Machu Picchu altitude: how high is it and will you feel it?
A common worry before visiting Machu Picchu is the altitude. Here is the reassuring truth: Machu Picchu is lower than Cusco, and most visitors feel fine there. The real altitude challenge is Cusco itself and the high passes and mountains around it. Here is how high everything is and how to prepare.
The altitudes compared
| Place | Altitude |
|---|---|
| Aguas Calientes (town below Machu Picchu) | About 2,040 m |
| Machu Picchu citadel | About 2,430 m |
| Huayna Picchu summit | About 2,720 m |
| Sacred Valley (Urubamba, Ollantaytambo) | About 2,800–2,900 m |
| Machu Picchu Mountain summit | 3,082 m |
| Cusco | About 3,400 m |
| Dead Woman’s Pass, Inca Trail | About 4,215 m |
| Rainbow Mountain | Over 5,000 m |
Will you feel the altitude at Machu Picchu?
Most travellers who have spent a day or two in Cusco or the Sacred Valley feel comfortable at Machu Picchu. The air has noticeably more oxygen than in Cusco. You may still get a little out of breath on the stone stairways — the citadel is built on a steep ridge — but real altitude sickness at the citadel itself is uncommon. The climbs to Huayna Picchu and Machu Picchu Mountain are more demanding for your legs and lungs, so take them slowly.
Machu Picchu at a comfortable pace
Our tours are planned around acclimatization, with train, bus, entrance and guide included — from US $375.
Where to acclimatize
Your altitude care belongs in Cusco, where most travellers arrive by plane from sea level. Take your first day easy, drink plenty of water, try coca tea and avoid alcohol. A smart plan is to spend your first nights in the lower Sacred Valley, visit Machu Picchu early in your trip and leave the highest excursions — such as Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake — for the end. Everything you need is in our altitude sickness guide.
Treks to Machu Picchu
The treks are a different story. The classic Inca Trail crosses Dead Woman’s Pass at about 4,215 m, and the Salkantay trek goes even higher. For any trek, spend at least two days acclimatizing in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before you start.
Quick tips
- Spend at least one easy day in Cusco or the Sacred Valley before Machu Picchu.
- Drink water regularly; the sun and the stairs make you sweat.
- Walk at your own pace on the stairways.
- If you have heart or lung conditions, talk to your doctor before travelling.
Frequently asked questions
The citadel is at about 2,430 m above sea level, almost 1,000 m lower than Cusco.
No. Cusco is at about 3,400 m; Machu Picchu is lower.
It is uncommon at the citadel itself, especially if you have spent a day or two in Cusco or the Sacred Valley first.
The summit is at 3,082 m, about 650 m above the citadel.
Before. Machu Picchu is low, while Rainbow Mountain is over 5,000 m, so it is best left for later in your trip.
