Beyond campfires and wildlife spotting, camping is a great way to access the health benefits of being in the great outdoors in Peru!
Camping is an excellent way to escape the hustle and bustle of your daily life and have an adventure, and between Huaraz, Cusco and Arequipa, there are innumerable opportunities and pristine locations to set up a tent in Peru. While many people don’t like the idea of sleeping on the ground or applying bug spray and sun screen, it is important to note that nearly every aspect of camping is good for your health. So if you’re looking for a heathy way to spend your vacations, we’ve rounded up five reasons why you should go camping… and consider Peru for your camp destination!
1. Increased Natural Exercise
In general, camping involves more than just setting up a tent and a lawn chair around the camp fire. There are a lot of other activities that naturally accompany camping. In Peru, a camping expedition can easily incorporate fun and exciting activities like hiking, biking, rock climbing and more! These activities, combined with the normal exertion it takes to set up your campsite, build your fire, etc. will have you burning more calories and using more energy than a typical day spent at home. In addition, the altitude of many attractions in Peru adds an extra challenge that helps to burn calories. Our porters, who have much experience working along the trails and camping at high altitudes, are considered some of the strongest men in Peru.
2. Increased Mental Health
Besides the physical benefits of camping, it should come as no surprise that camping is also good for reducing mental stress. Taking yourself away from your daily schedule and commitments, as well as the restraints of technology, affords a type of stress relief that urban vacations can’t provide. But more than just an escape from the day-to-day, camping can be a way to socialize with your friends and family on a new level, allowing you to forge deeper and stronger bonds with your loved ones.
3. Healthy Eating
While you may immediately think of hot dogs and s’mores as typical camping foods, if you pack correctly and plan ahead, your daily camp menu can include tasty things like fresh fruits, vegetables and unsalted trail mix. However, when camping with Enigma in Peru, you won’t have to worry about planning healthy meals ahead of time. Our trail chefs are culinary experts who use only the best local ingredients, like quinoa, an important superfood that has been consumed since Inca times. After a full day of fun camp activities, your body will be craving healthy, nourishing foods, and Peru has some of the healthiest, most delicious gastronomy in the world.
4. Boost of Vitamin D
While camping allows you to reconnect with yourself, your loved ones and nature, all that time spent outdoors means that you’ll be exposed to a lot of natural sunlight. A huge benefit of UV light is that it allows your skin to produce vitamin D. Vitamin D is especially important for ensuring healthy bones and teeth. Moreover, all that natural light will help your body produce melatonin, a chemical that helps to regulate your body’s internal clock and control your wake/sleep cycles.
5. A True Breath of Fresh Air
If you live in an urban area, you’re probably already aware of the poor air quality in many cities around the world. Camping is a great way to get back to nature where clean air can provide a plethora of health benefits for your body. Cleaner air, and especially increased levels of oxygen, will help your body to produce serotonin, a natural chemical which helps to regulate your mood, appetite, digestion, sleep, memory and much more! In addition, that fresh air is much healthier for your lungs and respiratory system. Simply stepping out of the office and into fresh air can do wonders for your physical and emotional health.
With such a deep history and so many incredible landscapes, Peru is the perfect destination for your next camping adventure. At Enigma, we offer many packages that include camping in some of the most breath-taking locations in this country. Our treks and expeditions, such as the Inca Trail or Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Ausangate Circuit and Choquequirao Trek are just a few options that include camping and a chance to make the most of the health benefits listed above. If you have any questions about camping in Peru, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
