Elevation
Cusco elevation
Cusco, Peru is 10,866 feet (3,312 meters) above sea level — more than a mile high.
What 10,866 feet means in Cusco
Among the 200 cities on this site, Cusco is one of the highest. At 10,866 ft the air is thin enough that most visitors notice it: stairs and hills feel harder for the first few days.
Air pressure. Air pressure falls as you climb, about 1 inHg for every 1,000 ft near the ground. In Cusco a barometer that is not corrected to sea level reads around 19.89 inHg on an average day, while the weather forecast still quotes a sea-level number near 29.92 inHg. See today’s live barometric pressure in Cusco.
Cooking. Water boils at about 192 °F (88.7 °C) here, so boiled foods cook more slowly and baking recipes often need small high-altitude adjustments. Boiling point at altitude
Where the number comes from. The elevation is for the city center point in the GeoNames gazetteer, taken from a digital elevation model. To check the exact elevation where you are standing, use What is my elevation?
Elevation of places near Cusco
| Place | Elevation (ft) | Elevation (m) | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| La Paz, Bolivia | 12,408 | 3,782 | 327 mi |
| Lima, Peru | 499 | 152 | 356 mi |
| Quito, Ecuador | 9,364 | 2,854 | 1023 mi |
| Bogotá, Colombia | 8,471 | 2,582 | 1262 mi |
| Santiago, Chile | 1,824 | 556 | 1379 mi |
| Buenos Aires, Argentina | 102 | 31 | 1686 mi |
| São Paulo, Brazil | 2,523 | 769 | 1794 mi |
| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 39 | 12 | 1993 mi |
Frequently asked questions
What is the elevation of Cusco?
Cusco, Peru is about 10,866 feet (3,312 meters) above sea level, measured at the city center. Neighborhoods higher or lower in the city can differ by a few hundred feet.
What is the air pressure in Cusco because of its elevation?
On a standard day the air pressure at 10,866 ft is about 19.89 inHg (674 hPa), 66% of sea-level pressure. Each breath holds about 66% as much oxygen as at sea level. Live barometric pressure in Cusco.
At what temperature does water boil in Cusco?
About 192 °F (88.7 °C), compared with 212 °F (100 °C) at sea level, so pasta, eggs and beans take a little longer to cook.