Many of us have the question: What is the altitude of the Sacred Valley of the Incas?
The Sacred Valley of the Incas has an altitude between 2200 to 2900 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.), approximately 500 to 600 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.) below the city of Cusco which is located at an altitude of 3500 to 3600 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.).
Below is the altitude of all the sites that comprise the Sacred Valley of the Incas with their respective heights:
- Pisaq: This town or district has an altitude of 2972 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Calca: This town or district has an elevation of 2926 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Ollantaytambo: This town or district has an altitude of 2860 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Urubamba: This town or district has an altitude of 2871 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.), located in the “heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas“.
- Moray: This town or district has an altitude of 3385 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Chinchero: This town or district has an altitude of 3772 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.) this town has the highest altitude in the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
- Huayllabamba: This town or district has an altitude of 2,868 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Maras: This town or district has an altitude of 3385 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Yucay: This town or district has an altitude of 2858 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Machupicchu: This town or district has an altitude of 2162 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Calca: This town or district has an altitude of 2925 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Coya: This town or district has an elevation of 2944 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Lares: This town or district has an elevation of 3171 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Lamay: This town or district has an altitude of 2934 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- Taray: This locality or district has an altitude of 3024 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
- San Salvador: This town or district has an altitude of 2934 meters above sea level (m.a.s.l.)
It is very important to take into account the height in the Sacred Valley of the Incas because if you suffer from altitude sickness it is important to know this information that will help you to recognize the areas with the corresponding heights.
For our visit to the Sacred Valley we can make it in the company of an authorized travel agency or without a travel agency, for this we must take the height that this possesses and if you consider that the height is a factor for you, you can acquire a personal oxygen balloon that will help you in your tour that presents greater altitude.
The Sacred Valley of the Incas includes some very important urban centers due to its archaeological, architectural and cultural characteristics, such as Pisaq, Ollantaytambo, Chinchero, Moray, Maras, Lamay, Calca.
It is one of the most popular places and visited before or after visiting Machupicchu in Cusco characterized by a pleasant climate, surrounded by rivers such as the Vilcanota river and the Urubamba river that makes the fertility of their lands very good for agriculture, being the corn a very recognized product worldwide.
Is the Sacred Valley lower than Cusco?
The answer is YES. The Sacred Valley of the Incas is at a lower altitude in relation to the city of Cusco having a difference of 500 meters above sea level.
Prevent altitude sickness
Some of the symptoms of altitude sickness are:
- Dizziness and vomiting
- Tiredness and fatigue
- Headache
- Lack of appetite
How to prevent altitude sickness:
- Have a good hydration of at least 4 to 5 liters of water.
- Avoid alcohol, tobacco and heavy meals.
- Do not exert yourself physically
- Take infusions of coca leaf, ideal to combat altitude sickness.
- Take with you pills for altitude sickness such as Sorojchi pills and Diamox.
