Machu Picchu sits at about 2,430m (7,970 feet) above sea level in the Peruvian Andes. High, but not as high as Cusco at 3,400m — which is why most visitors feel the altitude more in Cusco than they do at the ruins themselves.
At 2,400m the air is thinner but manageable. Standard advice applies: spend at least two days in Cusco or Ollantaytambo before heading to Machu Picchu, drink water, go easy on alcohol, and consider coca tea or acetazolamide if you’re prone to altitude sickness.
The upside of the elevation is the view. The citadel looks across to Huayna Picchu and down into the Vilcanota gorge, with cloud regularly moving through below. The altitude is also part of why the site is so well preserved — the drier air and the ridge location kept it out of the humid lowland decay cycle.
Peruways plans Machu Picchu trips with acclimatisation worked in — a Cusco stop, Sacred Valley stop, then the ruins — and bundles train, shuttle, and ticket in one booking.
Plan your visit at Peruways.
