Covid in Cusco

The day before, the group had traveled to visit Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain). It sits at an elevation about 5000 feet higher than the elevation in Cusco. Although the hike was tough at times, I still was able to complete the hike relatively well.

I woke up the next morning, so exhausted that it took me over an hour to get out of bed. I lethargically walked to the bathroom. I was so tired once I got there that I had to sit down to brush my teeth. When I walked out of the bathroom, I needed to sit down and take a break on my bed. I hypothesized that I was getting delayed altitude sickness. I went to class like normal, and I ate a small lunch. After lunch, I decided to spend the rest of the day in my room to recover for Machu Picchu (we were leaving the next day). As I started coughing and my muscles started aching, I decided it was time to take a Covid test. 

I was positive. I was devastated. I traveled all the way to Peru and I was not going to be able to visit Machu Picchu. After the initial shock, it was time to start figuring out the logistics. I had Covid in a foreign country; I did not know what the policies were here.

Everyone was so accommodating. What surprised me the most was how helpful Elena, the owner of the hotel, was. She took it into her own hands to offer me food, to bring medicine to me, to make sure I was feeling alright. Elena was not just worried about Covid in her hotel, she was concerned about and cared for me. This was treatment that I know I would not have received from a hotel owner in the United States.

During the peak of my infection, I decided to see a doctor. The appointment was on whatsapp. The doctor was so friendly. He called three more times after the original appointment to check up on me. He also informed me that the oxygen levels I was extremely worried about were in fact good for having Covid and being in Cusco. This was something both relieving and surprising to me. It was also very quick to get in touch with the doctor. Elena helped set up the appointment and only after 30 minutes of waiting, I was already on call with the doctor. The call was also later in the evening outside of typical office hours. 

I firmly believe that my Covid experience in Cusco is different from what I would have experienced in the states because of the difference in oxygen levels, the accommodation of the hotel owner, and the quick and friendly availability of the doctor.