Altitude Adjustment Tips

Many of Peru’s most iconic destinations—like Cusco (11,152 ft / 3,399 m), Lake Titicaca, and Huaraz—are at high elevations. Altitude sickness can affect anyone, regardless of fitness level, so plan accordingly. It’s smart to spend your first day or two taking it easy and letting your body adjust. Drink plenty of water, avoid alcohol, and sip on coca tea, a natural remedy offered almost everywhere.
You can also bring Diamox (Acetazolamide) or consult your doctor about preventive measures before your trip. In general, flying directly from Lima to Cusco (sea level to high altitude) is harder on the body than slowly ascending overland.

When flying from Lima to Cusco, we recommend going straight to Sacred Valley since that is ~2000 ft lower than Cusco, and acclimatize there. This helped us a lot, as we spent our first 4 days there! The town near Machu Picchu is actually even lower (Aguas Calientes).