Peru and civil unrest...
Discussion
has anyone recently gone to or booked a holiday to Peru (Machu Pichu and Lake Titikaka in particular)? We were thinking of this for next year, however, it seems as if the FCDO is warning against travel to various parts - am I being paranoid in treating this as "...just not let's bother going to any of Peru.."?
well, just to close a tiny thread off - we finally went to Lima a few weeks ago. No issues at all (even with the upcoming election), lovely place (where we stayed, there are some dreadfully poor parts 
), great food, reasonably priced. Definitely worth a visit/stay if you're thinking of Machu Pichu and/or a cruise departing from Lima
), great food, reasonably priced. Definitely worth a visit/stay if you're thinking of Machu Pichu and/or a cruise departing from LimaThat's good to read.
My daughter is spending her Christmas break between semesters this year in Peru. She is at uni in the US and has booked the her return flights from the US to Lima and is now trying to sort out a programme.
There are two of them, both British, going for the whole 4 weeks, and possibly 2-4 US students joining them after Christmas as they want to spend Christmas at home. When she returns here in three weeks time she should have it confirmed whether the US students are joining and she can get her plans fixed. I think it's a PITA if the US students go as it will make both halves of the trip seem rushed.
Apart from Lima, she has the following on her list of places to go if the US lot come
Paracas
Huacachina
Nazca
Arequipa
Colca Canyon
Iquitos (Christmas)
Huanchaco
Huaraz
Cusco (New Year)
Puerto Maldonado
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
If it is just the two of them, I've just seen her proposed plan
Cusco
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Arequipa
Nazca (Christmas)
Huacachina
Paracas
Iquitos (New Year)
Huaraz
Huachaco
To get around flights are quite cheap and there is a bus as well.
My daughter is spending her Christmas break between semesters this year in Peru. She is at uni in the US and has booked the her return flights from the US to Lima and is now trying to sort out a programme.
There are two of them, both British, going for the whole 4 weeks, and possibly 2-4 US students joining them after Christmas as they want to spend Christmas at home. When she returns here in three weeks time she should have it confirmed whether the US students are joining and she can get her plans fixed. I think it's a PITA if the US students go as it will make both halves of the trip seem rushed.
Apart from Lima, she has the following on her list of places to go if the US lot come
Paracas
Huacachina
Nazca
Arequipa
Colca Canyon
Iquitos (Christmas)
Huanchaco
Huaraz
Cusco (New Year)
Puerto Maldonado
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
If it is just the two of them, I've just seen her proposed plan
Cusco
Lake Titicaca (Puno)
Arequipa
Nazca (Christmas)
Huacachina
Paracas
Iquitos (New Year)
Huaraz
Huachaco
To get around flights are quite cheap and there is a bus as well.
One thing I will say is not to underestimate the effects of altitude. Ok I'm a fat b
d but even climbing 5/6 steps (something I'd normally not even think about) left me absolutely fked for a little while Mrs DG was actually getting concerned. You do adjust a little (some people suffer like me, others major headache, others still no effects)
d but even climbing 5/6 steps (something I'd normally not even think about) left me absolutely fked for a little while Mrs DG was actually getting concerned. You do adjust a little (some people suffer like me, others major headache, others still no effects)DodgyGeezer said:
One thing I will say is not to underestimate the effects of altitude. Ok I'm a fat bd but even climbing 5/6 steps (something I'd normally not even think about) left me absolutely fked for a little while Mrs DG was actually getting concerned. You do adjust a little (some people suffer like me, others major headache, others still no effects)
Thanks - I'll relay this info. They are both athletes at the uni, but not sure if this would be a good or a bad thing as it might well lead them to think everything is fine.d but even climbing 5/6 steps (something I'd normally not even think about) left me absolutely fked for a little while Mrs DG was actually getting concerned. You do adjust a little (some people suffer like me, others major headache, others still no effects)Second this. When we went we flew into Lima then onto Cusco.
We went to the hotel, I felt fine Mrs said she felt a bit dizzy.
Walked into the hotel room and the Mrs just started to projectile vomit every where!!
She then basically crawled into bed with severe headaches. The hotel were great and put her on O2 for a couple of hours.
They were saying she may need a hyperbaric chamber treatment if she got worse. Thankfully 48 hrs later she was well enough to go to MP for the day (the reason for the trip). It was touch and go though as there were logistical issues if we did not make it on that day. We were there 5 days and she basically lost the first 2 days. Aguas Scaliante (sic?) is actually lower than Cusco too, so she felt better there - then a bit worse again when we got back.
The better solution is to slowly go up to Cusco over the course of a few days. I think my watch maxed out at 4800m...
Apparently its totally random who it effects.
Anyway, for anyone who goes check out the Hiram Bingham train and tour service as its excellent.
We went to the hotel, I felt fine Mrs said she felt a bit dizzy.
Walked into the hotel room and the Mrs just started to projectile vomit every where!!
She then basically crawled into bed with severe headaches. The hotel were great and put her on O2 for a couple of hours.
They were saying she may need a hyperbaric chamber treatment if she got worse. Thankfully 48 hrs later she was well enough to go to MP for the day (the reason for the trip). It was touch and go though as there were logistical issues if we did not make it on that day. We were there 5 days and she basically lost the first 2 days. Aguas Scaliante (sic?) is actually lower than Cusco too, so she felt better there - then a bit worse again when we got back.
The better solution is to slowly go up to Cusco over the course of a few days. I think my watch maxed out at 4800m...
Apparently its totally random who it effects.
Anyway, for anyone who goes check out the Hiram Bingham train and tour service as its excellent.
nvubu said:
Thanks - I'll relay this info. They are both athletes at the uni, but not sure if this would be a good or a bad thing as it might well lead them to think everything is fine.
It really is quite random; the (now) Mrs FlyVintage and I did the 4 day trek to Machu Picchu over dead woman’s pass some time ago; she was an athlete competing at national level, I was just reasonably fit and healthy. She was like an asthmatic 80 year old over the highest parts, I had searing headaches but was otherwise unaffected. DodgyGeezer said:
One thing I will say is not to underestimate the effects of altitude.
Visited Yosemite, started on the high plateau (c.9,000 ft) and headed in from the east. Was recommended a short (1.5 mile / 500ft altitude) hike up to a May Lake, so parked up, grabbed my bag (but not my lunch
) and started walking...only to find myself pausing every few hundred yards to catch my breath. Really couldn't believe it.Yep does not matter how fit you are. Its actually the opposite. Athletes and the mega fit are used to having high endurance so when they start to feel symptoms like shortness of breath or dizziness they just ignore it and try and push through as that always works..... but not at over 10,000ft and thats when AMS can set in.
Cusco is over 11,000ft. Most people are ok with just feeling a bit short of breath, but if you do get sick it can be very serious and its basically a lottery.
Cusco is over 11,000ft. Most people are ok with just feeling a bit short of breath, but if you do get sick it can be very serious and its basically a lottery.
We went last year to Lima, Cusco, Inka Trail, Puerto Maldonado, Huacachina and Nazca.
Some of the folks on the trail group suffered with altitude sickness and one had to be carried off the trail and taken to hospital. We were ok although we took it easy and did Rainbow Mountain (5000m) the day after we finished the trail.
There were a few protests while we were there but nothing that affected us.
Some of the folks on the trail group suffered with altitude sickness and one had to be carried off the trail and taken to hospital. We were ok although we took it easy and did Rainbow Mountain (5000m) the day after we finished the trail.
There were a few protests while we were there but nothing that affected us.
Some very interesting and useful information coming out here. Please keep it coming.
She has just told me that she wants to do a 4 day Salkantay Trek from Cusco.
Her plan looks to be a steady rise in altitude before getting to Cusco and then planning to be for 3 days before the trek, so I would have thought that they should/would be acclimatised before having to exert themselves. Colca Canyon is at 16,000ft and Lake Titicaca is at 12,500ft are both before Cusco, but both not in a jump straight from Lima.
As I mentioned they are athletes at university, so they may well think they are OK when they are not. I'm pointing her at these https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-... and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/altitude-sickness/
Our family travel insurance won't cover her as she is starting from the USA. I have told her she will have to get some in the USA - and she will need to ensure that it covers Peru and high altitude stuff.
She has just told me that she wants to do a 4 day Salkantay Trek from Cusco.
Her plan looks to be a steady rise in altitude before getting to Cusco and then planning to be for 3 days before the trek, so I would have thought that they should/would be acclimatised before having to exert themselves. Colca Canyon is at 16,000ft and Lake Titicaca is at 12,500ft are both before Cusco, but both not in a jump straight from Lima.
As I mentioned they are athletes at university, so they may well think they are OK when they are not. I'm pointing her at these https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-... and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/altitude-sickness/
Our family travel insurance won't cover her as she is starting from the USA. I have told her she will have to get some in the USA - and she will need to ensure that it covers Peru and high altitude stuff.
nvubu said:
DodgyGeezer said:
One thing I will say is not to underestimate the effects of altitude. Ok I'm a fat bd but even climbing 5/6 steps (something I'd normally not even think about) left me absolutely fked for a little while Mrs DG was actually getting concerned. You do adjust a little (some people suffer like me, others major headache, others still no effects)
Thanks - I'll relay this info. They are both athletes at the uni, but not sure if this would be a good or a bad thing as it might well lead them to think everything is fine.d but even climbing 5/6 steps (something I'd normally not even think about) left me absolutely fked for a little while Mrs DG was actually getting concerned. You do adjust a little (some people suffer like me, others major headache, others still no effects)dxg said:
nvubu said:
DodgyGeezer said:
One thing I will say is not to underestimate the effects of altitude. Ok I'm a fat bd but even climbing 5/6 steps (something I'd normally not even think about) left me absolutely fked for a little while Mrs DG was actually getting concerned. You do adjust a little (some people suffer like me, others major headache, others still no effects)
Thanks - I'll relay this info. They are both athletes at the uni, but not sure if this would be a good or a bad thing as it might well lead them to think everything is fine.d but even climbing 5/6 steps (something I'd normally not even think about) left me absolutely fked for a little while Mrs DG was actually getting concerned. You do adjust a little (some people suffer like me, others major headache, others still no effects)nvubu said:
Some very interesting and useful information coming out here. Please keep it coming.
She has just told me that she wants to do a 4 day Salkantay Trek from Cusco.
Her plan looks to be a steady rise in altitude before getting to Cusco and then planning to be for 3 days before the trek, so I would have thought that they should/would be acclimatised before having to exert themselves. Colca Canyon is at 16,000ft and Lake Titicaca is at 12,500ft are both before Cusco, but both not in a jump straight from Lima.
As I mentioned they are athletes at university, so they may well think they are OK when they are not. I'm pointing her at these https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-... and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/altitude-sickness/
Our family travel insurance won't cover her as she is starting from the USA. I have told her she will have to get some in the USA - and she will need to ensure that it covers Peru and high altitude stuff.
Just make sure she is familiar with the symptoms and what to do if you start to feel unwell. The best thing to do is to take the first few days easy and slowly go up each day - spending a full night at the higher altitude. If you feel in any way unwell then a day of rest is key - if still unwell you have to go back down basically for a day or two.She has just told me that she wants to do a 4 day Salkantay Trek from Cusco.
Her plan looks to be a steady rise in altitude before getting to Cusco and then planning to be for 3 days before the trek, so I would have thought that they should/would be acclimatised before having to exert themselves. Colca Canyon is at 16,000ft and Lake Titicaca is at 12,500ft are both before Cusco, but both not in a jump straight from Lima.
As I mentioned they are athletes at university, so they may well think they are OK when they are not. I'm pointing her at these https://www.cdc.gov/yellow-book/hcp/environmental-... and https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/altitude-sickness/
Our family travel insurance won't cover her as she is starting from the USA. I have told her she will have to get some in the USA - and she will need to ensure that it covers Peru and high altitude stuff.
The other thing is to be aware of where she is, where the nearest hospitals are etc. Pars of Peru are incredibly remote and for western people it does not jive that the nearest hospital can be a day away. Carry some basic medical supplies, plenty of water etc. In some areas there are no roads, so trails is your only option.
As you say good insurance is key. We carried a Garmin PLB for our trips in South America and the more remote parts of the USA. Its not cheap but its piece of mind. Everything is trying to bite you in the jungles, its the small things you need to be mindful of.
Peru is a place you have to want to visit IMO. It looks amazing on Instagram but 90% of it is hard work especially if you are trekking. You have to have your head screwed on and be aware of your surroundings constantly and be planning for unforeseen situations. I am glad we went but I doubt we would go back as even doing it on easy mode was hard.
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