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And I met two guys 84 years old climbing Wayna Picchu back in October.
Those Coca Leaves ---with the lime catalyst--really make a difference. Walked for 5 hours up to the high Quarry at Ollantaytambo without getting tired--but got sore legs.
Also--if you even think of going to Bolivia and need the Yellow Fever Shot, you can get any shot at the Lima airport for $24.
Yellow fever is very rare in travelers, but it can be fatal.
Diamox should be available over the counter. It isn't a prescription drug.
Yellow fever - there's no risk in Peru so you don't have to worry about that. Some countries (I've heard about Australia) require YF certificate if their citizens visit Bolivia.
I'vd travelled in South Am several times without taking a single shot. There's no reason to be too concerned no matter what your age is.
Risk for visitors is low. I didn't do an exhaustive search, but I found one case in a Peruvian woman (not a visitor) from 2011. That's not exactly a high incidence.
The issue of altitude sickness and injections is so overblown here. 26 posts.
I can understand if a first time traveller is curious or even worried, and wants to know. But what he gets in response is out of proportions and making him only anxious, while there's no reason. It's like "am I running a risk of being shot dead if I set my foot in USA?"
... what he gets in response is out of proportions and making him only anxious, while there's no reason
That's your opinion . I don't share it , my perspective comes mainly from spending many , many months in Leh at the same altitude and seeing people coming in. Returned last time a few weeks ago. The experience from travellers every time they are being systematically interviewed is also less a less rosier picture than what is often painted here. . So for what it's worth I think every first comer to the Andes etc has potentally a lot to gain by following proven specialist advice , first and foremost in behavior , secondly by medicating when it's appropiate.
You're talking sense but also a lot of rubbish at the same time. It's not the kind of information people are looking for.
I've been both to Cuzco and Leh, and all I've seen was travellers like everywhere.
High altitude may cause discomfort, but nothing serious on 3400-3500m asl. Or, would you warn travellers coming to any city that they may get hit by car when they cross a street.
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16
I have found that chewing coca leaves really works as long as you also use the catalyst. On recent trip to Peru, I rarely got tired from walking if I chewed the leaves, but I did get sore muscles from climbing.17
Thank you all for your thoughtful advice which I read with great interest. I also printed out the CDC treatment of the subject and will read it carefully and discuss it with my pulmonologist and GP. In years past I wouldn't have been so concerned but at my age (77) I wonder if it isn't time to be a bit cautious.18
77--Having died in a helicopter crash in an LZ in the Mekong Delta, let me assure you there is nothing to fear. Can't wait to do it again.And I met two guys 84 years old climbing Wayna Picchu back in October.
19
Just saw my pulmonologist and my breath test turned up within normal range. She didn't see any reason I shouldn't go to Peru. But I had to persuade her to write a prescription for Diamox. I don't know why she was so reluctant to do so. She said if I didn't have any previous history of altitude sickness I didn't need it. Hell, I've never been to 11,000 feet before! Finally she relented and wrote a prescription.20
Takes me 4 days to get used to hunting at 4000 feet in Wyoming, but I had no problems in Peru as I worked my way up to Cusco--Once thru Arequippa and once by going to Ollantaytambo & MP first--they are a lot lower than Cusco. Met people in Cusco who I had met at MP and they did get sick in Cusco after being fine at MP. Nothing Serious --just very bad headaches and nausea.Those Coca Leaves ---with the lime catalyst--really make a difference. Walked for 5 hours up to the high Quarry at Ollantaytambo without getting tired--but got sore legs.
Also--if you even think of going to Bolivia and need the Yellow Fever Shot, you can get any shot at the Lima airport for $24.
21
I tried to send a private message to Xinloi but the service isn't working right now. YELLOW FEVER SHOTS--you write that one can get them at the Lima airport. I'm flying in to Lima, staying for just one night then flying to Iquitos for several days on the Amazon. Yellow fever shots are recommended for that area. QUESTIONS: is 24 hours enough lead time for the shots to be effective? And if I'm joining a group on arrival, will I have the time to get the shots then and there? Or is there some other place in Lima where I can get the shots?22
The yellow fever certificate is not valid until 10 days after you get the shot, because it takes about that much time for your body to be producing enough antibodies to protect you. If this is a booster shot, you are probably already protected, as immunity actually lasts longer than the 10-year validity of the certificate.Yellow fever is very rare in travelers, but it can be fatal.
23
Vermonter,Diamox should be available over the counter. It isn't a prescription drug.
Yellow fever - there's no risk in Peru so you don't have to worry about that. Some countries (I've heard about Australia) require YF certificate if their citizens visit Bolivia.
I'vd travelled in South Am several times without taking a single shot. There's no reason to be too concerned no matter what your age is.
26
Filedgate, I think vistet is suggesting that the Diamox be bought in a developing country, before arrival.Yellow fever - there's no risk in Peru so you don't have to worry about that.
The eastern part of Peru is considered to be endemic for yellow fever. See map. From the UK Health Protection Agency, •There is a risk of yellow fever transmission in areas east of the Andes Mountains below 2,300m, including the regions of Amazonas, Loreta, Madre de Dios, San Martin and Ucayali, and areas in the following regions: north-eastern Ancash, northern Apurímac, northern and north-eastern Ayacucho, northern and eastern Cajamarca, north-western, northern and north-eastern Cusco, northern Huancavelica, northern, central and eastern Huánuco, northern and eastern Junín, eastern La Libertad, central and eastern Pasco, eastern Piura and northern Puno.
*There is a low potential for exposure to yellow fever in designated areas of western Piura and west-central Cajamarca, and the entire regions of Lambayeque and Tumbes.
*There is no risk of yellow fever transmission in the cities of Cusco and Lima, in Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail.
*There is a low potential for exposure to yellow fever in designated areas of western Piura and west-central Cajamarca, and the entire regions of Lambayeque and Tumbes.
*There is no risk of yellow fever transmission in the cities of Cusco and Lima, in Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail.
Risk for visitors is low. I didn't do an exhaustive search, but I found one case in a Peruvian woman (not a visitor) from 2011. That's not exactly a high incidence.
27
nutrax and vistet (who's never been to South America)The issue of altitude sickness and injections is so overblown here. 26 posts.
I can understand if a first time traveller is curious or even worried, and wants to know. But what he gets in response is out of proportions and making him only anxious, while there's no reason. It's like "am I running a risk of being shot dead if I set my foot in USA?"
28
OP talked about seeing his/her regular doc , and yes I think it's a good idea to talk over all medication with either that or a travel doc.... what he gets in response is out of proportions and making him only anxious, while there's no reason
That's your opinion . I don't share it , my perspective comes mainly from spending many , many months in Leh at the same altitude and seeing people coming in. Returned last time a few weeks ago. The experience from travellers every time they are being systematically interviewed is also less a less rosier picture than what is often painted here. . So for what it's worth I think every first comer to the Andes etc has potentally a lot to gain by following proven specialist advice , first and foremost in behavior , secondly by medicating when it's appropiate.
29
vistet,You're talking sense but also a lot of rubbish at the same time. It's not the kind of information people are looking for.
I've been both to Cuzco and Leh, and all I've seen was travellers like everywhere.
High altitude may cause discomfort, but nothing serious on 3400-3500m asl. Or, would you warn travellers coming to any city that they may get hit by car when they cross a street.
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