South America travel tips for Australians

[SYD]

Oops! Thanks for mentioning yellow fever vaccination! We are visiting the Amazon in Ecuador very soon and had already seen our GP and got a raft of vaccinations, but for some reason, he missed mentioning yellow fever!

Our flight into Ecuador is into Quito, which is in the safer part of the country, but our flight out is from Guayaquil, which is in the "reconsider your need to travel" part. Something for other travellers to watch out for! We are a bit nervous but will only be passing through on the way to the international airport there.

Have you had a previous Yellow Fever vax? They’re now for life (no longer require a booster) - last time I looked.

 

[significance]

Have you had a previous Yellow Fever vax? They’re now for life (no longer require a booster) - last time I looked.

No, this is the first time I have been to an affected country.

 

[SYD]

No, this is the first time I have been to an affected country.

Odd then the GP didn’t include it!

 

[significance]

Odd then the GP didn’t include it!

He also didn't mention altitude sickness, which I have since realised might be an issue for Quito and also for Cusco (we are also travelling to Peru). I've made another appointment to follow up on Yellow Fever and to ask about altitude sickness.

 

[anat0l]

He also didn't mention altitude sickness, which I have since realised might be an issue for Quito and also for Cusco (we are also travelling to Peru). I've made another appointment to follow up on Yellow Fever and to ask about altitude sickness.

If you're mostly a healthy person with good heart and lungs, as long as you don't go crazy in the first few days at altitude, you should be OK. At least, that is what I have been told.

Most high altitudes in South America don't seem too different to that experienced when on an aircraft (i.e. equivalent height ASL and thus air pressure and oxygen concentration). Most of us don't climb hills or stairs in, or run or vigorously walk long lengths of the aircraft for long periods, however.

 

[RooFlyer]

He also didn't mention altitude sickness, which I have since realised might be an issue for Quito and also for Cusco (we are also travelling to Peru). I've made another appointment to follow up on Yellow Fever and to ask about altitude sickness.

You should be fine in Quito. I’m not a epitome of health and had no problems in the city. However, there are opportunities to go up on the surrounding mountains and there you might struggle.

Machu Picchu and Cusco town aren’t that high either. From memory MP is actually lower than where you start the access road out if Cusco further up the valley.

 

[significance]

You should be fine in Quito. I’m not a epitome of health and had no problems in the city. However, there are opportunities to go up on the surrounding mountains and there you might struggle.

Machu Picchu and Cusco town aren’t that high either. From memory MP is actually lower than where you start the access road out if Cusco further up the valley.

Cusco is 3,399 m above sea level. Wikipedia says that altitude sickness "occurs in about 20% of people after rapidly going to 2,500 metres (8,000 ft) and in 40% of people after going to 3,000 metres." I have big lungs and a high VO2max for my age, so I expect to be fine, but my husband is not quite so lucky.

 

[RooFlyer]

Cusco is 3,399 m above sea level. Wikipedia says that altitude sickness "occurs in about 20% of people after rapidly going to 2,500 metres (8,000 ft) and in 40% of people after going to 3,000 metres." I have big lungs and a high VO2max for my age, so I expect to be fine, but my husband is not quite so lucky.

Yes on reflection you are correct there. Although I didn’t suffer any altitude sickness in Cusco, I do remember that the Hotel I stayed at did did have oxygen available, which tells you something.

 

[SYD]

He also didn't mention altitude sickness, which I have since realised might be an issue for Quito and also for Cusco (we are also travelling to Peru). I've made another appointment to follow up on Yellow Fever and to ask about altitude sickness.

There's not a lot you can do about it - other than don't go berserk running up hills etc. Maybe some coca tea...

If you're mostly a healthy person with good heart and lungs, as long as you don't go crazy in the first few days at altitude, you should be OK. At least, that is what I have been told.

Most high altitudes in South America don't seem too different to that experienced when on an aircraft (i.e. equivalent height ASL and thus air pressure and oxygen concentration). Most of us don't climb hills or stairs in, or run or vigorously walk long lengths of the aircraft for long periods, however.

It can be quite noticeable - especially the first day or so if you've flown up from sea level direct to Cuzco (it's quite high).

You should be fine in Quito. I’m not a epitome of health and had no problems in the city. However, there are opportunities to go up on the surrounding mountains and there you might struggle.

Machu Picchu and Cusco town aren’t that high either. From memory MP is actually lower than where you start the access road out if Cusco further up the valley.

I was a lot younger when I was in Cuzco but was still surprised how noticeable it was the first day. But we acclimated pretty quickly. And yes, MP is down hill from there.

 

[Aeryn]

Only place I felt the altitude was in Bolivia, and then only when walking up stairs carrying my bags.

IME in areas of high altitude (parts of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador) all the hotels have free coca tea which is the local remedy for altitude sickness. Tastes like green tea and obviously same plant used to make cocaine but you don't get high and its perfectly legal, just make sure you dont try to take any home. There is also a candy version or some locals chew the leaves.

Otherwise your GP can prescribe medication to bring with you; you need only take it if feeling overly woozy.

WRT Yellow Fever it is not a vaccination you can just get at any GP, you typically have to go to an accredited travel vaccination clinic or practice, thankfully there are a lot more of these now than there used to be. Easily found via google.

 

[significance]

WRT Yellow Fever it is not a vaccination you can just get at any GP, you typically have to go to an accredited travel vaccination clinic or practice, thankfully there are a lot more of these now than there used to be. Easily found via google.

Thanks. My GP is at a clinic that is an accredited yellow fever vaccination centre, which makes it even more odd that he didn’t suggest it.

 

[SuePa]

The best thing about altitude is that, if you fly back to sea level, you feel like Superman/woman for a short time.

 

[Keith125]

A vote for Cartagena on the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Fantastic Old Town and the best food I've struck in South America (just pipping the steaks in Argentina).

Lived in Colombia for 12 years but still prefer food in Peru. Do agree about the steaks in Argentina. Best steak i ever had was across the border in Colonia in Uruguay.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @Keith125

 

[bPeteb]

He also didn't mention altitude sickness, which I have since realised might be an issue for Quito and also for Cusco (we are also travelling to Peru). I've made another appointment to follow up on Yellow Fever and to ask about altitude sickness.

Cusco got nearly everyone in our Intrepid group. We stopped over in Cusco on the flight to Peurto Maldonado. We sat with the doors open out on the tarmac and it was headaches galore amongst our group. Strangely it didn't worry me when we came back to Cusco to stay both before and after our Inca Trail trek.

 

[NamarrgonFlyer]

All you need is some Aspirin on hand.

 

[significance]

All you need is some Aspirin on hand.

That's true only if you have a very mild case and respond well to aspirin. Altitude sickness can vary from non-existent to requiring urgent medical evacuation. Hotels in Cusco have oxygen available for a reason (aspirin would be much cheaper, if that were all that were required!), and the tour I've signed up for won't let me start the trip without evidence that I have travel insurance that will cover medical evacuation if necessary.

 

[Aeryn]

Lived in Colombia for 12 years but still prefer food in Peru. Do agree about the steaks in Argentina. Best steak i ever had was across the border in Colonia in Uruguay.

I second this. Whilst the steaks in Argentina are amazing and i did have steak multiple nights in a row in different regions, the best food all round from coast to mountains is ime in Peru which has a great balance of traditional folk style and modern fusion fine dinning.

The worst food in South America ime was Bolivia just so bland. Bolivia as a whole is a very poor cousin to its neighbours like Peru, Chile and Brazil; its less well organised and overall standard of almost everything is lower. Im glad I spent a few days in the Salir de Uyani including staying in a salt hotel and enjoyed Sucre but La Paz has little to offer.

Not South America but Mexico has fantastic food, with awesome variations from region to region.

Making the effort to learn conversational Spanish was IME highly beneficial especially when dining at the good restaurants outside of the major tourist traps where there isn't an English menu.