Acclimatization, Altitude Sickness Prevention

Location: Rediscover Machu Picchu > Travelling & Activities > Acclimatization, Altitude Sickness Prevention

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Preventing Altitude Sickness

The altitude sickness primarily caused by the rarity of oxygen at high levels.

It's best to prevent with acclimatization, getting used to the low levels of oxygen. Stay at a high level area before starting to hike.

Travellers need acclimatization of at least 2 to 3 days even when taking the train and the bus to Machu Picchu, while mountain hikers are recommended to spend an acclimatization period of at least 7 days

If you arrive at Cuzco city and then travel to Machu Picchu, you will be above 2.000 m most of the time. Even the train tracks in the Urubamba Valley run at a heights of around 2.700 - 2.800 m most of the time.

Cuzco is at a height level of 3.600 m and Machu Picchu, strangely is lower, at 2.450 m.

Staying several days in Cuzco gets you well prepared for conditions in Machu Picchu.

The Inca Trail that leads to Machu Picchu reaches tremendous heights of over 4.200 m.

Symptoms of altitude sickness include headaches, shortness of breath, nausea, loss of appetite, palpitations (arrhythmia), sleeping disorders etc.

In order to prevent altitude sickness:

Spend at least 3 days in Cuzco if you are not going to hike intensively or 7 days at least, if you hike

Spend the 1st whole day in Cuzco mostly resting, eating light foods

Drink coca tea (locally famous), said to have good effects in coping with high altitudes

Do regular exercise for at least 1 month before travelling to Peru

If you climb, hike, then always make gradual ascents

For Inca Trail hikers, we advise to spend a few days visiting the Sacred Valley and Cuzco area for getting used