How To Avoid Altitude Sickness in La Paz (Bolivia)
The highest altitude capital on the planet, La Paz is a must-visit on any trip through Bolivia.
Here we can visit indigenous markets, high through the Andes and also try some tasty street foods too.
Given the location of La Paz, it can result in many travelers getting altitude sickness which isn’t so nice in itself.
How to Avoid Altitude Sickness in La Paz
In this guide we’ll explore everything you’ll need to know about the altitude in La Paz. This includes the classic symptoms of altitude sickness here, as well as our top tips for how to avoid getting it.
Is Altitude Sickness Common in La Paz?
As we mentioned in our La Paz backpacking guide not too long back, this city is located up at a dizzying altitude of 3640m, which can be a real shock to the system if flying in directly from a coastal destination.
This means that getting altitude sickness in La Paz is a common affliction with travelers, since anything over 2500m can cause effects (although every individual reacts differently).
It’s important to take things really slow your first couple of days here, as symptoms can come on strong out of nowhere. This means no high altitude hiking and avoiding alcohol whilst your body adjusts. Later in this guide we’ll cover the best strategies to avoid getting altitude sickness here.
What are the main La Paz Altitude Sickness Symptoms?
Symptoms really vary from person to person, and especially so as we are at a high altitude where a lot more can happen than in say Bogotá or Mexico City.
The most frequent symptoms include headaches, nausea and dizziness. You may also find it easy to get out of breath by simply walking a lot, and especially so given that much of La Paz is built on hills (so be sure to take your time!).
Got travel insurance for La Paz?
Tips to Avoid Altitude Sickness Before visiting La Paz
Here we’ll explore some of our top tips for avoiding altitude sickness when in La Paz.
Whilst these are great starting points and will work in 80%+ of cases – we’ve got to be straight-up and set proper expectations as you may get some altitude sickness anyway when here.
Gradually Increase Your Altitude
In an ideal scenario you’d visit places before that aren’t coastal to get your body acclimated. If already in Bolivia we’d suggest Sucre and Uyuni, whilst hopping over the land border from Peru is also ideal (visiting places like Arequipa, Cusco and Lake Titicaca on the way).
Use Diamox
These action-packed tablets are really useful for those who usually struggle in high altitudes, and help relieve symptoms quickly. Please consult your doctor prior to using them, given we are not medically trained and cannot give you the go-ahead with medications.
Relax During Your First 48 Hours
This is our general advice when visiting any destination that’s above 2500m (especially in Bolivia with places such as the Salt Flats in Uyuni), however it’s even more important here in La Paz.
At 3640m, breathing and even simple activities will become noticeably harder. This means you’ll want to avoid strenuous hiking and drinking alcohol whilst your body adapts.
Do As The Locals Do
In the Bolivian Altiplano, the locals have many ways they manage their own symptoms. Drinking a Coca Leaf infused-tea is one, which can easily be bought anywhere.
Another is to buy a nose spray at a pharmacy, which helps to unblock your nose which is a common issue. I (George) lived here for over a month and used both methods, which came in pretty handy.
It might also be worth looking at the best time to visit Bolivia as well, to help you avoid the coldest months. For us, the dry season, which runs from May until October, is the best.
Get An Alcohol Spray
You can buy these at a local pharmacy and are a great way of getting quick relief if you are suffering from altitude sickness – which is applied by simply smelling it. Whilst mostly used on high-altitude hikes, it’s also worth having one handy in La Paz if you aren’t coping so well.
How to Avoid Altitude Sickness in La Paz
And that’s all for this guide on how to avoid getting altitude sickness in La Paz.
One of the most popular places to visit in Bolivia, La Paz can be quite a shock to the system given its high altitude.
This is why it’s important to take your time to properly adjust here, given most activities in this region are usually even higher (not to mention places you’ll visit after such as Uyuni).
In this guide we have explored the typical symptoms of altitude sickness, as well as 5 of our best tips for preventing altitude sickness when heading to La Paz.
Be sure to read our itinerary covering both Bolivia and Peru’s Andean highlands for more inspiration.
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