Alright so Machu Picchu yeah its one of the 7 Wonders of the World and tons of people dream about visiting. Super cool place. But if youre planning a trip you gotta know about the altitude. You really need to give your body time to adjust before you plan any serious hiking or even just exploring the main site. Its located up at about 7,972 feet (2,430 meters) above sea level.

Machu Picchu vs Cusco Altitude

So the main Machu Picchu ruins are at that 7,972 feet (2,430 meters) mark. But Cusco the city most people fly into first to get there is way higher its at 11,152 feet (3,399 meters). Thats a pretty big difference right? Altitude sickness or soroche as people call it here can start hitting folks around 8,200 feet (2,500 meters) or even lower sometimes. So flying straight into Cusco definitely puts you in the zone where you might feel kinda rough if you’re not careful.

How to Handle the Altitude (Acclimatize!)

So whats the best way to avoid feeling like garbage from the altitude? Easy answer: take it easy. Give yourself extra time. Let your body get used to things poco a poco (little by little). When you go higher up the air pressure is lower and there’s less oxygen in each breath. Your body needs time to adapt to that it cant do it instantly.

Arriving in Cusco: Take it Easy!

When you first get to Cusco especially if you fly straight from Lima (which is basically at sea level 0 feet / 0 meters) plan on doing pretty much nothing for your first 24 hours. Seriously just chill relax drink water maybe some mate de coca (coca tea) which locals recommend. Flying from Lima to Cusco is a huge jump in altitude really fast and your body will be like ‘whoa what just happened?’.

Another popular trick is instead of staying in Cusco right away some travelers head straight from the Cusco airport down into the Sacred Valley. Towns like Ollantaytambo or Urubamba are lower than Cusco maybe around 9,200-9,500 feet (2,800-2,900 meters). It’s a gentler way to start acclimatizing before you maybe head back up to Cusco after a day or two.

Now if you take the bus from Lima to Cusco its a super long ride like 22 hours or more. But the cool thing about that is your body adjusts much more gradually as the bus climbs. People often find they handle the altitude in Cusco better if they arrive by bus.

Feeling the Altitude at Machu Picchu Itself

Okay so what about Machu Picchu itself? Once you’ve spent a few days acclimatizing in Cusco or the Sacred Valley how will you feel at the actual ruins? Good news is Machu Picchu is lower than Cusco. Most people do okay there once they’re acclimatized. You’ll likely still feel breathless climbing all the stairs and ramps I mean its still pretty high up but the risk of getting really sick is much lower.

That pointy mountain you can climb there Huayna Picchu is a bit higher than the main site at about 8,924 feet (2,720 meters) so definitely be acclimatized before trying that!

Walking around Machu Picchu just take your time. Its perfectly normal to feel winded. Nobody needs to rush. The site guards might direct you along certain paths but you can explore for hours. Machu Picchu is usually open from 6 am to 5 pm so plenty of time. If you’re on a guided tour they almost always give you free time afterwards to wander on your own which is pretty chévere (cool).

Signs of Altitude Sickness (Soroche)

You should know what to look out for though just in case. If you start feeling these things tell your guide or someone with your group right away:

• Headache (like a bad one)
• Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
• Nausea or actually throwing up
• Feeling super tired wiped out beyond normal hiking tiredness
• Really short of breath even when resting
• Can’t sleep well
• Don’t feel like eating at all

Symptoms often pop up 12 to 24 hours after you get to a high altitude. They usually get better in a day or two as your body adapts but don’t just ignore them especially if they feel bad.

Be Prepared Besides Acclimatizing

So besides taking it slow what else? Definitely drink lots of water hydration is key. Bring a hat sunglasses and strong sunscreen the sun up there is no joke. Also pack rain gear like a jacket or poncho the weather can change super fast from sunny to pouring rain. Being ready for the altitude is important but being ready for weird mountain weather is just as crucial for having a bacán (awesome) time at Machu Picchu.