The range of the Andes, is longer than 5,000km (3,105mi) along South America, been the second highest range in the world after the Himalayas, and still growing.
At these days the Andes are shared by seven countries, from North to South: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Each one with thousands of rivers, lakes, mountains, valleys and desserts; Rich in culture, landscape, flora and fauna.
South of the Ecuador, the range widens more than 200km (124mi) extending out from the beaches of the Pacific to the flat lands of the Amazon jungle. In this widened section, the mountains become higher and steeper. There are about 600mountains reaching over 6,000m (19,680ft) and thousands of others reaching over 5,000m (16,400ft) , some of them still un-climbed.
The Andean mountain range, splits in two major branches in Peruvian territory (north of Titicaca Lake): the Western Volcanic Range, and the Eastern Mountain Range.
Farther south at the border between Chile and Argentina, both branches joins again.
From its highest point, Aconcagua 6,959m (22,825ft) and all the other above 6,000m (19,680ft) mountains, to the West is the Coast of the Pacific, all along this land you find from fertile valleys to impressive desserts. Towards the East you descend going trough the cloud forests to the plains of the Amazon in the north, and the Chaco in the South.
Apolobamba Mountain Range
The mountain range is located on the Northern extreme of the Bolivian Andes (northwest of Illampu, and north of Titicaca lake) and its northern section makes the border with Peru. It is composed of many awesome massifs and houses the longest glacier of Bolivia 11km (6mi) long, in the southwestern face of Chaupi Orkho, the highest peak in the Apolobamba. Akamani Peak is also very important, since it is the holy mountain of the Kallawayas, the healing-shamans. It lies on the southern end of the range, just in front of the famous Kallawaya village of Curva.
Apolobamba is one of the most remote ranges in Bolivia. There are many mountains and peaks yet to be explored and the treks traverse land never touched by civilization leaving nature in its truest form.
Northern Apolobamba range
- Chaupi Orkho 6088m (19968ft)
- Chaupi Orkho Norte 6000m (19680ft)
- Soral Oeste 5641m (18502ft)
- Soral Este 5471m (17944ft)
- Salluyo 5808m (19050ft)
- Palomani Grande 5769m (18922ft)
- Azucarani 5580m (18302ft)
- Katantica 5610m (18400ft)
Southern Apolobamba range
- Cololo 5915m (19401ft)
- Nubi 5710m (18728ft)
- Cuchillo 5655m (18548ft)
- Akamani 5700m (18696ft)
Cordillera Real
The Cordillera Real is the most prominent range in Bolivia. It is considered the “backbone” of the Andean lands forming a northwest to southeast line between all the other Bolivian ranges. There is a geographical gradient of over 5000m (16400ft) extending from high snow covered mountains to the river beds in the deep humid Cloud Forest. From the top of the Peñas rocky ridge, it is possible to see the whole of the 160km (99mi) range.
Illampu-Jankouma, the largest massif of the Cordillera Real, is located in the Northern part of the range. Illimani, the highest peak , sits in the southern part of the range and is revered as the “protector” of La Paz city.
Because of past agricultural and mining activities, many roads were built in this area making the mountain ranges incredibly accessible, with relatively short and free of any technical difficulty approaches. All of these factors make this range very popular among climbers and trekkers.
Illampu-Jankouma massif
- Illampu 6368m (20887ft)
- Illampu north peak 6070m (19909ft)
- Pico Schulze 5943m (19498ft)
- Huayna Illampu 5950m (19516ft)
- Jankouma 6427m (21080ft)
- Jankopiti 5875m (19270ft)
Condoriri-Huayna Potosi group
- Condoriri north peak 5532m (18144ft)
- Condoriri 5648m (18525ft)
- Condoriri south peak 5482m (17980ft)
- Wyoming 5463m (17918ft)
- Tarija 5320m (17449ft)
- Pequeño Almapayo 5370m (17613ft)
- Pirámide Blanca 5230m (17154ft)
- Ilusioncita 5150m (16896ft)
- Ilusion 5330m (17482ft)
- Janchallani or Austria 5396m (17698ft)
- Jaillayco or Mirador 5224m (17134ft)
- Huayna Potosi 6088m (19968ft)
- Maria Lloko 5522m (18112ft)
- Tiquimani 5519m (18102ft)
- Charquini 5392m (17685ft)
- Telata 5336m (17502ft)
- Chacaltaya 5395m (17695ft)
Chearoco-Chamacomani group
- Chearoco 5127m (16816ft)
- Calzada 5650m (18532ft)
- Chachacomani 6074m (19922ft)
Janko Khota group
- Jankho Laya 5545m (18187ft)
- Jankho Uyo 5512m (18079ft)
- Culin Thojo 5368m (17607ft)
- Willa Llojeta 5244m (17200ft)
- Negruni 5468m (17935ft)
- Warawarani 5542m (18177ft)
- Pakokeuta 5645m (18,515ft)
Serranías Murillo group
- Hati Khollu 5421m (17780ft)
- Willa Mankilisani 5324m (17462ft)
- Sherke Khollu 5546m (18190ft)
- Huacani 5321m (17452ft)
Mururata-Illimani group
- Mururata 5869m (19250ft)
- Illimani 6439m (21119ft)
- Illimani north peak 6403m (21001ft)
Quimsa Cruz range
Known as the “Bolivian Yosemite”, the Quimsa Cruz (three crosses) range is only 40km (24mi) long and 15km (9mi) wide, and is without a doubt an Andean microcosmos. Many ecological levels are contained within this area: from snow-covered glaciers to humid, tropical forests. By foot, all this areas are just few hours apart. This range is divided into two main regions: the Southern region consisting of snow-covered peaks and massive glaciers, and the Northern region, encompassed in a base of granodiorite and granite spires (a true rock climber’s paradise).
On the western side of this mountain range, there are many old abandoned roads, which lead you directly to the base of many glaciers. All this area has yet to be explored leaving many of the treasures of its wildlife intact.
- Gigante Grande 5748m (18853ft)
- Atoroma 5580m (18302ft)
- Korichuma 5500m (18040ft)
- Don Luis or Jachacunocollu 5721m (18764ft)
- Huayna Cuno Collo 5640m (18499ft)
- San Luis 5620m (18433ft)
- San Enrrique 5600m (18368ft)
- San Lorenzo 5508m (18066ft)
- San Roque 5520m (18105ft)
Volcanic range (Cordillera Occidental)
It makes a natural border between Bolivia and Peru & Chile. It also separates the Bolivian highlands from the Atacama Desert. Some of those volcanoes are snow covered and glaciated like Sajama, the highest mountain in Bolivia at 6549m (21486ft) . Some have “fossilized” glaciers like Ramaditas. Others are still active, like Ollague and Guallatiri where there are very active fumaroles venting sulfur gases from their flanks, or the Putana where there is liquid lava inside its crater or the Uturunco, presently the fastest growing volcano on earth. The rest of this area, although is not considered active, it is by no means extinct, since there are several “signs” of volcanic activity.
Most peaks get snow in the rainy season and occasionally during the winter cold fronts that bring low pressure and humidity from as far as Patagonia. If the snow freezes, it makes upward treks even much easier. Without snow, most of the treks involve walking at high altitudes over ashes, sand and loose rocks.
- Tunupa 5435m (17826ft)
- Chiguana 5278m (17312ft)
- Ollague 5868m (19247ft)
- Caquella 5947m (19506ft)
- Tomasamil 5890m (19319ft)
- Cañapa 5882m (19293ft)
- Tapaquilcha 5758m (18886ft)
- Llicancabur 5940m (19483ft)
- Sairecabur 5971m (19584ft)
- Juriques 5704m (18709ft)
Sajama Group
- Sajama 6549m (21480ft)
- Pomerape 6222m (20408ft)
- Parinacota 6342m (20801ft)
- Acotango 6056m (19863ft)
- Capunata 5952m (19522ft)
- Quisiquisini 5537m (18164ft)
- Condoriri 5764m (18905ft)
- Jacha Condoriri 5406m (17731ft)
- Kakepe Juntuta 5356m (17568ft)
- Jisca Condoriri 5488m (18001ft)
- Patilla Pata 5324m (17462ft)
Cordillera de Lipez
- Uturuncu 6008 m. (19706ft)
- Nuevo Mundo 5929m (19447ft)
Atacama Desert & National Parks
- Parinacota 6342m (20801ft)
- Pomerape 6222m (20408ft)
- Acotango 6056m (19863ft)
- Capunata 5952m (19522ft)
- Quisiquisini 5537m (18164ft)
- Guallatire 6061m (19880ft)
- Chapiquiña 5036m (16519ft)
- Isluga, 5530m (18138ft)
- Lliscaya 5580m (18302ft)
- Lirima 5572m (18276ft)
- Aucanquilcha 6176m (20257ft)
- Chijliapichina 4926m (16157ft)
- Chela 5648m (18525ft)
- Paloana 6023m (19755ft)
- Cebollar 5716m (16977ft)
- Polapi 5949m (19512ft)
- Carasilla 5244m (17200ft)
- Cerro del Azufre 5849m (19184ft)
- Araral 5688m (18656ft)
- San Pedro 6145m (20155ft)
- San Pablo 6092m (19981ft)
- Cariquima 5390m (17679ft)
- Volcan Apagado 5703m (18705ft)
- Tocorpuri 5808m (19050ft)
- Putana 5890m (19319ft)
- Sairecabur 5971m (19584ft)
- Llicancabur 5916m (19404ft)
- Nevados de Poquis 5745m (18843ft)
- Lascar 5,580m (18,302ft)
- Miscanti 5622m (18440ft)
- Miñiques 5910m (19384ft)
Southern Atacama & Higher Volcanoes
- Aguas Calientes 5689m (18659ft)
- Llullaillaco 6739m (22103ft)
- Lastarria 5697m (18686ft)
- Sierra Nevada 6127m (20096ft)
- Cerro del Toro 5909m (19381ft)
- Cerro del Gallo 5612m (18407ft)
- Ermitaño 6187m (20293ft)
- Cerro Laguna Verde 5872m (19260ft)
- Peña Blanca 5861m (19224ft)
- Incahuasi 6615m (21697ft)
- Cerro del Muerto 6470m (21221ft)
- Ojos del Salado 6864m (22513ft)
- Tres cruces 6746m (22126ft)
- Juncal 6070m (19909ft)
- Tupungato 6570m (21549ft)
- Tupungatito 5862m (19227ft)
- Cerro del Plomo 5424m (17790ft)
- Cerro de los Puiquenes 6019m (19742ft)
- Marmolejo 6108m (20034ft)
Chilean Patagonia
- Torres del Paine 2850m (9351ft)
- Tronador 3554m (11660ft)
- Volcán Osorno 2652m (8698ft)