How to Stay Healthy When Travelling Long-Term in Latin America

When you are excited about long-term travel plans and taking your gap year to explore Latin America, it is natural to want to do (and experience) as much as possible. This may mean that your health takes a back seat when you are concentrating on new experiences, earning a living and exploring a new continent.

However, taking care of your health is just as vital a part of your gap year as the rest of your plans. Without good health, you will not be able to experience all of what you want to see and do and may even risk having to take time out from activities altogether if your energy levels are suffering.

To make sure your gap year experience is never compromised by bad health, here is how to stay on top of it when travelling long-term around Latin America.

Signs Your Health is Suffering

First, let us take a look at all the key signs to watch out for during your travels that your health may be suffering, and your body is trying to tell you something.

• Lack of energy
• Feeling sick, dizzy or faint
• Digestive issues
• Ongoing headaches or migraines
• Muscle or joint pain
• Low mood
• Signs of burnout and fatigue

How to Stay Healthy

To avoid, or combat, any of these symptoms and more, here are some key ways to stay healthy.

Get Enough Rest

This is one of the most important things you can do during your gap year, as your body needs time to rest and recover. Travelling around Latin America can be exhausting and it is important to make sure you are getting enough sleep. So make sure to make time in your busy schedule for adequate rest, and also think about your sleeping arrangements (such as a private room instead of a shared room so you are not kept awake).

Maintain a Healthy Diet

Exploring new cuisine in a new country is exciting, but it also should not come at the cost of a varied and healthy diet. Do your research into food and particular dishes before you travel so you can maintain a varied diet and make sure you are getting what you need. If you need to take supplements for key vitamins, like Vitamin C, take these with you so you can easily have them during your travels.

Know Your Limits

Trying to experience new things is always encouraged, but it is also important to never do too much. For the good of both your mental and physical health, know what you can comfortably achieve, how you can achieve it and also when you might need to take a break to rest and recharge.

Stay Hydrated

With so much to see and do during a gap year, drinking water can easily go amiss. Staying hydrated is essential, but even more so if you are taking a gap year in a hot country and undergoing a lot of physical movement.

Plan out your water intake, water bottles and having safe access to water at all times. Set reminders if you need to in order to drink enough water.

Stick to these long-term travel health tips to make sure you can enjoy your gap year to the full.

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