Peru Cusco Travel Guide - Peru Hotels - Cusco Hotels - Machu Picchu Tours
Don't under estimate the effects of the altitude or the effectiveness of Diamox tablets to alleviate the symptoms and accelerate your acclimatisation. Obtain through prescription prior to leaving home, if you forgot it, no problem, there are lots of pills that will cure the altitude sickness and almost all of them are sold in Cusco. If after all this; the sickness persists, a coca tea will be a good idea to relieve you. (Don't worry about it, the altitude sickness is perfectly natural).
If you are travelling to high locations, drink a lot of liquids (still water), consume dried fruits and lots a lemon candy, to avoid the altitude sickness (soroche); besides you should take a coramina pill handy that is ideal to avoid the altitude sickness. Then, eat lightly; take it easy the first few days and you shouldn't have any problems.
You have to be careful in where you eat, make sure that the establishment has the appropriate health conditions. If is not like this, is preferable to abstain yourself and try to eat canned goods. We also recommend avoiding all foods that are heavy, because the digestion takes longer in altitude. In case that you’re not feeling well, you will have to consult to a health insurance. The main ones are:
AIG Assist: 440-7373
Assist Card Peru: 446-0710
Pan American Assistance: 445-9039 - 446-6113
Who ever wants to get to know the jungle, has to present, mandatory a certificate of the yellow fever vaccination. This sickness is very common in jungle areas.
If you haven't got the vaccination in your country of origin, you can have it done with out any problems at the International Airport Jorge Chávez in Lima, in the center of vaccinations at the National Hospital Dos de Mayo (Grau Av.) or right next to the Hospital del Niño (Jirón Independencia 121, Breña) the cost is no more than US$ 20.
For the vaccination to take effect, you will have to put it 10 days prior to your departure to the jungle.
If you would like to feel much better and safe against all the sickness, consult your physician for the possibilities of diphtheria, tetanus, typhoid fever, polio, hepatitis A.
