For many travelers in the world, the Machu Picchu altitude represents an obstacle and on many occasions fear of doing it because it is thought that it is easy to feel altitude sickness in Machu Picchu, however this is just a thought since in reality It is about the emotion of being close to heaven and as such it is an incredible experience that in 2024 you can live thanks to the help of Auri Peru, we make your trip unforgettable.
There are many things you should know before planning your trip, such as knowing how high Machu Picchu is, knowing if Cusco is higher than Aguas Calientes, what to do to avoid altitude sickness in Machu Picchu, information on the Machu Picchu altitude meters, altitude of Machu Picchu in feet and more important things that we comment you lines below:
Machu Picchu Altitude
1.- CUSCO ALTITUDE AND AGUAS CALIENTES ALTITUDE
The first thing you have to know is that Cusco has a altitude of 3399 meters above sea level, for this reason it is much higher than Aguas Calientes which is only 2040 meters above sea level, even also than the Sacred Valley which It is located only 2792 meters above sea level so during our activities and tour we will not have a problem with altitude sickness. It is also a good recommendation that after your arrival you can begin these visits so that acclimatization is easier and due to the Machu Picchu altitude meters or altitude of Machu Picchu in feet, it is lower.
Cusco Altitude 3399 m.a.s.l
2.- WHAT IS MACHU PICCHU ALTITUDE?
When studied by professionals in various fields, it was determined that officially the Machu Picchu altitude for this year 2024 is 2430 meters above sea level. Being a valley space, it is common for the climate to vary during the seasons, for this reason there are moments in which the clouds descend and mix with the mountain, for this reason they also called it the citadel above the clouds although it is not commonly called that. What is is that it is part of the recommended travel guide for anyone who wants to know more about the Inca culture.
Machu Picchu Altitude 2430 m.a.s.l
3.- WHICH IS HIGHER IN CUSCO OR MACHU PICCHU?
As we previously saw, Cusco has an altitude of 3,399 meters above sea level, compared to the moderate Machu Picchu altitude, which only reaches 2,430 meters above sea level / 7,972 feet. Considering these important points we understand that during our experience we will not suffer from altitude sickness in Machu Picchu and that all the sensations are only produced by the emotion of visiting such an incredible and beautiful place.
So, for altitude reasons, we always suggest to start your trip from the lower to the higher altitude (starting with your arrival to Cusco, and immediately transfer to the Sacred Valley, then Machu Picchu, and finally a couple of days in Cusco). In that way you can avoid altitude sickness.
Machu Picchu
4.- HOW TO PREPARE FOR MACHU PICCHU ALTITUDE?
It is normal to feel nervous about the Machu Picchu altitude and the place where it is located. For this reason, the best recommendation to avoid any problem is that at the time of your arrival you can consume enough water. Being constantly hydrated helps us to have a better reception of oxygenation in the body and this allows us to not feel much fatigue or tiredness when walking, in addition to having small exercise spaces during our daily lives such as short 15 minute walks will also help us to be able to tolerate the Machu Picchu altitude.
Prepare For Machu Picchu Altitude
5.- HOW TO AVOID ALTITUDE SICKNESS IN MACHU PICCHU?
The problem of altitude sickness in Machu Picchu occurs occasionally due to poor hydration or poor acclimatization, although of course it may also be due to an issue of the body’s defenses, however currently there is no constant or main factor why it affects people. For this, it is best to be warned and prevent this altitude sickness in Machu Picchu from ruining the experience. However, something very important that we must consider is to always avoid pills for altitude sickness in Machu Picchu because they contain other elements that could be harmful or even allergic. The only thing that is recommended to be consumed as medication is what you bring with you on the recommendation of your personal doctor.
6.- ALTITUDE OF OTHER CUSCO ATTRACTIONS
There are other incredible places that are close to Cusco and their altitude is much higher, so it is always recommended that before visiting any destination we have 1 or 2 days of acclimatization if possible, whether in Cusco, Sacred Valley or Aguas Calientes. Something that helps us resist the altitude is to schedule our visit to the Inca citadel for the 3rd day of our stay, since the altitude of Machu Picchu helps us a lot to cope with the rest of the destinations, some of these destinations are:
– Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain: 5,200 meters above sea level / 17,000 feet.
– Humantay Lagoon: 4,200 meters above sea level / 13,780 feet.
– Moray: 3,500 meters above sea level / 11,482 feet.
– Salkantay Pass: 4,600 meters above sea level / 15,092 feet.
7.- HEIGHT OF OTHER WONDERS OF THE WORLD
The current world has 7 modern wonders that are dispersed in several countries, the altitude of Machu Picchu is a factor that competes a lot at the time of its classification since it is currently the highest among all. For this reason, we present the order in which they are categorized from the lowest to the highest in the world:
– Taj Mahal (India): 15 meters above sea level / 50 feet.
– Chichen Itza (Mexico): 25 meters above sea level / 82 feet.
– Colosseum (Italy): 48 meters above sea level / 158 feet.
– Cristo del Corcovado (Brazil): 713 meters above sea level / 2340 feet.
– Petra (Jordan): 800 to 1,396 meters above sea level / 2624 to 4580 feet.
– The Great Wall (China): 980 meters above sea level / 3215 feet.
– Machu Picchu (Perú): 2430 meters above sea level / 7972 feet.
Now that you know all this, the Machu Picchu altitude or altitude sickness in Machu Picchu are no longer excuses to prolong your next experience. We, at Auri Peru, have everything ready for you, just contact us today and start planning a memorable Machu Picchu Visit!.
“You will experience that it is not the altitude, it is the emotion of being close to the sky”
