Mexico City is one of the most popular destinations for tourists, but one thing you need to be aware of if you’re planning a trip to Mexico City is the difference in altitude. Prevent altitude sickness, so you can enjoy your trip to Mexico City stress-free!
No matter if you’re planning on spending your time here wandering around art museums, or indulging in delicious Mexican cuisine, it’s best to be aware of some of the best altitude recommendations for Mexico City.
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What is the Altitude in Mexico City?
The altitude in Mexico City is something every visitor needs to be aware of. Mexico City’s elevation in feet is 7,349, or 2, 240 meters above sea level.
Due to Mexico City’s height, visitors can often experience altitude sickness, which can really take away from their enjoyment of the trip. Let’s face it, everyone imagines their vacation to Mexico City to be spent exploring art galleries, dining on delectable Mexican cuisine, and sipping on fruity cocktails – not feeling sick, dizzy, and dealing with headaches every day!
With Mexico City insights in mind, let’s craft a tailor-made itinerary for your unique experience.
Can You Get Altitude Sickness in Mexico City?
Due to the elevation of Mexico City, altitude sickness is a common problem among visitors who are not prepared to adjust to this new altitude. It is a common problem as Mexico City has 5% lower oxygen levels than at sea level. This makes it important to understand the common symptoms of altitude sickness and how to prevent it before you travel.
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What is Altitude Sickness?
In short, altitude sickness is a variety of symptoms people experience when they ascend to a much higher altitude too rapidly.
Not allowing the human body to adjust to the lower oxygen levels at the higher altitude, and the changes in air pressure can create a host of unwanted symptoms which can interfere with the enjoyment of your vacation.
It’s important to be aware that the symptoms of altitude sickness, in some circumstances, can become life-threatening. Taking action to prevent it, and knowing the symptoms before you travel is very important.
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Symptoms of Altitude Sickness in Mexico City
Now that you know what Altitude sickness is, and what causes it, it’s important to be able to recognize the symptoms, should you start to experience any when you arrive in Mexico City.
Symptoms of altitude sickness include:
- A loss of appetite
- Dizziness
- Headaches
- Difficulty sleeping / insomnia
- Nausea or vomiting
- Exhaustion / feeling tired / feeling weak
- Swelling of the face, hands, or feet
- Shortness of breath
- Irritability
If your symptoms persist let us know and we’ll contact a healthcare professional for medical advice. If your symptoms begin to worsen, we’ll seek immediate medical attention for you and your group. We got you covered!
Now that you’re familiar with Mexico City, let’s design a custom itinerary for your exploration.
How to Prevent Altitude Sickness in Mexico City
Traveling to Mexico City should still be fun and exciting, and you can enjoy your trip worry-free if you prepare well to prevent altitude sickness. There are many ways in which you can prepare for the altitude changes in Mexico City to avoid getting sick.
Supplements
There are several supplements on the market that have been found effective in treating and preventing altitude sickness.
Before purchasing any supplements it is important to do thorough research on the product and consult with your healthcare professional.
It is important to note that supplements should not be relied upon to prevent/treat altitude sickness, and these should be used alongside other natural ways to prevent altitude sickness.
Avoid Strenuous Activity
This can be a difficult one for those who are looking for an active vacation, but it is important to lower your activity level, and not engage in any strenuous activity during the acclimatization period, or until your body has fully adjusted.
Strenuous activity (even hitting the hotel gym!) can lead to more serious Mexico City altitude sickness, and it is important to wait until at least two days of no symptoms before you can engage in physical activity or exercise.
Acclimate Slowly
Acclimating slowly is one of the best ways of preventing symptoms of altitude sickness.
If you’re planning on visiting nearby mountains, you should be sure to spend several days in Mexico City Center before traveling any higher. This is especially important if you’re flying in.
If possible, it’s a good idea to plan a road trip to Mexico City, so that you can spend a few days adjusting slowly to the higher elevation and giving your body time to adjust.
Avoid Alcohol, Tobacco, and Caffeine
Although many people want to make the most of their time in Mexico City at night, it’s important to limit your alcohol intake, as well as tobacco and caffeine, especially for the first few days until you have adjusted to the elevation.
Not only can these cause oxidative stress, and be dehydrating (which can make it more difficult for your body to adjust to the new altitude, and increase your risk for altitude sickness), but the symptoms of a hangover due to excessive alcohol consumption can be incredibly similar to altitude sickness.
Get Plenty of Rest
It is important to get plenty of rest both before and during your trip. Sleep is an important part of helping the human body recover, so no matter how badly you want to get out and explore, it’s important to get around 7-8 hours of sleep every night.
Good sleep will help increase blood flow, and prevent the development of altitude sickness.
Hydrate Well
Dehydration is one of the most common things that can cause altitude sickness symptoms to develop or worsen, so it is vital to drink plenty of water during your trip to Mexico City.
Due to sweating in the warm weather of Mexico City, and the increase in respiration caused by the drastic increase in altitude, you will lose a lot of fluids. Therefore, it is important to ensure proper hydration and drink lots of water for the duration of your getaway.
If you need any more assistance with planning and preparing for your trip to Mexico City, one of our specialists can help you plan your dream getaway.
