Mystical Peru
I'd like to visit Peru, but I am quite concerned about the altitude sickness when we visit Machu Picchu and Cusco. I was told that we need prescription drug for that.
1. Is it really that bad for most people or does it affect only a certain people?
2. When you get sick, what do you do? Is there any help?
3. Is prescription drug really necessary?
4. Are fresh fruit and vegetables safe to eat?
By the way, we are interested in Mystical Peru. If anyone has done the Peru trip and have advice, I will appreciate it!
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Moon, there has been discussion about altitude sickness this week on the forum. The answer is, no one knows how they will be affected until they get there. It is not really how fit you are, it’s how your body reacts. We already know my husband and son are affected at lower altitudes than Machu Pichu so we can’t go. The worst case I know about was an acquaintance who almost died from Pulmonary edema at altitude, the only way to maybe save the person is to get to lower altitude as soon as possible. The locals did not think he would survive, but he did.
Otherwise, medication, avoiding alcohol or maybe the coca tea that people talk about is the best you can do. Keep very hydrated. Please post a review here when you get back so I can imagine it!
There are lots of travel articles on the safety of fruits and vegetables in Peru. Most say to avoid and fresh fruits and veggies that are washed in the water. If you can peel yourself like a banana or orange it is probably safe. You may want to consider Hep A & B and Typhoid vaccines and discussing with your Dr before you go.
All food that is provided by Tauck is safe to eat.
After reading the comments, I am not sure I want to go... The altitude sickness seems quite serious. Since we don't even know whether we have it or not until we get there makes me more anxious.... I guess I need to find somewhere else to explore.... Thanks for the comments!
Moon - I recommend conferring with your physician before deciding not to go. There are over-the-counter and prescription medications available for altitude sickness. Hydrating before and during your trip will help.
When traveling within Tauck’s “bubble” you will be taken care of if you do start to feel ill. The key is to let someone know as soon as you feel ill.
Good luck with your decision.
About one and a half million people visit Machu Picchu each year. It's hard to believe that any sizeable percent experience "serious" effects of altitude during the visit or there would be a lot more stories available to us.
I visited Machu Picchu twice, each time as part of a group, and I didn't know of anyone who had any serious problems. One of the hotels we stayed in said they piped extra oxygen into the guest rooms to help.
Machu Picchu is at an altitude of about 8,000 feet. When you travel in an airplane the cabin altitude is generally kept at 8,000 feet (the 787 cabin altitude is a bit lower, about 6,000 feet). Cusco is actually a bit higher than Machu Picchu - about 11,000 feet - and a lot of people live there.
[When I was much younger, I used to hike in the Sierras. When I went up Mt. Whitney, I didn't experience any effects of altitude until I got to about 13,500 feet. And that was just lethargy – walking made you very tired. But I was much younger, and one person’s experience is not everyone’s experience.]
Hi, Moon!
There is medication that some people took for altitude sickness. But you have to start taking it before altitude sickness occurs in order for it to be effective. We got scripts from our doctor for Diamox and brought it with us, but we never took it. Interestingly, the locals told us that their remedy to prevent altitude sickness is coca tea in the AM and muna tea in the PM. So, I have no idea if it was just a coincidence, but I did that every day and had no issues. 😉 We have been to high altitudes before (including to ski) and were o.k. So I wasn’t too worried about the altitude. (But it’s truly an individual thing.) However, I was a bit concerned about the food when reading about some people’s experiences, but we got typhoid fever and Hep A & B shots and, with the exception of a highly recommended restaurant in Lima (which was fantastic), we didn’t venture out on our own for meals. The food at the hotels were safe. When we did this tour, it included Bolivia and that’s where a couple folks got sick because of the very high altitude at La Paz (and possibly the food there). Those folks actually had doctors come to their rooms at the hotel. We did bring antibiotics prescribed by our doctor as a precautionary measure but fortunately, we never needed them. It’s such a great trip! If you’re worried about the altitude but would really like to see the sites in Peru, just a thought - maybe you’d want to try visiting somewhere in the U.S. first, like the Rocky Mountains in Colorado, to see how you do (if you’ve never been at higher altitudes). Like British said, keeping hydrated and avoiding alcohol (especially when you first climb to higher altitude) is helpful. When we did this tour, we were in Cuzco briefly to pass through (Cuzco is at higher elevation than Machu Picchu) on the way to Machu Picchu, so I felt they eased us into the higher altitudes. It’s always wise to gradually climb as opposed to going from sea level straight to high altitudes like 10,000 feet, and Tauck seemed to follow that with the itinerary,
One other tip I followed - brush your teeth with bottled water (which will be supplied everywhere). I also used facial wipes to avoid accidentally ingesting water while washing my face.
To the OP - Visit Colorado as a test run. Come to Denver, at 5280 ft ASL, spend a few days there to acclimate, then go west into the mountains.
I vistaed Peru and Bolivia with Tauck over 10 years ago. To the best of my recollection, nobody had altitude issues, besides being a little winded with exertion. Lake Titicaca and La Paz are higher than Machu Picchu and Cusco.
In case you weren't aware, commercial jets are pressurized to about 8000 ft ASL.
For most people slow ascent prevents much of altitude sickness. You don’t always have that option when on a tour. Even then, symptoms are annoying but usually not serious-headache, lethargy, nausea. With severe altitude sickness you can have high altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) and high altitude cerebral edema (HACE), fluid in the lungs and brain. This is unpredictable but fortunately uncommon. These forms of altitude sickness are potentially fatal and the treatment is rapid descent. While Diamox can be taken to prevent symptoms of mild altitude sickness in those that have had it, it has side effects which may be as bad in some. For those that have had HAPE and/or HACE-they must never travel to altitude. One poster on this thread has repeatedly and incorrectly stated that there are OTC remedies for altitude sickness. There are no such things and claims to the contrary should be viewed with the utmost skepticism.
There are over-the-counter remedies for mild headaches, nausea and other mild symptoms attributable to altitude sickness.
A slow ascent, as the Jungfraujoch excursion in Switzerland is, and hydrating days before and during the ascent is beneficial. Avoiding alcohol is also recommended by health professionals.
I think Folsomdoc means true real severe altitude sickness…Pulmonary and cerebral edema, I know someone who had it and it nearly killed him, he was really lucky. Saw him several years later…He’s a doctor. he told me apparently Viagra is good to prevent cardio vascular problems at altitude.
I maintain that people should always confer with their personal physician if they are concerned about any possible serious risk while traveling. We need to be stewards of our own health.
The problem if it doesn't work is they'll have trouble closing the coffin.
My husband did so. The dr said he did not give anything for travel under 10000 feet, and Diamox can interact with other meds. And I understand has quite common side effects. If it’s your first time at high elevation you are not going to know how you are until you get there.
I took a trip to Peru in 2012, not with Tauck. I did have Diamox and took it as directed prior to reaching altitude. The tour had us gradually go up, and we covered everything from Cusco, Saksayuman, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and Lake Titicaca. I did drink lots of extra water and consumed coca tea and coca candies, which did help. The only time I had issues was on Lake Titicaca, just around 14,000 ft. Mostly headache and dizziness. Of course, I was 60 at the time, now older. I tolerated it okay, but would not say it was an easy trip. Amazing, but challenging, as Machu Picchu has no handrails and very large stones to climb. A hiking stick helps. Agree that you should visit somewhere like Denver or Santa Fe to see how you do.
Lake Titicaca is at 12,500 feet. Of course, you could have been hiking in the mountains around it.
Hiking at 14,000 feet is really tough, even for young people in good physical condition. I'd say that's true for anything over about 13,000 feet.
Mike Henderson good info, they told us it was just under 14k. Either way, it hit me there. Shortness of breath when we got off a boat ride to walk UPHILL for a box lunch. Not Tauck. A fascinating tour, but not Tauck 🥺
I've found that tour guides are not always correct in the data they give (I now verify almost anything a tour guide tells me). And occasionally they stretch the truth to make their guests feel better. But you can look up the altitude of Lake Titicaca and get the correct information.
Even at 12,500 feet physical exertion can be taxing. You just don’t have any endurance. You’re pooped out after walking (especially uphill) after a very short distance and you have to stop to recover. When you get over about 13,000 feet it’s especially difficult.
The first time you experience it, you say to yourself, “What’s wrong with me?” Nothing wrong with you, it’s just the altitude.
Marla - If you took the train across the spine of the Andes to Puno, on the way to the lake, you hit just over 14K ft at the stop.
We stopped at Sun Island in Lake Titicaca and rather than wandering the native market during free time, I hiked up to the top of the island where there was a communications tower (and some old ruins on the way). IIRC, that was about 13.5K ft. People couldn't believe I did that, but I live in Denver and spend several days/week skiing in the Rockies, from the base at 9300 to over 12K ft, so I'm pre-acclimated.
There is an app that can tell you exactly what elevation you are at, we use it quite a bit on tours
@BKMD - You're correct. It's close to 13,500. Actually 13, 337 feet at the top - https://www.peakbagger.com/Peak.aspx?pid=21379
Wikipedia gives a slightly lower number "The highest point of the island is 4,050 m (13,290 ft) above sea level, and the main village is at 3,950 m (12,960 ft)."
In either case, I would be oxygen challenged, having lived my life at barely above sea level.
The altitude app that I use is called "Current Altitude". Available on the iPhone app store for free. Gives lat and long and altitude.
@British - you didn't say what the name of that app is and without that people won't be able to download it.
Oh, it’s on my husband’s phone, not mine. It’s just called altimeter. There are many different ones. If I want to know the altitude I just ask him.
Good info! I’m actually signed up for the Swiss Alps, Rhine River cruise next April, and was interested in the Jungfraujoch altitude after this whole thread! Just over 11k, and just for a short while☺️
Marla, that topic has been discussed several times - mostly in the Switzerland Crown Jewels category. Most people don't have an issue.