Altitude of the 4 most famous treks in Cusco compared

The air in Cusco feels different because you’re closer to the clouds than in most places. Altitude is the main thing to consider before choosing your trek: getting acclimatization wrong can ruin your trip.

To help you plan, we compared the highest point on each of the four most popular hiking routes in Cusco.

Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca): the highest point

• Maximum altitude (summit). 5,200 m.
• The challenge. It’s the highest point you’ll reach on any day trek. The hike is short (about 2 hours), but the lack of oxygen at the top makes it an intense physical effort.

Salkantay Trek: the crossing

• Maximum altitude (Salkantay Pass). 4,635 m.
• The challenge. The Salkantay Pass (Abra Salkantay) is the highest and coldest point of the crossing. Getting over the pass on day 2 or 3 is the defining moment of the trek; after it, the trail goes downhill.
• The advantage. Unlike Vinicunca, the Salkantay Trek takes several days, so you acclimatize gradually as you hike.

Classic Inca Trail (4 days): the historic route

• Maximum altitude (Dead Woman’s Pass, Warmi Wañusqa). 4,215 m.
• The challenge. It’s lower than Salkantay and Vinicunca, but the climb to Warmi Wañusqa is long, steady and tiring, and it calls for good fitness. It’s the hardest stretch of the famous Inca Trail.
• Keep in mind. Even with a lower top altitude, the hike is longer and you need to plan for 3 nights of camping.

Humantay Lake: the turquoise lake

• Maximum altitude (lake). 4,200 m.
• The challenge. It’s the most popular day trek, but also one of the most demanding for acclimatization. The final climb is short but steep, and at this altitude there is much less oxygen.
• When to do it. Ideally, do this trek after 2 full days of acclimatization in Cusco.

Acclimatization strategy

To let your body adjust, start with a Cusco City Tour or the South Valley (3,399 m / 11,150 ft). Once you’re acclimatized, take on the high-altitude treks.