While we sleep on our cozy beds at night worrying about what to cook for breakfast the next morning, there’s a place on Earth where people’s daily struggle is getting adequate oxygen to live another day! Any why, just for a reality shaped GOLD! Yes, we are talking about a remote town in South America which is known as the highest permanent settlement on the planet. This is a place where every breath counts, where clean water is precious and a reminder of how high you truly are. Technically humans shouldn’t be residing here because oxygen is 50 percent less than common cities in the world.The place is known as La Rinconada in Peru. Situated high (at around 5,100 m (16,732 ft) in the Peruvian Andes, La Rinconada is not your typical travel destination. Adventure seekers also call it the “closest city to space on Earth”, not because it touches space, but because of its extreme altitude. You feel like you’re standing so close to the stars! However, there’s nothing starry about the mining town where hundreds of men come in search of gold. In fact, life is a struggle here every moment, making it a perfect example of the fact that humans are hard-skinned and can survive in any situation and in any condition. Survival of the fittest
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We can only imagine life at such an elevation. Because atmospheric pressure drops with height, its thin air contains only about half the oxygen of sea-level air. Breathing here is a task. Outsiders, travellers generally carry oxygen cylinders with them, else things can get out of hand. The population generally is of gold miners and their families who work here day and night in the hope of getting gold. The average life of residents here is only 35-40 years because of these reasons. Besides natural issues, there are security problems too. The city has no law and order. There are no police stations and crime is at peak. Where it is and why it people are living here
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Human settlement in La Rinconada grew out of a modest mining camp in the late 20th century. It soon became an informal but permanent town. The existence is only driven by gold mining. Today, tin houses dominate the landscape of La Rinconada which looks like another world. Social challenges only add to the difficulty. Crime, informal mining practices, pollution, and precarious economic conditions have earned La Rinconada a nickname like “Devil’s Paradise.”Difficulties and daily reality
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Life in La Rinconada is extreme because of altitude, thin air and less oxygen. Altitude sickness is common. Basic infrastructure is scarce.There’s no running water or sewage systemThe whole town looks like an open dumping ground with sewage water everywhere..Garbage often accumulates in and around the town due to a lack of collection services.Electricity remains unreliable.Medical facilities are minimal, posing serious risks in case of altitude sickness or injury.Despite all the hardships, residents still go through daily struggles in the hope of finding gold and making a living.How to Reach Reaching La Rinconada is another task. By air: Reach Lima Airport, Peru’s capital, before taking a connecting domestic flight to Juliaca.Road trip to Puno: From Juliaca, it’s a 3–4 hours road trip to Puno. This is the last place with decent accommodations and food choices in the city.Off-road ascent: From Puno or nearby towns, you’ll take rugged mountain roads and 4×4 vehicles up steep climbs toward La Rinconada. It’s suggested to go with local guides and drivers for safety purposes.Keep in mind that high-altitude travel always carries risk. So proper acclimatization is necessary.Food and water
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Dining in La Rinconada is not like a normal city. So carry your water and food from the nearest city.Gold MinesYou can see gold mines everywhere. Exercise caution as these areas are dangerous. Always visit with locals.It is important to note that La Rinconada is not your normal travel attraction and is not meant for regular travellers. Visiting the place requires courage, physical strength and a great deal of preparation.
