Travel Tips Bolivia Peru

11 Ways to Avoid Altitude Sickness

If you are planning to travel to a city located in a high altitude or trekking a high mountain, you probably have heard about the Altitude Sickness, so did I, in the first time

I visited Peru, but obviously, I totally ignored the warnings because I thought that my well-prepared body, treated to the finest pizzas and years of pure laziness, wouldn’t feel it…guess what? I was wrong.

If you are coming to the region of the Andes in South America, you will surely feel the altitude sickness. You don’t even need to go hiking in Peru or climb the Illimani in Bolivia.

Just staying in one of the many cities of these countries that reach over 4,000 m above sea level, like Puno or La Paz, will make you feel the symptoms of altitude sickness.

Although I only learned how to avoid altitude sickness when I was already blue, running to the bathroom every five minutes, here it goes some tips for you so that you don’t need to go through what I did when I visited Peru and Bolivia

11 Ways to Avoid Altitude Sickness

What is Altitude Sickness

Altitude sickness is a response from your body to both high or low altitudes where there is a huge variation in air pressure and oxygen. Although it can affect you at an altitude of 1.500 above sea level, it is more commonly felt when you reach 2.400, but of course, it varies from person to person.

The first symptom of altitude sickness is dehydration, you start feeling a severe headache, and the best way to avoid it is by drinking liters and more liters of water.

Although there is no cure for Altitude Sickness, and also, it is impossible to avoid the symptoms until your body gets used to the altitude variation, there are means to soften it.

Symptoms of Altitude Sickness

  • Headaches
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Diarrhea or Constipation
  • Breath difficulty
  • Nose bleeding
  • Dizziness
  • Insomnia

Medicine for Altitude Sickness

Again, there is no real medicine to treat altitude sickness, however, if you wish, you can buy something call Altitude Sickness pills, it can be easily found in drugstores.  An altitude sickness pill will help to soften the symptoms and to prepare your body to the high altitude.

f you feel way too uncomfortable when breathing, or if you feel like you can’t breathe at all, you can also buy oxyshots, they are exactly what the name says, Oxygen Shots, it will be covered later on in the text.

But in my opinion, the best option is the natural remedies for altitude sickness.

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Natural Remedies for Altitude Sickness

What helps the most in case of altitude sickness, are the natural teas for altitude sickness. If you are in South America, in countries like Peru and Bolivia, you will easily find Coca and Muña tea. Although these are illegal herbs in other countries, it is completely fine to buy and consume them in South American countries with high altitude.

My tip is, don’t try bringing any of these leaves or any product made of Munã or Coca with you back to your country. It will not pass in the security check of the airports, and you will probably get a headache trying to explain yourself to the police officers.

Although most people are concerned about consuming ‘illegal’ herbs that are used to produce drugs, it is important to note that drinking the tea of any of these two will NOT cause you any symptom of drugs, so don’t worry, you won’t get high because of the Coca tea.

In order to help with the altitude sickness, I suggest you mixing both leaves, Muña and Coca to make the tea. More about the teas below.

Best Ways to Avoid Altitude Sickness

Rest

I suggest you spend at least the first day or even the second as well, in your hotel room, resting. Normally this is the time your body takes to acclimatize. This is the first advise everybody hears but most people don’t believe that Altitude Sickness can hit hard.

Don’t go on hikes and trails in your first days in Cusco, and if you are planning to go to Machu Picchu, make sure to rest some days before visiting the ruins, even if you are planning to make just a one day trip to Machu Picchu.

Take it easy

It is normal to feel weak and unwell when you are in an elevated altitude, especially in the first days, so when you finally feel prepared to walk around and visit the city, go slow, take your time.

You will notice that you get tired easier than you would in your normal altitude and will lose the breath more often, and this is because of the lack of oxygen. Avoid climbing stairs, streets and hills and don’t rush.

Breath more often

Due to the lack of oxygen, it becomes hard to breathe normally, you will notice that your lungs will not get full as it does in the normal altitude, and you will need to take deeper breaths, calm down, it is all part of the disease. Especially if you are doing any exercise, or just walking around the city, stop and take deep breaths more often.

Smell something strong

If you are having difficulty to breath, try smelling something strong, you can buy in any pharmacy in Peru something called Agua de Florida, which is a small bottle of a yellow cologne made of a mix of different herbs, it is a famous medicine among the South American tribes and cures many things, between then, the headaches and the breathing difficulty.

It is really simple to use the Peruvian Agua de Florida, all you need to do is to drop it on your hand, place your hands close to your nose and smell it.

If you wish you can pass it on your forehead, face, and neck. You can do as often as you wish as a mean to soften the symptoms of the Altitude Sickness.

Oxyshot

If your breathing difficulty is giving you a serious issue, then you should buy oxyshot, if you are in an elevated city, they can be easily bought in any pharmacy, many trails or hike companies also offer then during the tours. They are small plastic tubes filled with oxygen.

Watch out what you eat

Avoid eating heavy and salty food, instead, go for something light, like rice, chicken, soups, bread. Avoid red meat, pasta, milk, and anything creamy. If you got diarrhea you should also avoid fruits, salad and anything raw, stick to the boiled vegetables.

Drink Water

Drink TONS of water! Although it doesn’t soften the effect of the Altitude Sickness, it relieves the headaches, as in many cases you will get headaches due to dehydration as high elevations tend to be dry. So, even if you are not thirsty, force yourself to drink as much water as you can to hydrate your body.

Coca Tea

You probably already heard about Coca tea, it is important to remember that although it helps a lot, it is not a curative measure, rather it is preventive.

So,  you definitely should drink a lot of Coca tea, but bearing in mind that it won’t make you feel better right the way, but perhaps in the next day, you will start feeling its effect. The idea is to drink the tea along the day.

Of course, you won’t find coca tea anywhere in the world, but if you are in countries like Peru or Bolivia they can be easily found. Besides the tea, you can also buy coca candies and leaves, both will work just like tea.

Muña Tea

While Coca tea is great for the altitude sickness and headaches, Muña, another famous herb, easily found in some countries of South America, is great for stomachache and nausea. You can mix both leaves to make the tea and drink it during the day.

Coke

Another way to avoid nausea and vomiting is drinking coke, as you probably saw on those facebook videos, coke cleans the sink, imagine what it doesn’t do to your stomach!

This isn’t even bad propaganda, this is upping Coke’s status to medicine! Probably the first and last time it will happen lol.

Avoid alcohol

I know that sometimes when we travel, all we want is to party hard. But in high altitude, avoid alcohol. Not even a glass of wine to with my pasta?

Yeah, not even a glass of wine, sorry. Due to the low pressure, you will feel the effects of the alcohol faster than you normally do, even if you drink just a little bit, so prepare to wake up in the next day as if you have been beaten up!

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29 Comments

  • Reply
    Priyadarshini Rajendran
    23 de December de 2017 at 00:50

    We are planning a trip to Himalayas. So, this is very useful post to me. Did not know about coca tea.

  • Reply
    Noelle Lynne
    23 de December de 2017 at 01:14

    Love this tips! When I was in Colombia I got altitude sickness and could have really used these tips and tricks to avoid it.

  • Reply
    Patricia
    23 de December de 2017 at 02:50

    Great tips! I wish I had read this before I went to Peru with my family. Unfortunately, I got sick there (but I also think it was a bad case of food poisoning, where other people on the tour got sick too) and I had to spend a whole day in the hospital there!

  • Reply
    Larissa
    23 de December de 2017 at 03:21

    I’ve never personally experienced altitude sickness, but I’ve definitely heard of it. Good to know these tips beforehand, so one can be prepared! I had no idea what you ate could affect it!

  • Reply
    Indrani
    23 de December de 2017 at 15:03

    Oh lot of precautions there.
    Coke as stomach cleanser sounds good. 🙂

  • Reply
    Nina
    24 de December de 2017 at 05:33

    Thank you for this helpful knowledge. 😃 Now I’ll know what to do with altitude sickness. Very handy information.

  • Reply
    Sonam
    25 de December de 2017 at 04:43

    I would definitely try your tips during my next holidays.

  • Reply
    Adriana Madonna
    25 de December de 2017 at 07:40

    Great! Thanks for the tips. I gladly don’t have that sickness, but thanks to your post now I can help my friend, when we start traveling to high places to get over his sickness <3.

  • Reply
    Rommanne
    25 de December de 2017 at 19:41

    Thank you! These tips are indeed helpful. I have often faced motion sickness in some of the most beautiful tourist destinations which led to very less time to explore! I have tried a few things like acclimatization and it worked! Will try the others. And I just mention, lovely pictures.

  • Reply
    Christina | From Under a Palm Tree
    27 de December de 2017 at 13:10

    Such great advice! I went to Colorado in June and both me and my husband got bouts of Altitude sickness. We’re from Florida so we’re used to sea level elevation! It wasn’t that bad in Denver but once we got up in the mountains it was pretty bad. I will definitely save these for next time. Great post!

    • Reply
      Isadora
      28 de December de 2017 at 10:13

      I know how it feels! I’m also from the coastal area, so I fell totally sick when I went to Puno in Peru (almost 4,000 above sea level)

  • Reply
    Edwin Prasetio
    28 de December de 2017 at 03:41

    I sometimes felt worried about heights a bit when travelling by plane. However I always felt better when I had a seat near window and threw away my sight over the sea, islands, and horizon. But still afraid when plane skewed through clouds with the shakes 🙂
    Don’t forget to pray 🙂

  • Reply
    Beth Zuckerman
    28 de December de 2017 at 09:44

    thank you very helpful advice.

  • Reply
    Cristine
    28 de December de 2017 at 10:07

    It’s always hard to be sick on vacation. I find it funny that Coke helps. I usually carry anti nausea medicine which seems a cure all for me

    • Reply
      Isadora
      29 de December de 2017 at 23:38

      Carrying medicines with you is something that I just learnt in this last trip to Peru lol! I didn’t find it so necessary, but after falling sick, I totally changed my mind hahaha

  • Reply
    Emily
    28 de December de 2017 at 13:51

    Ah, altitude sickness. One of the worst feelings ever. Only have had it once while visiting Pike’s Peak in Colorado, but would like to never feel it again. Thanks for sharing these awesome tips!

    • Reply
      Isadora
      30 de December de 2017 at 00:11

      So true!! Unfortunately we will feel that everytime we travel to a place with a higher altitude T_T

  • Reply
    J. Endress
    28 de December de 2017 at 14:30

    Elevation sickness is no joke. We were out of commission for close to a week when we first got to Cuenca, Ecuador. Wish we had read this article first!

    • Reply
      Isadora
      30 de December de 2017 at 00:12

      Same as happened to me when I went to Puno in Peru, I had to spent a full day resting, in the second day I was kind of better, but still not fully recovered!

  • Reply
    Prerna Garg Agarwal
    29 de December de 2017 at 23:39

    My mom and brother feel altitude sickness and these are some great tips for them. Will definitely be sharing.

  • Reply
    Ritika
    31 de December de 2017 at 14:07

    Great article! I faced some horrible sickness in Bolivia in La Paz. Luckily, I had some handy pills that the doctor gave me! A lot of these tips are great – especially when you didn’t think to grab the pills beforehand!

    • Reply
      Isadora
      1 de January de 2018 at 19:29

      hahaha that was my case! Many friends told me to buy pills before going on the trips, but I thought this was for the weak lol I will be doing that next time though!

  • Reply
    Sophia Grace
    2 de January de 2018 at 04:56

    Great article, Ne one like sickness & those are unhappy with sickness those should follow these amazing ways to avoid sickness !

  • Reply
    Ashley Beolens
    7 de January de 2018 at 12:38

    Great advice, for what can be a worrying condition

  • Reply
    Joyce
    7 de January de 2018 at 14:13

    haha all along I’ve been taking alcohol thinking that it helps, I should stop asap.

    • Reply
      Isadora
      10 de January de 2018 at 10:32

      It is about time to stop, Joyce hahaha

  • Reply
    Bravo
    21 de January de 2018 at 12:39

    Thanks for the tips. I have never seriously experienced altitude sickness, but have definitely experienced a shortness of breath at altitude. It can take weeks to feel like your level of fitness is back to normal.

  • Reply
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