Acclimatization Guide for Visiting the Huaraz Area

Elevations of the Cordillera Blanca & Huascaran National Park

The Andes in Peru reach soaring heights. In Peru, the word breathtaking takes on a dual significance: describing both the stunning scenery as well as the shortness of breath many travelers experience upon arrival. In the country’s central mountain region, the city of Huaraz sits at 3,050 meters (10,000 feet) in between the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Negra. The Lazy Dog Inn, a mountain lodge, is located on the border of Huascaran National Park, where many of the great hikes of the area start at 3,670 meters (11,975 feet) and climb to crystalline lakes at 4,500 meters (14,764 feet), glaciated peaks of 5,800 meters (19,030 feet) and beyond. Because the effects of altitude sickness can be so severe, we’ve decided to write a quick Acclimatization Guide for the Huaraz Area.

What is Altitude Sickness?

Altitude sickness, also known as Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) – soroche in Spanish – is a condition caused by a rapid change in elevation without proper time to acclimatize. The air is less dense at high elevations, like in the Andean mountain ranges of Peru, and your body needs more air to acquire the equivalent concentration of oxygen compared to sea level. Common symptoms of altitude sickness vary from headache to trouble sleeping. There’s no foolproof way to prevent the onset of altitude sickness symptoms when you journey to Huaraz area, as everyone reacts differently and even elite athletes are adversely affected. Fortunately following some easy tips can go a long way in easing your acclimation to the high altitude.

Acclimatization Tips

Hopefully you’ve enjoyed this quick Acclimatization Guide for the Huaraz area.