Ecuador - Any altitude sickness? Been to Cotopaxi?
 

We will be going to Ecuador and the Galapagos at the end of Aug this year. I believe Quito's elevation is 10,000 ft. Has anyone experienced altitude sickness while there? We take off from NY with a stop in Miami, both places at sea level.

We also are thinking of taking a day tour to Cotopaxi. But that's 4600m! IOW about 15,000 feet. I know I got a bit of altitude sickness at 14,000 ft in Hawaii, but luckily it went away in about 10 minutes. So, I'm concerned about being active there (walking or climbing a little) and just being there.

So, what's your experience? If you had altitude sickness, was there anything you could do about it?

I just noticed this post and will comment only that I've been to Quito twice and have never felt any effects of the altitude. Did feel a tad of a headache in Cuzco but even that dissipated quickly. But I think that this varies by individual and my experience might not have any bearing on how you will feel.

Quito and surroundings have a lot to offer..I hope you enjoy as much as I did!

Hey, Quito's not quite that high up. You'll probably get a little bit of a headache and be short of breath at first like we did, nothing serious. Real altitude sickness is pretty rare at that elevation. I mean, if you can handle 14000 in Hawaii you'll be able to stand the volcano with proper acclimatization (give yourself some time). Are you thinking of climbing it? Or just seeing it? Lots of people climb to the hut which I don't think is that high. Haven't done it.

We were in Quito and climbed to the hut (refuge?) at Cotapaxi without experiencing any problems. Usually your guide, if you have one, will offer up some coca tea, so drink it, it's tasty and it's what many seem to think helps with altitude.

Was there last year flew in quickly stayed at nuhousehotels.com Quito 8000 ft to adjust and took it easy fro a couple of days. I had some symptoms a bit of nausea and headcache. climbed Cotopaxi 2nd highest mountain on earth as measured from the center of the earth due to the earth being fat at the equator. Definitely took Diamox as a preventive if you do that. Got good discounts with www.guanguiltagua.com [email protected] when there last fall.

mdtravelhealth.com Ecuador all health info...

Happy Travels PM as needed.

glover - Did you have guide in Cotapaxi? If so, were you pleased with your choice and who was it?

We will only be in Quito for 3 days and I don't know if being there for 2 and then going to Cotapaxi on the third will give us time enough to acclimatize.

qwovadis - Looked up the site you sent "Guanguiltagua". May contact them.

Is going to Cotapaxi a full day activity?

Kenav, we did have a good guide whom we liked alot. I have only his first name "Guillermo" - Gloria at our great little hotel Hotel Santa Barbara in Quito arranged it for us. She knew him well. Spoke English also. I don't remember Cotapaxi being a full day - because we told G we also wanted to go someplace and look for birds - so we spent a little time at a nearby lake and made another stop near water as well. We also stopped coming and going from Quito to change cars. G had a regular car - but at a beautiful hacienda hotel (don't know its name) we met up with another driver with 4 wheel drive for the last part of the drive. I do remember that this driver supplied us with sunglasses and hats, maybe gloves too, and coca tea. . .

glver - Do you remember what it cost? It would be for me and my husband.

Assume you mean what the tour cost? I don't remember. These private tours with driver never come cheap (cheaper with more people of course), so I'm gonna guess at least $50 a person for that whole day.. . and that was maybe 3 years ago. Where are you staying in Quito? Your hotel could probably connect you to a trip easily.

We are staying at the Anahi Boutique Hotel.

Deciding whether we should just go to the volcano near Quito (in Quito?), forgot it's name but you take a funicular up there, I believe, or head out to Cotapaxi.

Hey, there, the volcano is Pichincha and the cable car is called the TeleferiQo. You have to get up there early to avoid all the clouds moving in and obscuring the view and the trail!

I traveled around Ecuador from Quito to the jungle, coast, highlands, etc. I did experience a bit of altitude sickness - headache, shortness of breath, loss of appetite - but nothing too harsh. If you're feeling it at all - DO NOT HAVE A DRINK. It won't help. If you're not feeling the altitude, still go easy. Nothing worse that a hangover mixed with altitude sickness.

If you'll be climbing in Cotopaxi, it might be tougher than you expect. I wasn't feeling great and didn't climb but some of my travel mates had a tough go on the mountain. Then again, for others it was a breeze.

We were in Quito last fall. It is wonderful, but I did get a prescription from my doctor that I took to prevent altitude sickness. I am glad I did as my partner did get it. Better safe than sorry

Probably won't climb Cotopaxi, but I thought you could go there anyway, with a guide and not climb to the "hut". Am I correct?

1nancy1 - What prescription was that?

I "climbed" Cotopaxi for 20 minutes and would suggest that for a brief feel of the mountain. I don't think I made it to any hut, even. It was April and the winds were extreme as we "ascended" our steep couple hundred meters. Also cool and windy back on the ground. Dress warmly and be ready to cover up your ears to protect from biting wind.

No altitude sickness at that location while walking around on level ground and 20 minutes of "climbing "produced no additional problems. Agree on drinking lots of water, no alcohol.

The remnants of Inca ruins and herds of wild horses make Cotopaxi a beautiful day trip.

As I recall there were some small museums to stop at on the way. It is best to minimize your time at them, in my opinion, and you may want to suggest less museum time, more outdoor time when arranging your visit.

I think you'll have a great time.

We just got back and hiked the Cotopaxi hike. We are in fairly good shape (I run as a hobby) and it was very hard, but worth the effort. Take many breaks, enjoy the view, and if you have the altitude sickness pills it might help. We even had a cup of coca tea prior to the hike that was suppose to help:) Have fun.

solsenz - atravelynn mentioned hiking for about 2 minutes on Cotopaxi. Was that the same amount of time you hiked there?