What to do with high altitude in Cuzco?

Question

What to do with high altitude in Cuzco?

Answer 1

1. Take it easy first day you get there - don't go running up the San Blas cuesta (nice neighborhood!). Cabs  are 3soles ($1 USD) to everywhere. If you can, the first (or second) day you get to Cusco take the sacred valley tour (lower altitude..)

2. Do take coca tea on full stomach. It is also good for digestion.

3. I tell this to everyone - do not eat at the "El Truco" restaurant. Crappy food, great music show....

Answer 2

Take it easy at the begging, till your hearth get used to the  altitude 3400 mts, you might feel  for a little while that the air is missing, but it will pass soon, you can buy some pills in any drugstore i don't remember the name of the pills but in the pharmacy they tell you, you don' t need a prescription cause are pills like aspirins.

don't eat any kind of heavy food.

at day 2 you will feel like a complete Cuzqueño, so don't worry too much, just take care the first day.

Answer 3

This is what I answered before in this category and it earned me best answer so the person who asked seemed to be happy with it! Enjoy Cuzco!

Try and fly early in the morning so you can spend the rest of the day resting in your hotel. Drink coca tea in small sips during all afternoon and do not go out the first day so your body will adjust to the altitude. Then just do your normal life but try and avoid carbs and starches as without that much oxygen your body will not metabolise these foods. Dont eat chocolate, bread or potatoe if possible, Stick with lean meats (chicken), steamed vegetables, etc. Dont eat heavily at night as you wont digest that meal easily.

Answer 4

I not long ago was in Cuzco and wasn't effected too badly by the altitude.  It seems that out of the people I was with, it was the taller people who felt it more.  My advice is take it slow.  Allow your self time to rest don't walk fast and definitely don't run.  Drink Cocoa tea that the local will make for you, it tastes OK to.  Don't drink alcohol, or eat red meat, keep meals light.  Just put your feet up and relax until you feel back to normal again.  Apparently it takes 75days for your blood to oxygenate to the same levels as the locals, so even if you feel heaps better still try to take it slow.  Have a wicked time there.