All the Mountains

The Andes is the longest and one of the highest mountain ranges in the world. This range runs along the Pacific coast of South America for more than 7000 kilometers. From the vicinity of the Caribean Sea to the Cape Horn the Andes cross seven countries, even though the highest peaks over 6000 meters can only be found in the Central Andes at the South Hemisphere.
Peru is entirely located at the tropical zone in the western side of South America. The Andes cross the country from North to South giving place to a wide range of ecosystems and climate zones, according to the altitude, latitude and air mass circulation. At present the Peruvian Andes concentrate around an 80% of the tropical glaciers in the world. The snow capped mountains in Peru known as "nevados" may be isolated as the volcanoes in the SW of the country (Coropuna 6377 m, Ampato 6288 m, Solimana 6117 m, and others), or grouped in mountain ranges rarely longer than 40 kilometers that local people use to name "cordilleras".
The northern third of the Peruvian Andes is sensibly lower and narrower than the rest. At 8°40' South latitude a glaciated mountain appears, Nevado Champara 5750 meters high, from there to the South boundaries of the country the snow capped mountains and glaciers will be present. In the southern third of Peru the Andes get wider and the glaciation limit in the dryer West side climbs over 5400 meters, while the eastern ice tongues still remain under 5000 meters.
Among the highest cordilleras in Peru the most amazing ones are the cordilleras Blanca and Huayhuash in central Peru, and Vilcanota and Vilcabamba in the southern part of the country.

   >>Photos of the Andes of Peru
   >>Topographic Map of Peru
   >>Peru at 1:1 000 000 Scale

From its origin at Nevado Champara to its end at Nevado Tuco the Cordillera Blanca runs in a NW-SE direction grouping in a bit more than 180 kilometers 33 peaks over 6000 meters. Narrow valleys called "quebradas" flowing down from the range are served either by unpaved roads or footpaths that allow hikers and climbers to get from the largest cities to the foot of the mountains in a few hours.
The Cordillera Negra located at the W and parallel to the Blanca doesn´t have glaciers, the highest point there rises 5187 meters high. Between both cordilleras runs the Santa river through a green and well populated valley called Callejon de Huaylas, the largest cities in the region are, from S to N, Recuay, Huaraz, Carhuaz, Yungay and Caraz. The Santa is born in Laguna Conococha (4100 m) at the head of the Callejon de Huaylas, the quebradas and streams flowing down from the glaciers in the right margin feed the river, then as the valley becomes narrow and deep the Santa turns to the W running into a canyon, the Cañon del Pato, to reach the Pacific Ocean.
During the mountain climbing season, from may to september, weather conditions are usually stable in the range, with shiny days and slightly cold or cold nights depending to the altitude. In recent years an increased number of difficult mixed and rocky ways have been opened along the range in addition to the classic snow and ice climbs yet ranked between the most challenging in the continent.

   >>Cordillera Blanca Map

Located only 50 kilometers South of the Cordillera Blanca and 200 kilometers North of Lima, the Cordillera Huayhuash is perhaps the most spectacular in Peru. A dozen of towering peaks concentrated in an area of 150 square kilometers make the scenery for the finest mountain trail in Peru and one of the best in the world. The whole trail takes ten days to complete it and crosses four passes over 4700 meters in a distance of 150 kilometers of walking. Relatively far away from any major urban area the region remains almost wild.
Although the towns of Chiquian in the N and Cajatambo in the S have been for a long time the starting points for those who wanted to visit the range, in recent years most visitors had preferred the closer town of Matacancha, yet connected to Huaraz by a road, to start hiking. From that small town the trail leads to the S to lagunas Mitucocha, Carhuacocha and Viconga on the eastern slopes of the range. From Punta Cuyoc pass (5000 m) the path turns to the right going down the W side of the mountains to Huanacupatay and Huatiac. Finnally, to complete the circuit, the route leaves Huatiac to the N climbing Punta Tapush, descending to Cashpapampa and Laguna Jahuacocha and leading up to Rondoy.
Most of the mountains in the range are really steep and specially difficult to climb, the best known of them are Nevado Yerupajá (6634 m, second highest in Peru), Siula (6356 m), Sarapo (6127 m) and Jirishanca (6094 m).

   >>Cordillera Huayhuash Map

The Central Andes of Peru display seven glaciated groups of mountains. Five of them (Raura, La Viuda, Central, Pariacaca and Yauyos) on the West Andes, and the other two (Huaguruncho and Huaytapallana) on the East Andes. Less impressive than the biggest cordilleras in the country those groups of mountains are not considered in most tourist guides but are good for hiking and climbing as well, the two ones on the East Andes are particularly wild and heavy glaciated due to the humid amazon winds.
The Cordillera Raura is located less than five kilometers S of the Cordillera Huayhuash and separated from it by Laguna Viconga, in the border of the departments of Lima, Huanuco and Pasco. The lenght of the range is about 20 kilometers from N to S and despite of the proximity to the capital (less than 180 kilometers) getting there takes nearly a day. The highest mountains are Santa Rosa (5706 m), Yarupa (5685 m), Culle (5550 m), Torre de Cristal (5500 m) and Leon Huacanan (5420 m).
The Cordillera Huaguruncho is on the edge of the East Andes hanging over the Amazon rainforest, 40 kilometers to the E of Cerro de Pasco near the town of Huachon. Although there is only one major mountain in the range (Nevado Huaguruncho, 5721 m) surrounded by some smaller glaciated peaks, the region deserves to be visited because its wild and astonishing beauty. Other mountains in the range are Ñausacocha (5152 m), Yanacocha (5138 m) and Añilcocha (5073 m).
The Cordillera La Viuda is a 50 kilometers long region with a few sparse snow capped peaks located mainly in the province of Canta, some 100 kilometers to the NE of the city of Lima. Getting there from the capital takes only 3 hours, that is why most local climbers and hikers prefer these mountains to expend their weekends. The dominant peaks are Rajuntay (5412 m), La Corte (5362 m), Alcoy (5350 m) and Puagjanca (5350 m).
The Cordillera Central is a mountain region made up of a few small peaks in the province of Huarochiri, limited by Nevado Rajuntay in the N and the Pariacaca group in the E. The set of peaks in the Ticlio area (Anticona, San Andrés, Santa Rosa, Yanashinga, Lorito, Volcan and Meiggs) are by far the most visited in the range because its proximity to the road Lima-La Oroya. The highest points in Cordillera Central are Huacaypaca (5365 m), Tunac (5315 m), San Luis (5310 m), Juri (5310 m), Huayracancha (5300 m), Shira (5300 m), Ucrupata (5300 m) and Huachhua (5300 m).
The Cordillera Pariacaca is approximately 100 kilometers E of the capital, in the border of the departments of Lima and Junin. This 30 km long range is such a fine place to hike and climb with more than ten glaciated peaks over 5500 meters. The best way to get into the area is to hire a car in order to save a day of walking from any of the neighbor towns. The highest mountains in the range are Pariacaca (5750 m), Tunshu (5730 m), Antachaire (5700 m), Colquepucro (5658 m), Suerococha (5600 m) and Paca (5550 m).
The Cordillera Yauyos is located in the province of Yauyos, some 120 km SE from Lima city, in the center of the upper Cañete river basin. This group of mountains has been visited by several parties of climbers, hikers and tourists during the last years. Unfortunately there is a 100 miles trip on dirt roads to make to get there. The dominant mountains are Ticlla (5897 m), Llongote (5781 m), Huayna Cotoni (5500 m), Cullec (5500 m) and Ancovilca (5467 m).
The Cordillera Huaytapallana is located 20 kilometers NE to the city of Huancayo in the department of Junin. Twenty kilometers long from N to S and heavy glaciated, as the other ranges in the East Andes of Peru, Huaytapallana is fine for ice climbing. The highest peaks are Lasuntay (5557 m), Chuspi (5400 m), Anchi Grande (5350 m), Cochas (5315 m) and Tello (5300 m).

   >>Central Andes Map

In the sixteenth century the Cordillera Vilcabamba area was the refuge of the last Incas, from there they aimed to reconquer their lands from the Spanish Crown. Two of the most important ruins in Peru, Machu Picchu and Choquequirao, were settled in the region. The transition between the tropical forest and the snow mountains occurs in a few kilometers. The area is great for climbing, hiking and visiting archaeological sites. The highest mountains are Salkantay (6271 m), Pumasillo (5991 m), Lasunayoc (5960 m), Soray (5928 m), Padreyoc (5771 m), Panta (5605 m), Huayanay (5464 m), Huamantay (5450 m), Palcay (5400 m), Moyoc (5209 m), Choquezafra (5152 m) and Ocobamba (5126 m).
The Cordillera Urubamba, which lies North of the Vilcanota-Urubamba river is made up of six glaciated massifs running in a West to East direction for about fifty kilometers, except for the isolated Terijuay group (5250 m) located twenty kilometers northward, South of this peak the other glaciated groups in the range are Veronica (5682 m), Halancoma (5350 m), Pumahuanca (5300 m) Chicon (5530 m) and Sahuasiray (5818 m). The range is known for providing fine rock climbing.
The most interesting mountain range in Southern Peru is Cordillera Vilcanota, located in the border of the departments of Cusco and Puno, some 80 kilometers SE to the city of Cusco, at about 14° South latitude and 71° West longitude. The northern group of mountains in the Vilcanota region is called Sinakara or Nudo de Ayacachi, the highest mountains in this area are Sasahuini or Colquepunco (5522 m), Ayacachi (5470 m), Huillasercu (5430 m) and Coylloriti (5402 m). Twenty five kilometers South of Nudo de Ayacachi, crossing the Campa Pass, the dominant peaks in the Ausangate group are Ausangate (6384 m), Santa Catalina or Mariposa (5808 m), Huayruro Punco or Yanajaja (5550 m) and Campa (5500 m). On the North side of Campa Pass, the Cayangate group highest mountains from North to South are Ccallangate (5950 m), Cayangate or Collpa Ananta (6110 m) and Pachanta or Collque Cruz (5950 m). The next set of peaks in the East of Cayangate is the Jatunhuma group dominated by Jatunccampa (5700 m), Jatunhuma or Jatunpampa (6093 m) and Ninaparaco (5800 m). Some five kilometers East to the Jatunhuma group, Colquecruz or Alcamarinayoc (6100 m) peak in the North, Huiscachani (6106 m) peak -also known as Jatunriti, Yanaloma or Chumpe- in the middle and Jatunñano Punta (5800 m) in the South, are the dominating altitudes on a 15 kilometers long ridge. The next set of mountains in the East, the Yayamari group, is located North of Laguna Amayani or Jasjana, the main peaks from West to East are Japu Punta (5850 m), Yayamari (6049 m) -also known as Montura or Ambroja- and Huila Aje (5900 m). Between Yayamari group and the mountains situated North of Chimboya Pass lies a North to South ridge where the Auzangate (5700 m) peak in the North and the Condoriquiña (5750 m) peak in the South are the highest points. More to the East, the highest peaks on the North side of Chimboya Pass are Quisoquipina (5650 m), Escopetane (5600 m) and San Braulio or San Broglio (5650 m). A bit far away, South of Chimboya Pass, is Nevado Millo (5500 m). More to the South, the highest point in Ritipampa-Quelccaya ice cap, the largest single glacier in the tropics, is Joyllor Puñuna or Ccoyllor Puñuna (5743 m). The last set of peaks in the South of Chimboya area is the Kunurana group of mountains, dominated by Jonorana or Cunurana (5550 m), Pumanota (5500 m) and Quelma (5400 m).
The Cordillera Carabaya is an isolated group of mountains located East of Macusani town and San Gaban river in the department of Puno. The highest peaks in the range are towering over the Quenamari glaciers less than five kilometers away from the Nuñoa-Macusani-Ollachea road. The dominant mountains are Allincapac (5780 m), Huaynacapac, Tococapac and Chichicapac.
The Cordillera La Raya is an extended mountain range located between the departments of Cusco and Puno which is made up of two small glaciated areas separated from each other by a distance of 90 kilometers. The highest peaks in the first area, situated less than 10 kilometers E to the town of Marangani, are Condorcota (5400 m), Chinchina (5468 m), Moscaya (5400 m) and Chimboya (5489 m). The dominating mountains in the second area, 10 kilometers SW of Palca town, are Quilca (5350 m), San Luis (5350 m), Minapunta (5465 m) and Yanahuara (5350 m).
The Cordillera Apolobamba runs parallel to the North shore of the Lago Titicaca at a distance of about 60 kilometers from it, between Peru and Bolivia. The lenght of this mountain range exceeds 70 kilometers, one third of it in the peruvian territory and the rest in Bolivia. The dominant peak in the range is located on the international border. The highest mountains in the peruvian part of Apolobamba are Chaupiorco Sur (6044 m), Chaupiorco Norte (6000 m), Ananea Grande (5852 m), Ananea Chico (5800 m), Palomani Grande (5723 m) and Palomani Tranca (5633 m).

   >>Eastern Andes Map

The Southern Andes of Peru are made up of five glaciated mountain ranges. Lying in a volcanic belt along the Pacific coast cordilleras Huanzo, Ampato, Chila, Volcánica and Barroso are located in the most arid region in the country resulting in a higher snowline (situated at about 5400 meters). Most of the biggest volcanoes are easy to climb and several of them have been climbed since the prehispanic times.
Starting from the NW the first volcano to mention in Cordillera Ampato is Sarasara (5522 m), located in the department of Ayacucho some 10 kilometers W of Pausa town. Entering the department of Arequipa, 20 kilometers S of Cotahuasi town, Solimana (6117 m) is the first volcano rising to over 6000 meters. The next volcano is the highest in Peru, Coropuna is located 25 kilometers SE of Solimana and 25 kilometers N of Chuquibamba town, between Ocoña river basin and Majes river basin, Coropuna has three summits and all of them are over 6000 meters (6377 m, 6350 m and 6300 m). Finally, the last set of volcanoes in Cordillera Ampato is situated 60 kilometers E of Coropuna, on the opposite margin of Majes river, these summits are Ampato (6288 m), Hualca Hualca (6025 m) and Sabancaya (5967 m).
The Cordillera Volcanica runs East to the city of Arequipa for nearly 80 kilometers in a NW-SE direction. The highest points in the range are Chachani (6075 m) 20 kilometers N of Arequipa city, Misti (5821 m), Pichu Pichu (5650 m) and Ubinas (5672 m) situated 35 kilometers N of Omate town. Despite the lack of glaciers some amount of snowfall is often covering the top of the highest mountains in the range during the year.
The Cordillera Barroso runs for approximately 130 kilometers from the left margin of Tambo river in the department of Moquegua to the Peru-Chile border. The day and night temperature differences are considerable in this arid region which is drained by a few streams and often whipped by cold winds. The best known volcanoes in the range are Ticsani (5408 m), Tutupaca (5806 m), Yucamani (5508 m), Casiri (5650 m) and Barroso (5741 m).
The Cordillera Chila covers a large area of 70 km by 30 km on the North of the Colca river in the department of Arequipa. The snowcovered slopes of Nevado Mismi, one of the major peaks in the range, had proved to be the most remote sources of the Amazon river. Starting from the West side, the main peaks in the chain are Chila (5654 m), Casiri (5647 m), Minaspata (5555 m), Surihuiri (5506 m), Jatunpila (5450 m) and Mismi (5597 m).
The Cordillera Huanzo is located on the border of the departments of Ayacucho, Cusco and Arequipa at about 72°28' W longitude and 14°40' S latitude. Although the whole range can hardly fit into a 60 kilometers square area, most of the main peaks are aligned on a single 10 km long ridge. The highest mountains are Huaña (5400 m), Chancoaña (5494 m), Huaytane (5400 m), Huanzillo (5400 m), Huaychahui (5400 m) and Huajrahuire (5425 m).

   >>Southern Andes Map

The following list of the highest mountains in Peru has been made according to the Carta Nacional 1:100000. To be included in the list a summit has to be more than one hundred meters over the surrounding ground. The location of the mountains is expressed in Geographic Coordinates and the DATUM is WGS84.

   >>Highest Mountains in Peru

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Text, Maps and Photos by Eduardo Angulo Geographer and Climber - Control Panel - Paula Angulo Chavez - Webmail TERMS OF USE OF THIS WEBSITE