Preparation for the Salkantay Trek: avoid altitude sickness

Published: 11 November 2022 | Update: 04 November 2025 | Reads: 7849

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The Salkantay Trek is one of the most spectacular adventure routes to reach Machu Picchu, but it is also one of the most demanding. Its main challenge is not the distance, but the extreme altitude that is reached. Altitude sickness, known locally as soroche, is the body's response to the lack of oxygen at high elevations and is the most important risk factor to consider when planning this expedition.

The starting point for logistics is the city of Cusco, located at 3,400 masl. Many travelers arrive by plane, which itself represents a sudden ascent and a risk of soroche. The Salkantay trek intensifies this risk, as the itinerary includes an ascent up to the Salkantay Pass, a mountain pass that exceeds 4,630 masl. This altitude is significantly higher than that of the Inca Trail.

Poor acclimatization is the main reason why hikers experience severe symptoms (headache, nausea, extreme fatigue) that can force them to abandon the route. This guide is designed to provide the most important advice and prevention strategies, allowing you to enjoy and complete the Salkantay trek safely.

Salkantay Hike: Altitude sickness

The so-called colloquially mountain sickness or altitude sickness is the lack of adaptation of the organism to the lack of oxygen (hypoxia) of altitude. It is a common mistake to think that the amount or concentration of atmospheric oxygen decreases with altitude. Actually the oxygen concentration is always the same (approximately 21%) regardless of the altitude. What happens is that, as we ascend, there is a progressive decrease in atmospheric pressure and also the partial pressure of oxygen in the air that we inspire.

For some time now, the mountain teams have experienced a great improvement and mountaineers are getting better prepared. There are more routes to climb the more complicated mountains, although in the high mountain there is still a high rate of losses in the ascents. According to studies, the main cause of sickness in high mountain are not injuries or exhaustion, but pathologies derived from altitude, especially cerebral and pulmonary edema, That is why you have to be prepared and adapt your body some days before Salkantay Hike in Cusco.

How to prevent altitude sickness during Salkantay Hike:

Cusco is located south east of Peru at 3400 m.a.s.l. one of the highest cities for a person who almost lives from 0 to 2000 m.a.s.l. Now imagine the 4580 m.a.s.l at Salkantay!.

One of the discomforts that a person experiences at that height is:

headache (for the first 24 hours to more)
Stomach pain (first 24 hours)
nausea and vomiting (extreme cases, almost never happens).

When altitude sickness is mild, it is characterized by headache (headache), associated with systemic manifestations such as malaise, fatigue, weakness (asthenia), dizziness and vertigo, sleep disorders (insomnia), gastrointestinal discomfort and sensation. of lack of air.

Be aware of any symptoms that are indicative of suffering from altitude sickness and immediately stop the ascent and drink plenty of water. As a result of these manifestations, we will witness an evident compensatory symptomatic procession, with tachycardia or increased heart rate, tachypnea or increased respiratory rate, dry cough that can later become hemoptico (bloody), redistribution of blood to central areas of the organism and in very advanced cases retinal, pulmonary, digestive hemorrhages, etc ...This syndrome usually occurs in the range of altitude ranging from 2,500 meters to 8,000, usually after 24 to 96 hours of having ascended to these altitudes And it undoubtedly has a character of individual sensitivity, a predisposition, in addition to influencing in a special way the previous training.

Keep in mind that: Prevention is the way to fight against altitude sickness. This includes making slow ascents, drinking abundant liquids, especially water, since breathing very dry environments such as those at high altitude causes a significant loss of them. Additional intake of salt, as well as alcohol and toxins should be avoided since they can worsen the picture by decreasing ventilation.

What to do to relieve the symptoms of altitude sickness?

Practice sports before arriving in Cusco
Drink plenty of fluids when you get to Cusco, like, water, Coca tea (all the hotels offer it and in restaurants).
Chewing the Coca leaf due to its various properties can alleviate the discomforts of altitude sickness.
You can take some days to acclimatize at Cusco.

What physical condition is needed to do the Salkantay Trek?

To successfully complete the hike to Salkantay, it is important to be in good health and have an adequate level of physical fitness. You don't need to be a professional athlete or train intensively, but it is advisable to do some prior preparation.

Many people manage to complete this trek if they eat well, acclimatize before the trip, and have practiced similar walks or exercises in the weeks prior to their arrival in the city of Cusco. Being well-prepared physically, having a balanced diet, and having some hiking experience significantly increase your chances of enjoying the route without setbacks.

Recommended physical conditions

To face the Salkantay Trek safely, it is suggested to meet the following conditions:

Good physical and mental condition
Leg strength and muscle endurance
Absence of respiratory problems
Healthy eating and avoiding harmful substances

What can I do days before Salkantay Hike?

1.-A recommendation before arriving in Cusco is not to do it in front if it is your first time that comes at that height, it all depends on the vacation time available here I will give you an example:

Lima (day of your arrival)
Nazca - Paraca (nazca lines)
Arequipa (Colca Canyon)
Puno (island of the Uros or Amantani Island)
As last point Cusco so you can make the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu or its various attractions without problems

2.- If you do not have too much time to do an acclimatization, you will have to drink plenty of fluids and do a light walk around the city of Cusco, or visit the archaeological center of SACSAYHUAMAN, as you can also make:

If you need more information of thing to do in Cusco, please check this interesting blog:What to do in Cusco?

More Information

To complement the information about managing altitude sickness and the Salkantay route, we recommend consulting the following detailed guides. These articles offer specific information about other attractions of the route, as well as direct comparisons with other hikes, which will allow you to have a complete overview for your planning.

Other experiences near Cusco

Beyond the iconic Machu Picchu, the surroundings of Cusco offer a variety of experiences that allow you to get to know the culture, history, and landscapes of the Andean Peru. From traditional towns to little-explored natural wonders, there is much to discover just a few kilometers from the imperial city. So, if you are looking for new adventures, here are some places you can't miss: