Mexico City Altitude Sickness Guide: Symptoms, Tips & Remedies

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Mexico City altitude sickness is one primary concern for travelers heading to Mexico City, especially those from sea level or low-elevation regions.

As an Italian living in Mexico, I’ll share everything you need to know about Mexico City’s altitude sickness.

Mexico City is full of excitement and adventure. Still, located at 2,240 meters (7,350 ft) above sea level, some travelers should know the risk of altitude sickness and how to handle high elevation best.

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What is Mexico City Altitude Sickness?

Mexico City altitude sickness is a medical term for a condition caused by rapidly moving to a high elevation.

Your body can’t adjust to this elevation immediately, and you may notice some negative symptoms.

💡 What is the Altitude of Mexico City?

You may be wondering, Is Mexico high altitude? Most of Mexico isn’t. But Mexico City is relatively high.

Mexico City is at an altitude of 2,240 meters (7,350 ft).

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention explains that altitude illness is a severe concern for those traveling above 8,000 ft.

While Mexico City is below the advised 8,000 feet, it’s high enough to concern some travelers.

💡 How Does the Altitude Affect Mexico City?

People who live in Mexico City don’t feel the adverse effects of altitude illness as the body adjusts to the high elevation.

According to several studies, it takes approximately two weeks to completely adjust to high altitude. During these few weeks, the body produces more red blood cells to handle the high elevation.

However, altitude sickness can ruin a vacation if you’re not used to it. Some symptoms mimic food poisoning or the flu: shortness of breath, vomiting, and headache.

If you don’t take proper precautions, your entire vacation could be ruined by altitude sickness.

You may notice the high altitude right after landing. It’s usually harder to breathe, and you’ll get physically tired much faster. Don’t worry; it can also affect the most active and healthy people.

You should avoid scheduling physically rigorous activities in the first 24 hours to adjust to the altitude in Mexico City.

What Happens in Altitude Sickness?

Altitude sickness is caused by rapidly moving up to higher elevations before the body can adjust.

At high elevations, the air is thinner, and there’s less oxygen available. So, your body isn’t getting the same level of oxygen it’s used to.

When getting less oxygen, before the body can adjust, you may start to feel sick and develop a few pesky symptoms that can really put a damper on your vacation.

👉🏽 Altitude Sickness Symptoms

The symptoms can easily identify Mexico City altitude sickness, though some may be more or less prevalent than others.

Here’s a list of some of the most common symptoms of altitude sickness while in Mexico City:

👎🏼 Nausea & Dizziness

👎🏼 Vomiting

👎🏼 Headache

👎🏼 Shortness of breath

👎🏼 Dehydration

Almost everyone who’s not acclimated to the altitude experiences varying degrees of shortness of breath and dehydration.

You may experience vomiting, nausea, dizziness, and a severe headache if things worsen.

Symptoms might also be more noticeable during periods of high-intensity activity—for example, hiking, long walks, climbing stairs, or running.

If you’re only experiencing a few mild symptoms that aren’t impairing your physical health, then it usually isn’t something to worry about.

However, you should see a doctor if symptoms get more substantial and don’t reside when you get to lower elevations or do everything else.

👉🏽 Types of Altitude Sickness

There are also different types of altitude sickness in Mexico.

🦠 Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS): This is the most common and mild type of altitude sickness, affecting 25% of all visitors sleeping at 8,000 ft elevation or higher. Isolated headaches and shortness of breath can usually be identified.

🦠 High-Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE): HACE is considered “end stage” AMS, where symptoms get more severe and affect neurological performance.

HACE can be identified with drowsiness, confusion, ataxia, and altered mental status that may feel like intoxication. 

🦠 High-Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE): HAPE is the most severe and troublesome form of altitude sickness but also the least common in Mexico City.

It’s usually more of a risk at 14,000 feet or above. It can be fatal, however, as the blood vessels in the lungs constrict and can make breathing impossible.

It’s first identified with a sudden onset of coughing and difficulty breathing.

Acute Mountain Sickness is the most common type of Mexico City altitude sickness and, fortunately, not a major concern for most travelers.

But if the symptoms seem to be getting worse, it’s important to address the problem immediately and go to the hospital.

👉🏽 How Long Does Altitude Sickness Last?

Altitude sickness usually lasts between one and three days, with symptoms gradually decreasing as time goes on.

However, it may last up to one or two weeks in more severe cases.

Most travelers experience the worst of Mexico City altitude sickness within the first 24 hours, and things get much better on the first day.

To help with prevention and preparation, avoid over-exerting yourself on your first day in Mexico City.

Who Is At Risk of Altitude Sickness in Mexico City?

Not everyone will experience altitude sickness; many lucky travelers hardly feel it. However, everyone who travels to higher altitudes than what they’re used to is at risk of altitude sickness in Mexico City.

Children and adults are equally likely to come down with some form of altitude sickness, although some studies show adults over 50 are less likely to experience it.

Because it’s hard to know who will experience altitude sickness and at what severity, it’s best to prepare and expect it as best you can.

What to Do When You Experience Altitude Sickness in Mexico City?

Altitude sickness sounds a lot scarier than it is. Most people who experience altitude sickness only have mild difficulty breathing and other minor symptoms.

However, you can take a few precautions to lessen the negative effects of Mexico City altitude sickness.

🗣 Stop and rest

🗣 Hydrate and drink lots of water

🗣 Avoid alcohol and caffeine

🗣 Avoid smoking

One of the best tips I can give you is to stop and rest whenever you feel like you have to.

If you’re hiking and gaining elevation and feel dizzy, stop and return a few feet to get back to a lower elevation until symptoms subside.

However, you likely won’t be hiking in Mexico City. So, instead, take rest breaks whenever you feel the need.

Alcohol, caffeine, fried food, and smoking can all increase the risks. Instead, stick to healthy amounts of water and potassium-rich foods, like bananas and avocados.

Do I Need Altitude Sickness Medicine for Mexico City?

Most people don’t need any altitude sickness medicine for Mexico City. However, you can always come prepared if you’re worried about it.

Certain medications, like dexamethasone and acetazolamide, are common medications to help with altitude sickness. However, they both require a prescription.

💊 Over-The-Counter Medications

The best over-the-counter medication for altitude sickness is Dramamine, an anti-nausea medication.

Just make sure to get the non-drowsy kind, as nighttime Dramamine is very potent and will make it hard to get out there and enjoy your travels.

You can also take pain relievers, like ibuprofen, to help manage symptoms like headaches and body aches.

Before your trip, you should talk with your doctor about medications for altitude sickness. The need for medication differs for everyone, and your doctor will know what is best for you.

💊 Home Remedies and Treatments

Many travelers prefer home remedies and treatments to more intense medications. This is the easiest route if you are experiencing mild cases of altitude sickness.

You can treat symptoms as they arise and use a few home remedies to lessen any discomfort from the high altitude.

✔️ Load up on water: One of the best things you can do for AMS, and pretty much any sickness, is to stay hydrated.

✔️ Get rest: If you’re experiencing altitude sickness, take a rest day and give your body time to adjust to the elevation in Mexico City.

✔️ Eat carbohydrates: Some say a heavy carb diet can help keep AMS at bay and relieve any oncoming symptoms.

✔️ Munch on garlic: Many high-altitude hikers swear by the magic of garlic. I made garlic tea in the evenings when I wasn’t feeling well, which worked well.

✔️ Drink coffee or tea: Coffee and certain types of tea can help open up the blood vessels to increase oxygen flow. This might help prevent altitude sickness in Mexico City.

You may have heard of coca tea in Puru, a Peruvian drink people often drink in the Andes to help with altitude sickness.

While you’ll be hard-pressed to find coca tea in Mexico, several types of teas can help.

Green, black, and ginger tea are all said to help prevent altitude sickness by opening up the blood vessels.

What Happens if You Ignore Altitude Sickness?

Altitude sickness can become life-threatening if you experience the symptoms and it goes untreated.

While most altitude sickness or AMS cases resolve themselves within a few days, sometimes they don’t.

If you feel like you need to see a doctor for your altitude sickness, do so immediately.

Many big pharmacy chains, like Farmacia del Ahorra and Farmacia Similares, have doctors on site who can help identify symptoms and prescribe medications accordingly.

You don’t need health insurance to see these doctors; they are very affordable.

Altitude Sickness Prevention Tips for Mexico City

The best thing you can do for your body and the good of your holiday is to try to prevent altitude sickness from getting unbearable.

While it’s impossible to predict who’ll get hit by the worst altitude sickness, there are some things you can do to help with the risk.

📌 Drink lots of water: I can’t stress this enough. Hydration is critical when staying healthy and avoiding Mexico City altitude sickness. Make sure to drink plenty of water before you even get there to give your body a head start.

📌 Ease into the elevation: If you plan on hiking or rigorous activities around Mexico City, give yourself at least a few days first in Mexico City to allow your body to adjust to the high elevation.

Pushing yourself too hard right off the bat will only make it worse.

For example, many people visit the Aztec ruins Teotihuacán while in Mexico City (often on a hot air balloon tour). This is more of a rigorous activity, as it generally requires a lot of walking and time in the sun.

Try not to plan this for your first day in the city while your body adjusts.

📌 Gets lots of rest: If you feel like the altitude is getting to you, listen to your body and get some rest. It shouldn’t take too long to adjust to the Mexico City elevation, so just give it the little time it needs.

📌 Avoid excessive alcohol consumption: Alcohol doesn’t help with the oxygen flow through the body.

Also, symptoms of a hangover and altitude sickness are similar, so it will be hard to identify the real culprit of your problems after a long night of drinking.

📌 Don’t smoke: Smoking cigarettes also slows down the oxygen flow through your body, making it that much harder to move oxygen around.

📌 Get lots of sleep: We all know how important sleep is for the body, and it’s no exception when handling altitude sickness.

Sleeping gives your body time to recoup and recover from whatever it’s going through and can work wonders in protecting yourself from severe altitude sickness.

Again, most people who travel to Mexico City don’t experience any problems with the altitude. While it’s well above sea level, it is not that high.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts: Mexico City Altitude Sickness

Mexico City altitude sickness doesn’t affect everyone. It doesn’t affect most people who travel to Mexico City.

But, of course, it’s still a concern. It’s essential to be aware of the possibility, know how to mitigate severe symptoms and understand when to see a doctor if you’re experiencing severe symptoms.

However, you shouldn’t let this deter you from visiting the magical city. There’s so much to see and do in Mexico City; you might not even notice the high elevation.