About Altitude Sickness

It is very common that the high altitude affects most people who come to Cusco, but don’t be discouraged. Not everyone gets altitude sickness. Most people just feel tired and short of breath until they adjust to the altitude. We recommend that you to come to Cusco (3,400 m/11,154 ft) and stay in the city for at least 2 days before your trek to acclimatize.

Altitude sickness affects most people who visit Peru, especially those who are attempting to trek on any of the routes in Cusco.

The city of Cusco is located at a very high altitude of 3,400 m (11,154 ft) and most people come from lower altitude levels and don’t give themselves enough time to acclimatize to the higher altitude in Cusco. They attempt to trek the Inca Trail right away, and this can cause serious altitude sickness.

When you reach an altitude over 2,500 m (8,202 ft) you could start experiencing the following symptoms:

Primary symptoms:

Severe symptoms:

Symptoms that may indicate life-threatening altitude sickness include:

Pulmonary Edema (fluid in the lungs)

Cerebral Edema (swelling of the brain)

Even people who are extremely fit can suffer from altitude sickness.The best way to prevent altitude sickness is to come to Cusco few days before your trek. This will allow your body to adjust to the difference in altitude.

Other tips on helping to prevent altitude sickness:

Homeopathic Preventative Remedies:

Some of our trekkers who are allergic to altitude sickness medications have reported having success with the following homeopathic or natural remedies:

Just remember, when you come to trek in the mountains with us, you will be on holiday. You will trek at your own pace. EVERY STEP YOU TAKE SHOULD TO BE ENJOYABLE. Going slowly will help you to finish any trek and give you time to appreciate the beautiful surroundings of the Andean Mountains.

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