{"id":51963,"date":"2024-06-15T17:13:18","date_gmt":"2024-06-15T22:13:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freewalkingtoursperu.com\/blog\/mal-de-altura-como-prevenirlo\/"},"modified":"2025-04-24T11:48:17","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T16:48:17","slug":"altitude-sickness-how-to-prevent-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freewalkingtoursperu.com\/en\/blog\/altitude-sickness-how-to-prevent-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Altitude Sickness: How to prevent it?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Acute mountain sickness,<\/strong> also known as soroche or altitude sickness, is neither a myth nor an urban legend designed to scare off travellers exploring Peru’s high-altitude tourist destinations<\/strong>. These locations are situated thousands of metres above sea level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, headaches<\/strong>, nausea, dizziness, and difficulty breathing<\/strong>, among other symptoms, can give tourists a “warm welcome” as they traverse our mountainous country.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you happen to be one of them, don\u2019t be afraid<\/strong>. These discomforts shouldn’t ruin your holiday. Remember that most of the time, these symptoms will fade once your body acclimatises to the altitude.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But, as the saying goes, “forewarned is forearmed,” so we\u2019ll provide you with a series of tips to help prevent or lessen the effects of soroche<\/em>.<\/strong> This way, you can make the most of your time in Cusco<\/a>, Puno, Arequipa<\/a>, and other high-altitude cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Peru, a high-altitude destination.<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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If your itinerary in our country includes Cusco, please note that the Plaza de Armas in the historic Inca capital is situated at 3,399 metres above sea level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Altitude levels vary within the city and at nearby attractions, such as the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain<\/a>, which exceeds 5,000 m a.s.l.<\/strong> and Humantay Lake<\/a>, at 4,200 m a.s.l.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A simple tip to counteract acute mountain sickness is to avoid very high altitudes in the first days of your trip. For example, before visiting Cusco<\/strong>, spend a few days in a mid-altitude city like Arequipa (2,335 m a.s.l.) to allow your body to adjust to the changes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Apply the same principle if your itinerary includes the Andean mountains<\/strong> or other high-altitude locations, such as the city of Puno and the islands of Lake Titicaca.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is altitude sickness?<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The first thing you should know is that no one is immune to altitude sickness<\/strong>. Even experienced mountaineers can experience it. In fact, people born at high altitudes can also be \u201cvictims\u201d of <\/strong>soroche<\/strong> <\/em>when they return to their homeland after spending several days at lower elevations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While no one is completely exempt, the truth is that most travellers are not affected by altitude sickness or experience only very mild symptoms<\/strong>. So, try not to worry too much<\/strong>. Remember that a great way to stay well is to think as little as possible about acute mountain sickness.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are in good health<\/strong>, have a decent level of fitness, and take certain precautionary measures (we\u2019ll provide you with several tips later), your body is likely to adjust<\/strong> without significant issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what exactly is soroche<\/em>?<\/a> The answer is simple: it\u2019s a condition that arises when we visit high-altitude areas without prior acclimatisation. This causes our body to struggle with the reduced availability of oxygen<\/strong> in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are the symptoms of altitude sickness?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Before starting your holiday in Peru<\/strong>, it’s important to be aware of the most common symptoms of soroche<\/em><\/strong>. This way, you’ll be able to detect it quickly and take the necessary steps to recover as soon as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience one or more of the following symptoms, it’s quite likely that you’ve been affected by altitude sickness<\/strong>, as we say in Peru:<\/p>\n\n\n\n