The 10 highest mountains in Peru

Por: Huillca Expedition

Peru is home to numerous mountains exceeding 6,000 meters in altitude, spread across various mountain ranges. Below, we will mention the 10 highest mountains in the country, all of which belong to the Andes mountain range that traverses the Peruvian highlands in different regions.

Huascarán 6768 m (Áncash)

Huascarán has two main peaks: Huascarán Sur (6,768 meters above sea level) and Huascarán Norte (6,655 meters above sea level).

How to get there:

To reach Huascarán, follow this route:

1. From Lima to Huaraz:

By plane: There are flights from Lima to Anta (Huaraz) that take approximately 1 hour.
By bus: Several bus companies offer services from Lima to Huaraz, with a journey of approximately 8 hours.

2. From Huaraz to Musho:

By car or taxi: From Huaraz, you can take a car or taxi to the town of Musho, which is the starting point for ascending Huascarán. The trip takes about 1.5 hours.

3. From Musho to Base Camp:

Trekking: From Musho, you start a hike to the Base Camp of Huascarán, which can take between 4 and 6 hours, depending on the pace of ascent.

Yerupajá 6634 m (Áncash - Huánuco - Lima)

Yerupajá is located in the Huayhuash Mountain Range, in the department of Áncash, Peru. It is the second highest mountain in the country, after Huascarán, and one of the most challenging to climb in the Peruvian Andes. The mountain's full name is Yerupajá, and its highest summit reaches 6,634 meters above sea level. It is locally known as "The Butcher" due to the difficulty and danger of its ascent.

How to get there:

To reach Yerupajá, follow this route:

1. From Lima to Huaraz:

By plane: There are flights from Lima to Anta (Huaraz) that take approximately 1 hour.
By bus: Several bus companies offer services from Lima to Huaraz, with a journey of approximately 8 hours.

2. From Huaraz to Chiquián:

By car or bus: From Huaraz, you can take a car or bus to the town of Chiquián. The journey takes about 4 hours.

3. From Chiquián to Llamac:

By car or taxi: From Chiquián, you can take a car or taxi to the town of Llamac, which is one of the entry points to the Huayhuash Mountain Range. This trip takes approximately 2 hours.

4. From Llamac to Base Camp:

Trekking: From Llamac, you start a hike that passes through several campsites and takes several days to reach the base camp of Yerupajá. The duration and difficulty of the hike depend on the chosen route and weather conditions.

Coropuna 6425 m (Arequipa)

Coropuna is located in the department of Arequipa, in southern Peru. It is the highest volcano in the country and one of the highest in the world, with a height of approximately 6,425 meters above sea level. Coropuna is known for being a volcanic complex with several summits. Its name comes from Quechua, and it is often revered in the region as an "apu" (sacred mountain).

How to get there:

To reach Coropuna, follow this route:

1. From Lima to Arequipa:

By plane: There are frequent flights from Lima to Arequipa, taking about 1.5 hours.
By bus: Several bus companies offer services from Lima to Arequipa, with a journey of approximately 16-18 hours.

2. From Arequipa to Chuquibamba:

By car or bus: From Arequipa, you can take a car or bus to the town of Chuquibamba, which is one of the entry points for ascending Coropuna. The journey takes about 5-6 hours.

3. From Chuquibamba to Base Camp:

By car or taxi: From Chuquibamba, you can hire a car or taxi to reach the starting point for ascending Coropuna. This trip takes about 2-3 hours.
Trekking: From the starting point, you will hike to the base camp, which can take several hours depending on the pace of ascent and weather conditions.

Huandoy 6395 m (Áncash)

Huandoy is located in the Cordillera Blanca, in the department of Áncash, Peru. It is the third highest mountain in the Cordillera Blanca and is situated north of Huascarán, within the Huascarán National Park.

Names: Huandoy has four main peaks:

Huandoy Norte: 6,395 meters above sea level.
Huandoy Oeste: 6,356 meters above sea level.
Huandoy Sur: 6,160 meters above sea level.
Huandoy Este: 6,000 meters above sea level.

How to get there:

To reach Huandoy, follow this route:

1. From Lima to Huaraz:

By plane: There are flights from Lima to Anta (Huaraz) that take approximately 1 hour.
By bus: Several bus companies offer services from Lima to Huaraz, with a journey of approximately 8 hours.

2. From Huaraz to Yungay:

By car or bus: From Huaraz, you can take a car or bus to the town of Yungay. The journey takes about 1.5 hours.

3. From Yungay to Quebrada Llanganuco:

By car or taxi: From Yungay, you can hire a car or taxi to reach Quebrada Llanganuco, a valley that serves as a starting point for various expeditions in the Cordillera Blanca, including Huandoy. This trip takes about 1 hour.

4. From Quebrada Llanganuco to Base Camp:

Trekking: From Quebrada Llanganuco, you start a hike towards the base camp of Huandoy. Depending on the route and weather conditions, this hike can take several hours.

Ausangate 6384 m (Cusco)

Ausangate is located in the Vilcanota Mountain Range, in the department of Cusco, Peru. It is the highest mountain in the Cusco region and one of the most revered in Andean cosmology. Ausangate reaches a height of 6,384 meters above sea level. It is locally known as "Apu Ausangate," where "Apu" means "lord" or "sacred mountain" in Quechua.

How to get there:

To reach Ausangate, follow this route:

1. From Lima to Cusco:

By plane: There are frequent flights from Lima to Cusco, taking about 1.5 hours.
By bus: Several bus companies offer services from Lima to Cusco, with a journey of approximately 20-22 hours.

2. From Cusco to Tinki:

By car or bus: From Cusco, you can take a car or bus to the town of Tinki, which is the starting point for trekking to Ausangate. The journey takes about 3-4 hours.

3. From Tinki to Base Camp:

Trekking: From Tinki, you start a hike that passes through several campsites to reach the base camp of Ausangate. This trek usually takes several days and traverses impressive landscapes of mountains, lagoons, and glaciers. The duration and difficulty of the hike depend on the chosen route and weather conditions.

Huantsan 6369 m (Áncash)

Huantsán is located in the Cordillera Blanca, in the department of Áncash, Peru. It is situated to the east of Huaraz, within the Huascarán National Park. Huantsán, also known as Huantsán Sur, reaches an altitude of 6,369 meters above sea level. It is one of the most challenging and least visited mountains in the Cordillera Blanca.

How to get there:

To reach Huantsán, follow this route:

1. From Lima to Huaraz:

By plane: There are flights from Lima to Anta (Huaraz) that take approximately 1 hour.
By bus: Several bus companies offer services from Lima to Huaraz, with a journey of approximately 8 hours.

2. From Huaraz to Chavín de Huantar:

By car or bus: From Huaraz, you can take a car or bus to the town of Chavín de Huantar. The trip takes about 3-4 hours.

3. From Chavín de Huantar to Base Camp:

Trekking: From Chavín de Huantar, you start a hike towards the base camp of Huantsán. This trek can take several hours and requires good physical conditioning due to the altitude and terrain conditions.

Chopicalqui 6354 m (Áncash)

Chopicalqui is located in the Cordillera Blanca, in the department of Áncash, Peru. It is part of the Huascarán National Park and is situated to the east of Huascarán. Chopicalqui reaches a height of 6,354 meters above sea level. It is known for its snow-capped summit and is one of the popular peaks for mountaineering in the Cordillera Blanca.

How to get there:

To reach Chopicalqui, follow this route:

1. From Lima to Huaraz:

By plane: There are flights from Lima to Anta (Huaraz) that take approximately 1 hour.
By bus: Several bus companies offer services from Lima to Huaraz, with a journey of approximately 8 hours.

2. From Huaraz to Yungay:

By car or bus: From Huaraz, you can take a car or bus to the town of Yungay. The trip takes about 1.5 hours.

3. From Yungay to Cebollapampa:

By car or taxi: From Yungay, you can hire a car or taxi to reach Cebollapampa, which is the starting point for the ascent of Chopicalqui. This trip takes about 1.5 hours.

4. From Cebollapampa to Base Camp:

Trekking: From Cebollapampa, you start a hike towards the base camp of Chopicalqui. Depending on the route and weather conditions, this hike can take several hours.

Siula Grande 6344 m (Huánuco - Lima)

Siula Grande is located in the Huayhuash Mountain Range, in the department of Áncash, Peru. It is one of the most well-known and challenging mountains in this range. Siula Grande reaches a height of 6,344 meters above sea level. It is famous for the dramatic survival story recounted in the book and film "Touching the Void."

How to get there:

To reach Siula Grande, follow this route:

1. From Lima to Huaraz:

By plane: There are flights from Lima to Anta (Huaraz) that take approximately 1 hour.
By bus: Several bus companies offer services from Lima to Huaraz, with a journey of approximately 8 hours.

2. From Huaraz to Chiquián:

By car or bus: From Huaraz, you can take a car or bus to the town of Chiquián. The trip takes about 4 hours.

3. From Chiquián to Llamac:

By car or taxi: From Chiquián, you can take a car or taxi to the town of Llamac, which is one of the entry points to the Huayhuash Mountain Range. This trip takes about 2 hours.

4. From Llamac to Base Camp:

Trekking: From Llamac, you start a hike that passes through several campsites to reach the base camp of Siula Grande. The duration of the trek depends on the selected route and weather conditions, but it generally takes several days.

Chinchey 6309 m (Áncash)

Chinchey is located in the Cordillera Blanca, in the department of Áncash, Peru. It is part of the Huascarán National Park and is situated to the southeast of Huascarán. Chinchey reaches a height of 6,309 meters above sea level. It is known for its impressive glaciers and technical difficulty, making it an attractive challenge for experienced mountaineers.

How to get there:

To reach Chinchey, follow this route:

1. From Lima to Huaraz:

By plane: There are flights from Lima to Anta (Huaraz) that take approximately 1 hour.
By bus: Several bus companies offer services from Lima to Huaraz, with a journey of approximately 8 hours.

2. From Huaraz to Cebollapampa:

By car or bus: From Huaraz, you can take a car or bus to the starting point for the trek, such as Cebollapampa. The journey takes about 1.5 hours.

4. From Cebollapampa to Base Camp:

Trekking: From Cebollapampa, you start a hike towards the base camp of Chinchey. The duration of the trek can vary depending on the route and weather conditions, but it generally takes several hours.

Ampato 6288 m (Arequipa)

Ampato is located in the Andes mountain range, in the department of Arequipa, Peru. It is situated in the southern region of the country and is part of the mountainous system that includes the Sabancaya volcano. Ampato reaches a height of 6,288 meters above sea level. It is known for its glaciers and is one of the prominent mountains in the Arequipa region.

How to get there:

To reach Ampato, follow this route:

1. From Lima to Arequipa:

By plane: There are frequent flights from Lima to Arequipa, taking about 1.5 hours.
By bus: Several bus companies offer services from Lima to Arequipa, with a journey of approximately 16-18 hours.

3. From Arequipa to Chivay:

By car or bus: From Arequipa, you can take a car or bus to the town of Chivay, in the Colca Valley. This journey takes about 4-5 hours.

4. From Chivay to Cabanaconde:

By car or taxi: From Chivay, you can take a car or taxi to the town of Cabanaconde, which is the closest point to the start of the trek to Ampato. This trip takes about 2-3 hours.

5. From Cabanaconde to Base Camp:

Trekking: From Cabanaconde, you start a hike towards the base camp of Ampato. Depending on the route and weather conditions, this hike can take several hours.