Hi there, I'm doing the Inca Trail and staying/volunteering in Cusco for 2 weeks after this.

Which is why I'm wondering if there is anywhere else a day away where I can be acclimatised to the altitude prior to the trail.

Or is 'all of southern peru' fine for this?

Or would it be wiser just to get there?

I have no idea.

Thanks,

Jude.

Cuzco is 3400 m asl, so any place that's about the same altitude will do for you.
From your earlier topic I remember you'll be coming from Argentina, although probably skipping Bolivia. What did you decide about your trip from Argentina to Peru? Will you be flying? Most of the area in that part of South Am, ie. from northern Arg to Southern Peru, is high altitude. If you stop at Titicaca that will be 3800 m.

I'm going to skip Bolivia, head through as quick as possible depending on how I get through. What would you recommend? I suppose I don't have to worry about this yet. I don't know where I'll be entering Bolivia from. I'll need to work it out.

I'll be back to Bolivia another time, I'm sure.

I'd like to spend as much time in Argentina as possible. I'd like to enter Peru via Lake Titicaca. So I can be acclimatised in that area.

Cool, thanks!

Altitude sickness can kind of sneak up on you. I took my three daughters, ages 20-25 to Cuzco, stayed there for 2 days then went to Cachora for the night then for 8 days trekking to choquiquerao, Maizal, Yanama, totora, etc. flinally winding up at AC. My point is my "best in shape" daughter got Sirochi whilst at Choquiquerao and thanks to Daimox from my friend and a few days for it to kick in, and a lowiering of elevation, and a horse to get her up the last steretch to Maizal, she got over it and suqsequently made it over a 13500' and 15000' pass.

Based on this experience, i would go to Ollantaytambo, which is a few thousand feet lower than Cuzco, take the diamox at least 24 hours before elevation or before even getting off the plane in Cuzco. I stayed at Home Sweet Home in Ollantaytambo and they were very nice, the showers were warm and it wasn't expensive.

We thought she had acclimated in Cuzco.

Me, I'm 61 years old and they say that older people are less likely to get Sirochi, and i took no medicine, but i did get a slight headache occasionally, usually from bumping into low doorways in Cuzco, but also from going over my first pass at 13,500 and definetly had one going over 15000 but took 3 aspirins and chewed some coca candy and by the top, i was fit as a fiddle

charlie

I almost bloody died in Cuzco (altitude sickness lead to pneumonia) and near coughed up a lung on Machu Picchu. Went on to Bolivia which made it worse and only got well again when I went to Santiago. I am going back again soon and will take it more seriously this time. It can really ruin a trip and many people don't anticipate it.

Starting in Cuzco is actually great if you have a couple days. The trail from there is descending, Machu Picchu is a couple thousand feet lower. The hardest part in altitude is the uphill, so remember when walking about, if you think you are doing fine going downhill, the back uphill will grab your lungs and and will stop you on a dime. The good news is that acclimatisation does happen.
Oh, nothing wrong with the coca tea (matte de coca) which is served everywhere. It oxygenates the bloodstream, it is legal, and it works. Chew the fresh leaves if you can find them.

We're planning on being in Peru in late November/early december and are planning on making the trek to Choquequirao, and maybe onto MP after that.

This will be the longest trek on our RTW, and i don't want to get cooking equipment etc, just for this trip. Are the tour guides recommended... or if we just find a guide in Cachora, should this be okay?

Thoughts and suggestions about what to hit the trek with?

Thanks a bunch!

Hi,

You can acclimatized in the same Cusco and also in the Sacred Valley. In this way you are going to be accustomed to this weather.

Here is a link where you can find some information about altitude sickness in Peru.

altitude sickness