Cusco sits at about 3,400 m (11,150 ft). Learn what altitude sickness is, its symptoms and how to plan your itinerary so you acclimatize before Rainbow Mountain or Humantay Lake.
Cusco sits at about 3,400 meters (11,150 feet) above sea level. At that height the air holds less oxygen, and many travelers feel altitude sickness, known in the Andes as soroche. The good news: with a well-planned itinerary and a few precautions, most people adjust within a day or two.
How high is each destination?
| Place | Approximate altitude |
|---|---|
| Machu Picchu | 2,430 m (7,970 ft) |
| Sacred Valley (Pisac, Urubamba, Ollantaytambo) | 2,800 – 3,000 m (9,200 – 9,800 ft) |
| Cusco city | 3,400 m (11,150 ft) |
| Humantay Lake | 4,200 m (13,780 ft) |
| Salkantay Pass | 4,600 m (15,090 ft) |
| Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) | about 5,000 m (16,400 ft) |
Most common symptoms
They usually appear within the first hours or the day after you arrive: headache, tiredness, shortness of breath on stairs, nausea, loss of appetite and trouble sleeping. In most cases they’re mild and ease with rest.
Warning signs: if you feel short of breath even at rest, confused, have a persistent cough or a headache that won’t go away, seek medical care and go down to a lower altitude.
8 tips to acclimatize
- Take it easy on day one. Rest when you arrive and save sightseeing for the afternoon or the next day.
- Start in the Sacred Valley. It’s lower than Cusco, so it’s ideal for your first nights. A great start is our Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu 2-Day Tour.
- Drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and tobacco for the first few days.
- Eat light, especially in the evening.
- Try coca or muña tea, traditional Andean infusions offered at almost every hotel.
- Walk slowly and take breaks on uphill stretches.
- Save the highest hikes until you’ve spent 2 or 3 days in Cusco: Rainbow Mountain and Humantay Lake are above 4,000 m (13,000 ft). A Cusco City Tour is a good gentle activity for your first days.
- See your doctor before you travel, especially if you have heart or breathing conditions, high blood pressure or are pregnant. Take altitude medication only if a doctor prescribes it.
Who should be extra careful?
Altitude sickness doesn’t depend on age or fitness: even athletes can feel it. That’s why it’s important not to push yourself in the first days and to tell your guide if you feel unwell during a tour.
Send us your travel dates and we’ll suggest an order of tours designed to help you acclimatize before the high-altitude hikes.
