When you’ve been looking forward to your Cabo sailing adventure, the last thing you want is for it to be ruined by seasickness. These tips can help you avoid that.
Cabo is a stunning holiday destination, which no doubt is most synonymous with sailing and cruising adventures.
While there are also a whole host of activities to enjoy on dry land, such as golfing, exploring downtown, as well as bird watching at the beautiful San Jose Del Cabo estuary, Cabos crowning glory is almost certainly the many whale watching tours available, allowing you to experience these majestic, gentle creatures first hand.
However, if like so many, your dream is to witness such a sight, how do you achieve this if you also suffer with seasickness? While the Sea of Cortez, and waters surrounding the Gulf of Mexico are far calmer in comparison with the Atlantic Ocean, being on a smaller cruising boat or yacht can still be challenging for those more severely afflicted.
In this article we’ll be discovering some tips and tricks, which hopefully will have you out and cruising like a pro.
Ginger
Ginger has been used as a natural remedy for thousands of years, first utilized by Chinese sailors, and while scientists still are unsure as to why it is so effective, multiple studies have proved just how beneficial this spice can be for seasickness sufferers.
You could try sipping a ginger tea before your trip, or opt for one of the many ginger boiled candies and sweets available for on-the-go relief. If you’re not having luck locating them in regular stores, try your local health food shop before your trip.
Not to worry if you don’t like the flavor of ginger, as there are ginger capsules you can buy that are just as effective.
If you are unable to find ginger based products at short notice, then while slightly less effective, but also beneficial and more widely available, peppermint has also been proven to help settle the stomach. Be careful when enjoying mints though, as in excess they can have a diuretic effect!
Stay Hydrated
Even in our day to day lives, dehydration can creep up on the best of us. Most commonly causing headaches and nausea, dehydration is really not something you want to experience on top of your seasickness woes.
Keep your fluid intake up, especially if you are not used to a warmer climate. Not only will this help prevent becoming dehydrated, should you need to be sick, (don’t worry, the profession guides on your trip are very much used to this, and will help you handle this discreetly), with fluid in your stomach, things will happen much more smoothly.
Of course, it goes without saying that avoiding alcohol is a must.
Eat a Little
Yes, this might seem like the last thing you’d think you’d want to be doing to prevent seasickness, however, contrary to popular belief, an empty stomach is not a successful preventative measure.
Eat plain foods that aren’t fatty or spicy, such as crackers, or banana. This will help to line your stomach, and when accompanied with peppermint or ginger, can really help relieve symptoms.
Don’t worry if you find yourself too nervous to eat beforehand, or find your hotel only offers a breakfast involving unavoidable fatty, or heavily flavored foods.
Many cruises offer a light lunch, or nibbles as part of their itinerary, so you may find nibbling on some of the delicious options on offer may help.
Eyes on the Horizon
This tip, while seeming like an old wives’ tale, can actually prove most effective. Because seasickness is caused by the conflict between your eyes, who are seeing things as still, and your inner ear, who is telling your brain there’s movement, locking your gaze on a fixed, steady point can help to resolve this sensory war. If you’re on a coastal cruise, focusing on land can also be helpful.
Medicine
For many, seasickness medication can be the best solution. Items such as seasickness tablets are readily available and the first choice for most travelers.
You can also bring acupressure bands, (commonly known as sea sickness bands), with you in your suitcase.
Of course, as with any medication, if you have any existing health conditions, or take other medications, it’s always best to seek medical advice before you administer them, typically there’s no need to worry, but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
If All Else Fails
If your sea sickness is aggressively severe, and you can’t take to the water, then don’t feel you’re missing out on what Cabo has to offer.
As mentioned in the beginning of this article, there are a whole host of landlocked activities to enjoy, as well as miles of gorgeous coastline to explore.
There are also snorkeling trips that offer a shorter duration of cruising and allow you to get closer to the vast selection of stunning sea life Cabo is home to.
You could even use this shorter sailing trip to test the waters (pun intended) and try out the seasickness methods offered above.
If you find these successful, then the Sea of Cortez is your oyster. Happy Sailing!
