If we talk about altitude sickness on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, we should know that altitude sickness is nothing more than a state of lack of oxygen in our body due to the altitude. Not because of a lower presence of oxygen in the air, but because of a lower uptake of oxygen by our lungs. In the case of the Inca Trail, altitude sickness is present in many people due to the Andes Mountains. Altitude sickness is also known in the Peruvian Andes as “soroche”.
If you don’t know how to prepare for the altitude and what steps to prepare for acclimatization, you can lose all the good things that this fantastic hike to Machu Picchu offers, the most original and spectacular way to get to Machu Picchu. Join Auri Peru to walk through some of the basics you need to know about altitude sickness before crossing the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
What is altitude sickness?
Altitude sickness, mountain sickness, or soroche is an alteration related to the decrease in oxygen pressure that occurs progressively in the environment. In other words, altitude sickness is caused by a lack of oxygen at high altitudes. Cusco, located above 3330 meters/10925 feets, presents a challenge for many world travelers coming from regions at sea level. The Inca Trail, Sacsayhuaman, Choquequirao, Rainbow Mountain, and most of the trekking routes in the Andean area will make a person should know about it and prepare for it.
At what altitude does altitude sickness start?
As we ascend, the atmospheric pressure and oxygen pressure decrease, therefore, the oxygen inspired by a hiker is less. It is around 2,400 meters when the lack of oxygen begins to occur, to which an organism living at sea level is not accustomed. This lack of oxygen in the blood or hypoxia is the cause of mountain sickness.
At what altitude are the destinations in Cusco?
The great majority of Cusco destinations are above 3,000 meters of altitude, there are destinations that exceed 4,000 and even 5,000 meters (Rainbow Mountain). Machu Picchu is located at 2430 meters of altitude, this last destination does not cause altitude problems to travelers.
- Sacred Valley: 2400 to 2871 m / 6561 to 9419 ft.
- Cusco: 3330 meters/10925 feet.
- Machu Picchu: 2430 meters/7972 feet.
- Inca Trail: 4200 meters/13779 feet (highest point of the route).
- Humantay lake: 4200 meters/13779 feet.
- Pisac: 2,972 m / 9750 feet.
- Sacsayhuaman: 3600 m/ 11811 feet.
- Ollantaytambo: 2792 m/ 9160 feet.
When does altitude sickness start on the Inca Trail?
In the case of the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu of 4 days and 3 nights, the heights and distances are described below:
First day of Inca Trail
- Hiking Distance: 12km / 7.45 miles
- Starting Elevation: 2720 m. / 8923 ft.
- Highest Elevation: 3000 m. / 9842 ft.
- Campsite Elevation: 3000 m. / 9842 ft.
Second day of Inca Trail
- Hiking Distance: 11km / 6.83 miles
- Starting Elevation: 3000 m. / 9842 ft.
- Highest Elevation: 4200 m. / 13779 ft.
- Campsite Elevation: 3580 m. / 11700 ft.
Third day of Inca Trail
- Hiking Distance: 16km / 9.94 miles
- Starting Elevation: 3580 m. / 11700 ft.
- Highest Elevation: 4000 m. / 13123 ft.
- Campsite Elevation: 2680 m. / 8792 ft.
Fourth day of Inca Trail
- Hiking Distance: 5km / 3.10 miles
- Starting Elevation: 2680 m. / 8792 ft.
- Highest Elevation: 2730 m. / 8956 ft.
As you can see all altitudes during the Inca Trail exceed the altitude that is considered the minimum altitude at which the ravages of altitude sickness begin, 2500 meters altitude.
How to prevent altitude sickness in Cusco and during Inca Trail
There are many factors such as age, ascending too fast, doing physical activity without being acclimatized, sleeping badly, overeating or under hydrating are some of the actions that can cause altitude sickness.
How to prevent altitude sickness on the Inca trail naturally?
Acclimatization
The best way to avoid altitude sickness on the Inca trail or high places is to climb gradually. The problem is that it is not always possible as when arriving by plane to a city located at a considerable altitude such as Cusco. Going up by road is an option that can avoid altitude sickness, however in the case of Cusco and the Inca Trail, due to the rugged Andean geography, this means of transportation takes a long time.
There is always the second option because the time you have to make your trip is what will determine this important detail in health to determine the severity of altitude sickness due to the time factor.
It is good to go up and down in a few hours to facilitate acclimatization. You do a stage in which you reach a very high altitude and then go down at least 500 meters to sleep. The next day you go up and down again. The body adapts little by little. The ideal would be to travel by train or car. However, this is not always possible.
Pay attention to what you eat and drink
Paying attention to what you drink and eat is also essential to avoid altitude sickness on the Inca trail or the Andes mountains. You should drink water quite frequently. When you don’t feel like it due to cold or bad weather, you have to force yourself to do it. Always carry water with you and drink it constantly, even if it is only in small sips. Herbal teas and soups are a perfect complement. The thing is to be well hydrated. To avoid altitude sickness, it is recommended to drink about 3 or 4 liters a day.
And don’t forget to urinate frequently! Forget that “I’ll wait for the next stop, I can hold it”. If the bathroom doesn’t give you confidence, you can hold the disgust, but not the urine. You’ll make your kidneys work and your internal pressure won’t rise because your bladder is full. Everything contributes. And did you know that if you hold your pee for too long, you are also retaining toxins that can lead to infection?
Avoid alcohol and soda
A big enemy for an acclimatizing body is alcohol. Alcoholic beverages dehydrate and accelerate the oxygen deprivation process.
You should eat lightly and avoid red meat. Heavy digestions are the enemy of altitude because they make your body work harder and consume more oxygen. It is not advisable to practice fasting. You need strength, energy, and vitamins to fight altitude.
Slow down
Before arriving in Cusco and the Inca Trail, it is advisable to slow down with the expectation that you will slow down with daily activities, at least the first few days. It is advisable to rest for a few days at lower altitudes such as the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Do not walk too fast, if you do not want to start panting and even get dizzy after a few minutes. Avoid strenuous exercise at least until you have acclimatized a little. You can take walks, take it easy, and not hesitate to rest as often as needed.
Take remedies and medications if you need them
If symptoms appear (extreme tiredness, headache, nausea, dizziness, etc.), you can resort to a drug. First try to drink more water and eat something, as well as rest lying down for a while if you can. Because the good thing about these measures is that they help you reverse the symptoms, not just prevent them. As long as you haven’t reached a point of a difficult return.
Factors predisposing to altitude sickness
- Live at or near sea level and travel to a high altitude
- If someone has suffered from altitude sickness before
- Ascends rapidly
- Has not acclimatized to the altitude.
- Alcohol and other substances that interfered with acclimatization.
- Medical problems with the heart, nervous system, or lungs.
Altitude Sickness symptoms
Symptoms will depend on the rate of ascent to high altitude and how much effort is made. Inca case of altitude sickness on the Inca trail, you should acclimatize a few days before starting the trek, and hike nearby in the city of Cusco.
Symptoms mainly affect the nervous system, lungs, muscles, and heart. Symptoms of soroche or altitude sickness occur in about 25% of people who travel to places above 2500 masl and 75% who travel above 4500 masl. Some of the symptoms:
Some signs of altitude sickness are the following:
- Dyspnea, or shortness of breath.
- Dizziness, headaches.
- Fatigue, tiredness.
- Sleep disorders or difficulty sleeping.
- Indigestion, loss of appetite or vomiting.
- Nausea or vomiting
- Swelling of the face, arms, and legs.
- Diarrhea.
- High heart rate, rapid pulse.
What to do for altitude sickness on the Inca Trail?
Some recommendations to combat altitude sickness on the Inca trail or other places once the symptoms appear are:
- Drink plenty of water, drinking water calms labored breathing and relieves the feeling of lack of oxygen caused by altitude sickness.
- Sorojchi Pills is one of the most recommended medications to alleviate the symptoms of altitude sickness. It can be found in any pharmacy in Cusco. It is sold without a prescription.
- Chlorophyll drops are a natural remedy that increases the amount of red blood cells in the blood making more opportunity for oxygen to be absorbed by the blood. It can be found in any naturist store in Cusco. Another liquid that helps fight the terrible headaches of altitude sickness is called “Agua Florida” used by Andean priests.
- Drink coca infusions, the infusion of coca leaf is widely used in Cusco to combat the symptoms of altitude sickness.
- Some other recommendations to combat altitude sickness are to breathe slowly and deeply, and to avoid alcohol by all means to avoid dehydration.
Is there medicine for altitude sickness during the Inca Trail?
The answer is yes, some of these medications or remedies to treat altitude sickness are:
Sorojchi Pills:
Sorojchi Pills or Soroche Pils is a medication that helps to improve cerebral blood flow and increase the individual’s respiratory capacity, relieving and treating the symptoms of altitude sickness. Sorojchi Pills should be taken one hour before reaching higher altitudes and continue with doses every eight hours until acclimatization.
Some of the most common pills to prevent and treat altitude sickness and its symptoms as a preventative or first aid measure are:
- Acetazolamide (sold as Diamox) to prevent and treat altitude sickness
- Ibuprofen and paracetamol, to treat headaches.
- Gravol, for the treatment of nausea.
Agua Florida:
It is recommended to inhale agua Florida or “Agua Florida” (as it is called in Spanish), a small bottle of yellow cologne made of different Andean herbs. This will help you when you have difficulty breathing at a high altitude. Especially to combat headaches.
Oxygen for altitude sickness
Oxishot is a small source of pure oxygen (90%) containing up to 8.8 l of oxygen. With the size of a tomato and a weight of 145 grams it helps to reduce headaches, fatigue and also respiratory problems. It can be bought in pharmacies or small stores in Cusco for around S/ 45 ($14).
What do coca leaves do for altitude?
The coca leaf contains a number of mineral nutrients, essential oils and pharmacological components. Ingesting coca leaves stimulates oxygenation and, consequently, the respiratory and nervous system, improving brain and blood oxygenation, and helps regulate blood pressure. Therefore, it is a great ally to fight altitude sickness.
The most common ways of consuming the coca leaf today are two. The first, simply chewing it, an action that is also known as “chacchar”. The second way is through filtering tea. Additionally, coca leaf can be found in different presentations: from filtering to candies, chocolates, among others.
Fast tips to avoid altitude sickness on the Inca trail
Having said all this about, the quickest and most practical tips we can leave you with to avoid altitude sickness on the Inca Trail are:
- Relax and rest the first few days once you arrive in Cusco or any other high-altitude city.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages to prevent dehydration.
- Drink plenty of water, stay hydrated.
- If possible, travel staggered, ascending to altitude gradually to acclimatize.
- Drink coca tea or consume any product that contains it.
- Get an Oxishot to oxygenate in case of emergency.
- Get Sorojchi pills or Soroche pills, one of the best medications for the ravages of high altitude.
- Visit your doctor
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