How tall is Machu Picchu?

Machu Picchu is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the world. However, few people know that it is in the Andes of Peru. In that geography it is normal to suffer the so-called ‘altitude sickness’. That is why it is important to know the altitude of the Inca City and each of its tourist attractions.

Machu Picchu and all its tourist attractions

• Machu Picchu has several tourist attractions such as: the Inca City, the Machu Picchu mountain, the Huayna Picchu mountain, the Site Museum and more.
• The Inca City, Machu Picchu mountain and Huayna Picchu are located in the Historic Sanctuary, a natural area protected by the Peruvian State.
• The Machu Picchu Site Museum is located in Aguas Calientes, the closest city to the Inca City.

Where is Machu Picchu?

• Machu Picchu is located on the east side of the Andes Mountains, surrounded by the abundant vegetation of the high Peruvian jungle.
• It belongs to the department of Cusco, province of Urubamba, district of Aguas Calientes.
• This Inca archeological site is located 80 kilometers from the city of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca empire.
• To the north of the Inca city is the famous Huayna Picchu mountain. To the west is the Machu Picchu mountain.
• A little further on in front of Machu Picchu is the Putucusi mountain.

How tall is Machu Picchu?

• Machu Picchu is located at an altitude of 7,972 feet or 2,430 meters above sea level (masl).
• At that altitude it is not frequent to suffer the symptoms of altitude sickness.

How tall is Huayna Picchu?

• The Huayna Picchu mountain is located at an altitude of 8,923 feet (2,720 meters above sea level).
• At that altitude, the tourist may suffer slightly from the symptoms of altitude sickness.

How high is the Machu Picchu mountain?

• Machu Picchu Mountain is located at an altitude of 10,111 feet (3,082 meters above sea level).
• At that height, most tourists suffer some symptoms of altitude sickness, such as difficulty breathing.

How tall is the town of Aguas Calientes?

• The town of Aguas Calientes is 6,692 feet (2,040 meters above sea level).
• At that altitude, no tourist suffers from altitude sickness.

How high is the city of Cusco?

• The city of Cusco is 11,151 feet (3,399 meters above sea level).
• At that altitude it is normal for tourists to feel the symptoms of altitude sickness, such as fatigue, shortness of breath and even nausea.

How high are other cities in Peru?

Recommendations to avoid altitude sickness in Machu Picchu

• In Machu Picchu, tourists can experience altitude sickness (acute mountain sickness).
• This discomfort is usually experienced when a height of 2,500 meters is exceeded.
• The cusps of the Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains would be the only places where tourists may be prone to experience this evil.
• In general, there are few visitors to the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu that suffer from this inconvenience.
• Once you have acclimatized in Cusco or the Sacred Valley of the Incas, you should not have problems with the altitude of Machu Picchu.
• In Machu Picchu you can still feel breathless in your tour of the site. However, the risk of suffering from altitude sickness will have been reduced.