Spanish visitors often wonder what activities they can do in Peru, since this country has great geographic diversity that offers a wide variety of experiences. For example, it is possible to explore the lush Amazon jungle, climb the high mountains of the Peruvian Andes with peaks that exceed 6,500 meters above sea level, and enjoy the beautiful beaches of the Peruvian coast.
However, it is important to keep in mind that these activities may require good physical condition, especially if you want to practice adventure sports or similar. If you visit the mountains, you should be especially careful if you suffer from any heart or respiratory problems, since the altitude can affect your health. For example, the popular city of Cusco is located at an elevation of more than 3,000 meters above sea level, so it is crucial to take precautions before engaging in any strenuous activity.
You must keep in mind that, if your plans include doing some adventure sport, then it is necessary to be well prepared, adventure sports are mostly focused on the Peruvian mountains, so you must keep in mind that depending on the area where you bought your package, because in places like Inca , it is possible to walk about 6 or 7 hours each day.
Preparing physically for a trip to Peru will depend on the activities you want to do during your stay. If you plan to do long hikes such as Salkantay Trek, the Inca Trail or the Inca Jungle, it is recommended that you are in good physical condition and without health problems. It is important to prepare physically before the trip to be able to quickly adapt to the climate of the region in which you are located, especially if it is the Peruvian highlands .
On the coast and in the jungle, you are less likely to have physical problems, but it is important that you take care of your diet, rest and entertainment during your stay in the mountains. It is always advisable to consult a doctor before undertaking any high-impact physical activity during your trip to Peru. This way you can enjoy your trip safely and without limitations.
If you are planning a trip to Peru, especially if you plan to do adventure sports or visit places with high altitudes, it is important that you prepare physically so that you can fully enjoy your experience in this beautiful country.
Here are some tips to help you prepare physically before your trip:
If you don’t have a regular exercise routine, it’s important to start incorporating physical activity into your daily life. You can start with short walks, running, cycling or any other activity that you like and allows you to move.
Once you have established a regular exercise routine, it is important that you begin to increase the intensity of your training. You can incorporate resistance training, such as weight lifting or resistance band exercises, and cardio, such as running or cycling.
If you plan to go hiking in the Peruvian mountains, it is important that you go hiking before your trip. Start with short walks and gradually increase the difficulty and duration of your walks.
If you are going to visit places with high altitude, like Cusco, it is important that you adapt to the altitude before your trip. You can do this by training in a hypoxic chamber or altitude simulation, or even by climbing stairs or walking on inclined terrain.
A healthy diet is important for anyone, but especially for those who plan to do adventure sports or visit places with high altitudes. Make sure you eat enough protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats, and drink enough water to stay hydrated.
Rest is crucial for good physical preparation. Make sure you get enough sleep to allow your body to recover and get stronger.
What we tell you is probably going to discourage you and worry you a little, and it has everything to do with this very important topic, body physique and altitude sickness.
It is quite common to think that if we have an excellent physique, we cannot suffer from any problem on our trip, and in general terms it is very correct, however, this changes slightly if you travel to the mountains of the country. And what does it mean ? has to? You may wonder, and estrus is due to altitude sickness or Soroche, something that occurs at high altitudes.
Many times we are confident in having a good physique, but the reality in the mountains is that even if you have a magnificent physique or even if you are a high-level athlete and you do not take the proper precautions, then you could suffer from altitude sickness.
And this inopportune problem is capable of affecting anyone, even if it is an athlete, since it does not consider nationalities, physical condition, genders or anything, after all, some of the most attractive places in the country are located on the 4000 meters above sea level, even above 5000 meters above sea level.
Something to counteract this problem are altitude pills, coca leaf tea and a good rest. Keep in mind that when you arrive in any city in the Peruvian mountains you need to take at least the first day very calmly. Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages, eating fat or heavy food and take a good rest, this will help your body get used to the change in altitude, the lack of oxygen and also the climate.
It is important that you bring your own medications in case something unforeseen occurs, since it is possible that some food or drink will go bad due to altitude sickness. Keep in mind that guides and travel agencies are not authorized to administer medication, so it is better to prevent it by taking your own precautions.
Of course, in case of emergencies, first aid can always be provided and there are instruments such as gauze, bandages, cotton, oxygen cylinders and even some natural remedies such as the coca leaf. However, it is valuable that we are prepared with our own medications if we are going on an adventure in the Peruvian mountains.