The flight into La Paz, Bolivia was an incredibly scenic one. Our commercial airliner was soaring through snow-capped Andean peaks. Though it wasn’t by any means that the pilot was flying low, rather that these mountains stood at dizzying heights. And the same can be said about the city of La Paz.

Few cities in the world boast as spectacular a setting as La Paz, and your first glimpse of the city will quite literally take your breath away. Set in an outrageously steep valley at around 3,660m high (12,000 feet), the city’s buildings cling to the sides of the canyon and spill spectacularly downwards quite haphazardly. Everything from Medieval-looking buildings, clusters of church spires, ramshackle homes and office blocks ascend the slopes of La Paz, dwarfed by the imposing snowy peak of Mount Illimani looming at 6,402m (21,000 feet) in the background. How to acclimatize quickly. 

Compelled to experience the city’s unique cultural energy and street life, we set out on mission to explore on our first day. Though it only took 10 minutes of a leisurely stroll before we turned away. While relatively fit and quite used to hiking and climbing throughout many climates and conditions, a casual city stroll had left our lungs gasping for oxygen we couldn’t have.

We found ourselves dizzy and exhausted, and we were unable to wander the frenetic markets, museums, crafts stalls and winding alleys of this sky high city at anything faster than a snail’s pace.

Set in an outrageously steep valley at around 3,660m high (12,000 feet), the city’s buildings cling to the sides of the canyon and spill spectacularly downwards quite haphazardly.

Everything from Medieval-looking buildings, clusters of church spires, ramshackle homes and office blocks ascend the slopes of La Paz.

La Paz is dwarfed by the imposing snowy peak of Mount Illimani looming at 6,402m (21,000 feet) in the background.

If there is one thing we learnt from our time in La Paz, it was that any destination at this altitude is to be savored over time, as it’s important to properly to acclimatize. When you’re traveling this high, your lungs need time to adjust to reduced oxygen and breathing thinner air. Otherwise altitude sickness kicks in. How to avoid altitude sickness.

Travelers to the Himalayas, Tibet, Nepal, the Andes, Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya, the Rocky Mountains, or those taking on famous treks like Everst Base Camp and the Inca Trail should be aware of this. Other high altitude destinations also include Cochabamba in Bolivia, Bogota in Colombia, Quito in Ecuador, and Cuzco in Peru. Which countries have high altitude?

What is Altitude Sickness?

As you travel to high altitudes, the amount of oxygen in the air you are breathing declines. Altitude sickness is our body’s response to the low air pressure and reduced oxygen; less oxygen reaches the muscles and the brain, and the heart and lungs must work harder to compensate. This is a potentially serious disease, though is preventable with proper acclimatization.

Typically, altitude sickness occurs at altitudes over 2,500 metres (8,000 ft), though most people can ascend to 2,500 metres with little or no effect. At over 3,000 metres (10,000 feet) 75% of people will develop mild symptoms.

Symptoms start 12 to 24 hours after arrival and begin to decrease in severity around the third day. You may develop a headache, lassitude, insomnia, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. These symptoms are collectively referred to as acute mountain sickness (AMS) and perfectly imitate the feeling of a bad hangover. What does altitude sickness feel like?

Serious symptoms do not usually occur until over 3,600 meters (12,000 ft), an altitude which is considered extremely high. In rare cases, fluid can build up either on the lungs, brain or both which could cause a bubbling sound in the chest, worsening breathlessness, coughing up pink, frothy liquid, clumsiness and difficulty walking and/or confusion leading to loss of consciousness.

These are advanced forms of AMS referred to as High Altitude Cerebral Oedema (HACE) and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and should be treated as a medical emergency. In this case the best form of treatment is to immediately descend to a lower altitude and seek medical help.

If you know that you are going to be traveling to high altitudes, follow a few simple steps to prevent altitude sickness.

How to Prevent Altitude Sickness

The best way to avoid getting sick is to ascend gradually, but if you have to ascend quickly, medicines are available to prevent altitude sickness.

Anyone can suffer from altitude sickness – it does not discriminate between age, gender, level of fitness or training. For instance AMS is actually more likely to affect fit young men who attempt a rapid ascent by racing up the mountain like some indestructible super hero! Even at the most extreme heights, it’s not necessarily the height that is important, rather the speed in which you ascended to that altitude. Will I get sick from altitude?

For this reason, travelers who drive, ride or fly to high altitude sites in the Andes and the Himalayas are more at risk than those who walk in.

If you know that you are going to be traveling to high altitudes, follow a few simple steps to prevent altitude sickness.

If you know that you are going to be traveling to high altitudes, follow a few simple steps to prevent altitude sickness.

Acclimatization

The main cause of altitude sickness is going too high too quickly. Given enough time, your body will adapt to the decrease in oxygen at a specific altitude. This is known as acclimatization. How to acclimatize to high altitudes?

The only way to avoid or cure for altitude sickness is either acclimatization or descent. Ascending slowly will give your body time to learn to cope with decreased oxygen. It usually takes a few days for the body to get used to this change, so those who fly into high altitude must be prepared to spend time acclimatizing on arrival.

Flying over the Bolivian Amazon. The view from the plane.

Disembarking regional Amazonas flight within Bolivia.

View from the plane on landing in La Paz, Bolivia.

Don’t exercise, don’t smoke, and plan for plenty of rest until you feel better. High carbohydrate diets often work well for alleviating acute altitude sickness symptoms as well as improving mood and performance, so be sure to eat appropriately. Will I get altitude sickness in Peru?

Also, drink plenty of fluids, though avoid alcohol or caffeinated products such as energy drinks or sodas as these can dehydrate your muscles. The body’s water losses increase during an active day in the dry cold air at high altitude, therefore, keeping hydrated is important (you may need as much as 4-7 litres per day). How long does it take to acclimatize?

It’s a good idea to tell people you’re travelling with how you feel, even if your symptoms are mild. This will help them be more aware of signs of severe sickness, such as irrational behaviour, if you develop them. If altitude sickness becomes worse, you must immediately descend to a lower altitude.

It is highly advisable not go over 9,000 feet in altitude in 1 day. Instead, spend a few days at 8,000–9,000 feet before proceeding to a higher altitude to give your body time to adjust to the low oxygen levels. Do not sleep 1,000 to 2,000 feet above the altitude you slept at the previous night. You should always spend an extra day acclimating for every 3,300 ft.

The highest navigable lake in the world. Lake Titicaca, Bolivia.

Canoeing the highest navigable lake in the world. Lake Titicaca, Bolivia.

It is important to listen to your body when traveling to high-altitude locations, since altitude sickness can be serious. If you suspect that you are experiencing altitude sickness, don’t go any higher until your symptoms improve and move to lower ground if your symptoms get worse.

Medications

It is important to note that there is no substitute for proper acclimatization. Medicines are available to shorten the time it takes to get used to high altitude, however, people with altitude sickness should not continue to ascend until they have gotten used to the altitude. Altitude sickness medicines.

Critically, a person whose symptoms are getting worse while resting at the same altitude must descend or risk serious illness or death. Drugs to prevent AMS often only hide the warning symptoms as opposed to curing the problem, so in general it is much safer to rely on good planning and gradual ascent rather than medication. Which medicine is best for altitude sickness?

That being said many high-altitude destinations are remote and lack access to medical care, so preventing altitude illness is better than getting sick and needing emergency treatment. Available medications include the following:

Other Considerations

High altitudes put you at higher risk of exposure to the sun, of hypothermia, thrombophebitis (dangerous blood clots in leg veins) and retinopathy (eye damage).

Take full precautions to prevent sunburn and sunstroke, in particular, make sure you have appropriate eye protection – specialist sunglasses, snow goggles or equivalent. Snowblindness can occur even if it’s hazy.

If traveling to a high altitude destination it is absolutely essential to have taken out comprehensive travel medical insurance. Insurance which covers helicopter evacuation may save you a $100,000 bill. It’s also important to get tested for COVID-19 before you travel, as many destinations now require proof of a negative COVID test before you are allowed entry. Boca Raton at home COVID testing is the simplest way to get the documentation you need so you can focus on preparing for your trip.

Summary of Advice

As well as acclimatising properly and taking prescription medication, you should also follow the advice outlined below.

• Travel with a comprehensive first aid kit.

• Travel with comprehensive travel insurance which covers emergency medical evacuation.

• If you start to develop mild symptoms of altitude sickness, stay at your current altitude until your symptoms improve.

• If your symptoms get worse, immediately descend from your current altitude.

• Make sure everyone you’re travelling with has fully acclimatised before going any higher. Let someone know that you are beginning to feel unwell.

Death Road, Bolivia. The most dangerous road in the world.

Looking down over Machu Picchu Peru.

• Gradual ascent is the most important preventive measure. If possible chose a trip with time for gradual acclimatisation built in. Ideally avoid flying directly to areas of high altitude. Consider using medication to aid acclimatisation if gradual ascent is not possible.

• Get lots of rest. When ascending above 3,000m, try to have a rest day every three days. Gentle exercise only for the first 24 hrs.

• Keep well hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and maintain a high-calorie diet while at altitude.

• Don’t smoke, drink alcohol or use medication such as tranquillisers and sleeping pills while you’re at altitude, as they could make any symptoms of altitude sickness worse. Speak to your GP if you’re unsure.

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If you know that you are going to be traveling to high altitudes, follow a few simple steps to prevent altitude sickness.

If you know that you are going to be traveling to high altitudes, follow a few simple steps to prevent altitude sickness.

Megan is an Australian Journalist who has been travelling and blogging since 2007, with the main aim of inspiring others to embark on their own worldwide adventure. Her husband Mike is an American travel photographer, and together they have made the world their home.

Committed to bringing you the best in adventure travel from all around the globe, there is no mountain too high, and no fete too extreme! They haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on their list.

Follow their journey on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram.

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