The average altitude MSL for Mexico City / CDMX is 7,350 ft / 2,240 meters. That’s significantly lower than Cusco, Perú, at 11,200 ft / 3,400 meters, and most sea level visitors cope by keeping well hydrated and taking it easy. Some experience headaches, a few experience AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness), usually treatable with medications to reduce the headache and acetazolamide. Rarely, people have to evacuate to lower altitudes.

Most aircraft cabins are ~8,000 ft (Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 ~6,000 ft). If you can breathe comfortably flying in an aircraft, that’s how you’ll breathe in CDMX. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issues information to people traveling to altitudes above 8,000 feet / 2,438 meters.

For most people, that means we slow down for a couple of days because running, climbing stairs or pyramids, etc. can make you feel out of breath and increase your heart rate. As Section 107 says, the air quality can vary as well. Though the air quality isn’t nearly as bad as Delhi or Beijing on a bad day, it can affect those with asthma or other conditions affected by air quality.

If you have experienced signs of altitude distress or sickness at comparable elevations (Donner Summit Pass between Sacramento and Truckee, California is 7,239 ft / 2,206 m, for example), you’ll probably experience similar symptoms.

But for the vast majority of people, CDMX’ altitude just requires a couple of days of keeping well hydrated, reducing aerobic activities, it drinking much alcohol (it’s dehydrating), perhaps a siesta for fatigue, and your favorite headache remedy if you develop a mild headache. (My sister and others live part time in San Antonio, Texas and part time in CDMX. They usually fly nonstop between the two, and on arrival at CDMX they, too, slow down a couple of days to acclimate.)

If you have concerns or a respiratory condition such as COPD, asthma, etc., have significant circulatory issues, diabetes or are pregnant, or have had recent surgery such as vitrectomy, you should consult with your health professional prior to visiting higher elevations.

Nothing in this post should be construed as medical advice; it’s merely information based on my, my family and friends’ experiences visiting high altitudes, and reliable information easily searched for on the internet.