'Cusco' means "navel of the earth" or "center of the world". Was the capital of the Inca Empire and now houses the wonder of the world and of our Peru: Machu Picchu, one of the world heritage sites most visited by tourists.

What plays against many visitors is the altitude sickness or soroche. And it is that Cusco is located at 3,400 meters above sea level. Let us remember that the human being begins to feel discomfort from 2,400 meters above sea level, according to specialists.

One of the main symptoms are: feeling of fatigue, agitation, intense headache, nausea and vomiting. This occurs due to the lack of adaptation of the organism to heights. And it is that the amount of oxygen and nitrogen, as well as the density, decrease due to altitude. The body begins to acclimatize after two or three days.

Tips to overcome soroche

But to avoid bad times and complications on the trip, Peruvians -since our ancestors the Incas- have a series of strategies to deal with soroche. Among the most popular, coca leaf, which has regulatory properties of the organism. For this reason, it is recommended to chew coca leaf or drink a coca tea.

We always recommend, doing a visita de rutina al médico antes de realizar el viaje, the health specialist may prescribe medications to mitigate this evil. In Peru, 'Sorojchi pill' is usually prescribed, but remember not to self-medicate.

It is also important eat light meals on the day of travel. Avoid eating meat, condiments, and other hard-to-digest ingredients. In the case of Cusco, a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, Andean cereals such as kiwicha and quinoa is recommended.

It is also suggested stay hydrated at all times, consume between 2 and 3 liters of water per day to avoid problems. In addition, they recommend reducing the rhythm of the body such as walking with less speed.

But that is not all, there are mechanisms such as oxygen tubes that are sold in some pharmacies and that will allow you to breathe as if you were at a height of 100 meters above sea level.

The highest places in Cusco

Here we leave you the highest points that tourists usually visit in Cusco so you can take precautions:

1. Nevado Ausangate – Maximum elevation 6, 384 m.a.s.l.
2. Nevado Salkantay – Maximum elevation 6,261 m.a.s.l.
3. The Mountain of 7 Colors or Vinicunca – Altitude 5,200 m.a.s.l.
4. Inca Trail, Warmihuañuska pass – Maximum elevation of 4,200 m.a.s.l.
5. Machu Picchu does not represent a big problem for most, since it is at 2,430 meters above sea level.