Cargando Expedición...
Cargando Expedición...
Altitude reference
Cusco sits at 3,399 m (11,152 ft) — higher than any peak in the continental United States east of the Rockies, and higher than most people picture when they book. This page lists the real numbers for every route we operate, so you can plan the order of your trip instead of discovering it the hard way.
| Place | Elevation | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Lima | 154 m505 ft | Sea level. Where most international flights land. |
| Sacred Valley (Urubamba) | 2,870 m9,416 ft | The right place to sleep first. |
| Machu Picchu citadel | 2,430 m7,972 ft | Lower than Cusco. This surprises people. |
| Cusco | 3,399 m11,152 ft | Higher than most travellers expect. |
| Lake Titicaca (Puno) | 3,812 m12,507 ft | Higher than Cusco, and drier. |
| Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain | 4,900 m16,076 ft | Gentle walking, serious elevation. |
| Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain | 5,036 m16,522 ft | The highest point most visitors reach. |
We colour every route on this site by the highest band it reaches. The thresholds are physiological, not round numbers: 2,500 m is where acute mountain sickness starts to appear, 3,500 m is where it becomes common.
No altitude effect. Heat and humidity are the real variables here.
No acclimatisation needed
Comfortable for almost everyone. A good place to start a trip.
No acclimatisation needed
Cusco sits here. Mild breathlessness on stairs for the first 48 hours.
1 night above 3,000 m first
Acclimatisation matters. Expect a slower pace and shorter days.
2 nights above 3,000 m first
Oxygen carried on every departure. Not a first-day activity.
3 nights above 3,000 m first
| Tour | Highest point | Band | Nights first |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Mountain with Red Valley2 Days / 1 Nights | 5,036 m16,522 ft | Glacial zone | 3 |
| Huayhuash Trek: 8 Days, One Life-Changing Journey8 Days / 7 Nights | 5,000 m16,404 ft | Glacial zone | 3 |
| Colca Canyon 2-Day Classic Excursion from Arequipa2 Days / 1 Night | 4,910 m16,109 ft | Glacial zone | 3 |
| Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain (Gentle & Crowd-Free)Full Day (5:00 AM – 4:30 PM) | 4,900 m16,076 ft | Glacial zone | 3 |
| Ausangate 7 Lakes Trek2 Days / 1 Nights | 4,800 m15,748 ft | Glacial zone | 3 |
| Qeswachaka Inca Bridge and Four LagoonsFull Day | 4,700 m15,420 ft | Glacial zone | 3 |
| 5 Day Salkantay Trekking5 Days / 4 Nights | 4,630 m15,190 ft | Glacial zone | 3 |
| Salkantay with short Inca trail5 Days / 4 Nights | 4,630 m15,190 ft | Glacial zone | 3 |
| Lares Cultural Trek to Machu Picchu (4 Days / 3 Nights)4 Days / 3 Nights | 4,450 m14,600 ft | High altiplano | 2 |
| Lares Trek meets Inca Trail5 Days / 4 Nights | 4,450 m14,600 ft | High altiplano | 2 |
| Huchuy QosqoFull Day | 4,350 m14,272 ft | High altiplano | 2 |
| Waqrapukara TrekFull Day | 4,300 m14,108 ft | High altiplano | 2 |
| Humantay Turquoise Glacier Lake TrekFull Day (4:30 AM – 5:30 PM) | 4,200 m13,780 ft | High altiplano | 2 |
| Peru Highlights Express: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Titicaca & Arequipa (8 Days)8 Days / 7 Nights | 3,812 m12,507 ft | High altiplano | 2 |
| Cusco Imperial City Tour & SacsayhuamánHalf Day (1:00 PM – 6:30 PM) | 3,700 m12,139 ft | High altiplano | 2 |
| Manu National Park Deep Rainforest Expedition (4 Days / 3 Nights)4 Days / 3 Nights | 3,600 m11,811 ft | High altiplano | 2 |
| Sacred Valley & Maras-Moray Salt Mines VIPFull Day (8:00 AM – 6:30 PM) | 3,500 m11,483 ft | High altiplano | 2 |
| Maras, Moray and Machu Picchu2 Days / 1 Nights | 3,500 m11,483 ft | High altiplano | 2 |
| Peru Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu in 2 Days2 Days / 1 Night | 3,399 m11,152 ft | Andean highlands | 1 |
| Choquequirao Expedition Trek (4 Days / 3 Nights)4 Days / 3 Nights | 3,100 m10,171 ft | Andean highlands | 1 |
| Classic Machu Picchu Full-Day Tour by TrainFull Day (Approx. 15 hours) | 2,430 m7,972 ft | Cloud forest & valleys | — |
| Coffee Farm Tour to Machu Picchu4 Days / 3 Nights | 2,430 m7,972 ft | Cloud forest & valleys | — |
The single most common mistake is landing in Cusco and going straight up. The fix costs nothing: sleep lower first. The Sacred Valley sits at 2,870 m · 9,416 ft, five hundred metres below the city, and two nights there makes the rest of the trip markedly easier.