PERU
Peru has beauty, a rich history, adventure, diverse landscapes, unimaginable architectural feats, wildlife, bright-colored clothing, and delicious food. Wandering where the wifi was weak in my hiking adventures around Peru was genuinely excellent.
Did you know that Machu Picchu is one of the World's New Seven Wonders?
Plan Ahead For Altitude: If you visit Cusco before heading to Machu Picchu, prepare for the altitude change. Cusco is at 11,152 feet (3,399 meters). Machu Picchu is significantly lower at 7,972 ft (2,430 m). Altitude sickness generally starts affecting people at 8,000 feet or higher.
Before jetting off to Peru, I obsessively scoured the internet for information about how to prevent altitude sickness in Cusco! I even read a couple of articles about people who died from altitude sickness (or complications from it). Yikes! But with some planning, I can happily say I have never experienced any altitude sickness since arriving other than being a little short of breadth! Typical symptoms include dizziness (lightheadedness), headaches, nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing and heart racing!
Here are 4 of my healthy remedies that you may find helpful on your next adventure, too...
✔️Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate 💦
The more hydrated you are, the better you will feel at high altitudes and the faster you acclimatize. You can assimilate more oxygen into your bloodstream and deliver it throughout the body more efficiently.
✔️Replace Those Electrolytes:
A packet of my Sustain electrolyte mix in my water daily helps replenish electrolytes lost from sweating and exertion. Half the calories and twice the electrolytes than Gatorade gives me the boost I need to start the day. Plus, it comes in small, easy-carry packets that are easy to drop in any bag! Drinking too much water without replacing electrolytes can make you hyponatremic (the flushing away of essential electrolytes in the bloodstream due to excess water), which can lead to further illness.
✔️Chlorophyll drops:
Yep, chlorophyll, as in the green stuff from plants. And ProvexPlus is a unique patented circulatory system antioxidant that contains grape seed extract. Both of these combined increase the amount of red blood cells in your system; the more red blood cells there are, the more opportunities there are for oxygen to be absorbed, thereby reducing the effects of altitude sickness.
👉 put 18-20 chlorophyll drops in my water at least once daily!
👉 add one capsule of ProvexCV to my vitamin regimen every morning, too
✔️Drink Coca or Muna Tea: You will find it everywhere in Cusco. These teas are fantastic for digestion, hormonal balance, and adjusting to high altitudes! ☕️
Activities: On many people’s bucket list is Machu Picchu. The site of the historic Incan civilization rests on a mountain ridge almost 8,000 feet above sea level in the Sacred Valley. You can only hike in or take a train and then a bus. Still, there is no easy way to get there, which makes it even more impossible to believe that the whole site was built by hand over a mile up in the mountains when most people struggle to merely walk up the stairs carrying only a camera and a water bottle. It takes your breath away to be in the presence of such an unbelievably sacred place.
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Climb Your Mountain: You can climb two mountains when visiting Machu Picchu: Huayna Picchu (located behind the citadel and commonly seen in pictures as the background of the ruins) and Machu Picchu Mountain. Both require tickets far in advance, and they only allow a certain number of people per day. So, plan to get those special tickets or talk to your favorite travel agent, who can usually score you some insider deals.
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Hiking the Inca Trail- Whether you do a 2-day or five 5-day hikes, I suggest planning well, as the hikes fill quickly. Alpaca Tours was terrific when I did my hike. From the delicious food to the wealth of knowledge, they made the trip memorable. The porters are excellent and carry up to 20 kilograms (44 pounds) of gear -- and they carry it fast. Some run along the trail, avoiding shredded ankles as they navigate uneven, wet stones to ensure all are ready before the tourists stagger into camp. If you feel like racing your fellow hikers, great. Do not test the porters: They're pros, and you're, at best, a promising amateur.
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Sand Dunes: You may not know that Peru has one of the most giant dunes in the world. Cerru Blanco dune measures 3,860 feet from the base to the summit. It towers over the quaint desert oasis town, Huacachina, and the best part of all is that you can ride dune buggies for hours and up to the top of the dunes and then strap a board to your feet and sandboard down it to the town below!
National Drink: The Pisco Sour is Peru’s national drink. You would be remiss if you didn’t try one while visiting the country as they even give talks about this drink. Pisco is made from Peruvian grape brandy and is mixed with lemons, sugar water, egg whites, and ice and finished with bitters to make a Pisco Sour. A “lighter, healthier” version can also be ordered without the egg whites and with a little bit of soda water called a Chilcano.
Food Recommends: Lima is worth seeing on your visit to Peru. Lima is Peru's largest city by far. It's home to more than a quarter of. It has lovely food, the beautiful Miraflores district (where you can drink while overlooking beaches lined with small rocks that form eye-catching patterns each time the tide rolls out), and historic museums. A MUST-EAT place I recommend is Central Restaurante. If you are a foodie and love a good-tasting menu, you are in for a delicious treat at this restaurant in the heart of Mira Flores, Lima. Central has been named the best restaurant in Latin America for four consecutive years and the 4th ranked restaurant worldwide in 2015 and 2016. This restaurant books months in advance, so plan a table at their lunch or dinner tasting. It’s worth every penny!
There are many other unique places to visit, including Lake Titicaca, Ollantaytambo, Arequipa Pisac, and Iquitos. There is so much to do and see in all these locations. This is a must-see location on any bucket list, from salt mines to weaving communities to lakes and mountains to fantastic food and spectacular views of roughly 30 million people in Peru.
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