Altitude sickness, or soroche as it is called in Peru, is sometimes a problem for visitors to the Peruvian highlands. An infusion, called “mate de coca” or coca leaf tea, is made with the leaves of the coca plant (considered to have been a sacred plant for the Incas and still seen as such by many people in the highlands of Peru). It is purported to help relieve altitude sickness and is readily available. Like regular tea it has a mild stimulating effect and a pleasant taste. If anything, a good cup of hot liquid will help keep you hydrated.

Diamox is used by some travelers from the USA, but it is not recommended if you are allergic to sulfa medications. Sorochi or Gravol are pills that can be purchased locally over-the-counter at pharmacies and airports.

Consult with your doctor if you are worried about traveling at high altitudes. Ask if it is OK for you to take any of these medications, or bring your prescriptions with you.

The best thing to do is to get acclimatized to the altitude as quickly as possible. Eating lightly on the first day and avoiding excess physical activity until acclimatized are highly recommended. KEEP HYDRATED but do not overfill your stomach at once. Let your digestive system adjust. Take it easy the first day and your body will have time to adjust to the changes. Most people do NOT have any serious problems with the altitude.

We recommend that you consult with a doctor that specializes in travel medicine. They will be able to judge, given your personal health and vaccination history, what vaccines you may need.

Aside from your routine shots, in general you only need vaccinations if you will be traveling in the Amazon Rainforest. Consider getting the Yellow Fever vaccine if you will be traveling in the rainforest. We suggest you ask your doctor what precautions or vaccinations are recommended for each destination as these requirements vary according to where each passenger comes from and their personal medical background.

It is also a good idea to start this process early as some vaccines need to be administered over a period of time. If you can, start at least 4 to 6 weeks before your trip starts. If you are traveling sooner than that, still consult with your physician to find out what they recommend.

The meals we provide with our Tours are safe. On those occasions when you decide to venture beyond the Tour’s itinerary and try something new and unique on your own we suggest you exercise common sense precautions. Drink bottled or boiled water. Try to avoid eating from street vendors who clearly do not practice sanitary precautions. Whenever you travel to a new part of the world, microorganisms living in that part of the world will invariably be different from the ones back home and so you will need to let your body adjust to the new conditions. If you are concerned about this ask your doctor about vaccinations against hepatitis, typhoid or cholera, even though these may be extreme measures since a little caution will protect you just as well.

Aside from microorganisms there are other things that will be different from back home: spices, ingredients, salts and mineral content in the water, etc. Some people’s bodies reject the new kinds of foods until they have had a chance to adjust. Never fear, this is not dangerous to you, but it could ruin your enjoyment of your trip. Decide whether your system is able to handle new foods beforehand so that you can exercise caution in your choice of foods.

Many travelers to Peru end up eating at restaurants that serve food from their country, such as McDonald’s. But it would be a shame if you came all the way down to Peru and couldn’t sample the wonderful tastes of Peruvian food. As always, ask your doctor what they recommend and bring along any prescription medications you may need to take care of any digestive tract problems you may have. You can find Pepto Bismol sold in pharmacies under the name “Bismutol”.

That being said, we strongly recommend you do everything you can to prepare yourself to try the food when you are here. Peruvian cuisine is ranked amongst the top ten cuisines of the world. Many people travel to Peru exclusively to go on gastronomic tours to sample the thousands of different dishes that you can find around the country. When you come here do not forget that you can have a wonderful experience not just through sight and sound, but also through texture, scent and flavor. In fact, it is said that when you come to Peru you awaken your “six” senses.