, and took selfies with colourfully dressed llamas. The nausea returned just before lunch (we were at 3,700m!) but a short downhill drive to the Sacred Valley at a blissful 2,800m and a delicious lunch, made me feel altogether human again.
The oft-repeated advice to spend your first few days in Peru down in the Sacred Valley and not Cusco is definitely a smart plan. But in hindsight, I do think a gentle venture to the high altitudes on your first day is useful so you can get a sense of how it may affect you and help your body overcome it when you gradually climb back up to those dizzy heights again. Be ready, drink loads of water, step carefully, eat well, pop a few paracetamol, listen to your guide, and you’ll be just fine. When you’re chilling at your hotel later that afternoon, feeling a bit illicit with your cup of coca leaf tea (perfectly legal!) and looking through your stunning photos, you’ll feel very much alive, over-awed and grateful to have arrived in beautiful Peru!
Follow my trip to Peru on Instagram www.instagram.com/odysseyworld and contact the office on sales@odyssey-world.co.ukto book your next adventure to South America.
