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Altitude Sickness on Lares Trek: Practical Tips for Your Trip

Worried? You’ve probably heard or read about altitude sickness on Lares trek hike (the Andes), as it is one of the most common diseases for those planning to travel to Cusco and see one of the Wonders of the World: Machu Picchu. If you decide to hike among the Andes mountains like the Lares trek hike, you must be prepared.

How important is taking Altitude Sickness into account?

You should know that a huge percentage of tourists come from lower altitude areas, even below 2,000 or 1,500 m.a.s.l. / 6,561 or 4,921 ft ASL.

Although the city of Cusco stands at 3,000 m.a.s.l. / 9,842 ft ASL, it’s important to know that some destinations on the Lares Trek route reach even higher altitudes. Therefore, it’s essential to pay attention to altitude sickness and at the slightest moment you feel it, you must treat it.

What should I do if I get altitude sickness?

This illness shows up with some symptoms. Those symptoms can be severe or very light. Some of the symptoms are:

Personas con los síntomas del mal de altura. | altitude sickness symptoms

Some altitude sickness’ symptoms.

If these symptoms persist or intensify, it’s necessary to contact a doctor or if you are at your hotel, call the reception and ask for help or recommendation. Finding a doctor is so easy since most hotels and travel agencies have many contacts of nearby medical centers. Altitude sickness affects most travelers who arrive in Cusco, so it’s important to be prepared and know what to do in case it occurs.

What should I do to prevent altitude sickness on Lares trek?

It’s unlikely that you can completely avoid it. If altitude sickness doesn’t affect you on the Lares trek, you’re incredibly lucky, or your body has a high ability to adapt. Whatever the case, congratulations! However, if you’re not so fortunate, the first thing you should do before starting the Lares Trek is to acclimate for at least two days. Acclimatization helps your body adjust to the altitude and significantly reduces the chances of experiencing altitude sickness symptoms during the trek.

Now that you know the basics and have a general idea of the situation, there are some things you should avoid. If you do these, you could intensify or trigger the symptoms if you weren’t experiencing them.

Acciones que se debe hacer para evitar el mal de altura. | Altitude sickness on Lares trek | how to acclimatize

By following these recommendations, your symptoms will decrease or may not even appear.

We almost forgot one detail; just as you may have heard or read about altitude sickness, you’ve probably also heard about the South American “mate de coca” (coca tea). Coca tea is one of the most common remedies to counteract the symptoms of altitude sickness, and many travelers consume it upon arriving in Cusco.

Keep in mind that although you can chew coca leaves or drink coca tea, it’s important not to overdo it because it can keep you awake due to the caffeine it has. If your trip includes the Lares trek, where it’s necessary to get up early, specially on the first day, it’s best to moderate your consumption to avoid affecting your resting time.

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