Last updated September 12, 2026
The 15 Greatest Peaks of the Andes: An Interactive Climber’s Ranking
Compare Aconcagua, Cerro Torre, Fitz Roy, Alpamayo, Huascarán and ten more defining Andean mountains—then change the ranking based on what matters most to your own lifetime list.
Aconcagua ranks first overall—but a technical alpinist may reasonably place Cerro Torre or Fitz Roy at number one.
Aconcagua wins the combined ranking for altitude, expedition stature and progression value. Cerro Torre is the range’s greatest technical icon. Fitz Roy is the greatest granite massif. Alpamayo is the classic beauty winner. Chimborazo and Huayna Potosí are the strongest practical gateways into 6,000-metre Andean climbing.
Why the Andes are personal to us
Our family has traveled through Patagonia and experienced the scale, wind and drama of the Southern Andes firsthand. We have also stood at the base of Aconcagua and looked toward the highest summit in the Americas.
We have not climbed Aconcagua, and this page does not imply that we have. It remains one of the mountains we most hope to climb in the future. Those experiences shaped this ranking: Patagonia showed us that a 3,000-metre granite tower can feel more imposing than mountains twice its height, while Aconcagua showed us the scale and commitment of the Central Andes.
Read our Patagonia trip report · Explore the Aconcagua climbing guide
Aconcagua
The highest mountain in the Americas and the Andes’ defining expedition.
Cerro Torre
A benchmark for elite alpine climbing, history and Patagonian weather.
Fitz Roy
The Andes’ most recognizable technical skyline.
Alpamayo
A fluted pyramid that combines symmetry with real alpine difficulty.
Huayna Potosí
Exceptional access and value when approached with proper acclimatization.
Chimborazo
A logical next step after Ecuador’s lower volcanoes.
Ojos del Salado
The highest volcano on Earth and a true Atacama expedition.
Yerupajá
A remote and formidable technical mountain with world-class stature.
Build Your Andes Lifetime List
Move the sliders to change what “greatest” means. The tool recalculates every peak using your priorities.
Your top five Andes peaks
The Andes Peak Score
The score measures why a mountain matters to climbers. It does not measure safety, summit probability or whether the peak is appropriate for a particular person.
The 15 Greatest Peaks of the Andes
| # | Peak | Country | Elevation | Category | Climber level | Best season | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AconcaguaCentral Andes | Argentina | 6,962m | Greatest overall Andes expedition | High-altitude expedition | December–February | 96 |
| 2 | Cerro TorrePatagonia | Argentina / Chile | 3,128m | Greatest technical icon | Elite alpine climbing | December–February | 95 |
| 3 | Fitz RoyPatagonia | Argentina / Chile | 3,405m | Greatest granite climbing massif | Elite alpine rock | December–February | 94 |
| 4 | AlpamayoCordillera Blanca | Peru | 5,947m | Most beautiful technical ice mountain | Advanced alpine ice | June–August | 93 |
| 5 | HuascaránCordillera Blanca | Peru | 6,768m | Greatest Peruvian giant | Serious glaciated 6,000er | June–August | 91 |
| 6 | Ojos del SaladoAtacama | Chile / Argentina | 6,893m | Greatest high-altitude volcano objective | Remote high-altitude expedition | December–March | 89 |
| 7 | ChimborazoEquatorial Andes | Ecuador | 6,263m | Best first major Andean 6,000er | Guided glacier climb | June–August / December–January | 88 |
| 8 | YerupajáCordillera Huayhuash | Peru | 6,635m | Greatest underappreciated Andean giant | Elite technical expedition | June–August | 87 |
| 9 | CotopaxiEquatorial Andes | Ecuador | 5,897m | Best first guided glacier volcano | Introductory glaciated mountaineering | June–August / December–January | 85 |
| 10 | IllimaniCordillera Real | Bolivia | 6,438m | Greatest Bolivian skyline mountain | Serious glaciated 6,000er | June–August | 84 |
| 11 | ChacrarajuCordillera Blanca | Peru | 6,112m | Most serious Cordillera Blanca technical prize | Elite alpine ice and mixed | June–August | 83 |
| 12 | Huayna PotosíCordillera Real | Bolivia | 6,088m | Best first guided 6,000er for value | Introductory 6,000m glacier climb | June–August | 82 |
| 13 | SajamaWestern Cordillera | Bolivia | 6,542m | Best remote Bolivian volcano | Remote high-altitude glacier climb | June–August | 81 |
| 14 | ArtesonrajuCordillera Blanca | Peru | 6,025m | Greatest cinematic pyramid | Advanced technical ice | June–August | 80 |
| 15 | MercedarioCentral Andes | Argentina | 6,720m | Best quiet alternative to Aconcagua | Remote high-altitude expedition | December–February | 79 |
The crown of the Andes and the highest mountain in the Americas.
A granite and rime-ice tower that represents the edge of world alpinism.
The defining granite skyline of El Chaltén and a global symbol of climbing.
A near-perfect pyramid of fluted ice in the Cordillera Blanca.
Peru’s highest summit and the crown of the world’s highest tropical mountain range.
The highest volcano on Earth in the austere Atacama high desert.
The point on Earth’s surface farthest from the planet’s center.
A remote, steep and dangerous pyramid dominating the Cordillera Huayhuash.
One of the world’s most recognizable volcanic cones and an efficient glacier-training objective.
The immense multi-summit mountain that dominates the skyline above La Paz.
A steep, intimidating ice-and-rock pyramid above the Parón Valley.
A highly accessible 6,000m training peak close to La Paz.
Bolivia’s highest mountain rising above an extraordinary Altiplano landscape.
A sharply symmetrical ice pyramid often linked to the Paramount mountain silhouette.
A massive 6,700m expedition peak with far fewer climbers than Aconcagua.
Which Andes Peak Fits You?
Select your travel month, available time, current experience and primary goal. The matcher returns three realistic starting points.
Your three matches
A 12-Month Andes Climbing Calendar
The range is long enough that one region is usually entering a useful season while another is closing. Choose a month to see the strongest regions and peak types.
The 100 Major 6,000m Peaks of the Andes
Counting 6,000-metre peaks depends on prominence. John Biggar’s Andes list identifies 100 major summits using at least 400 metres of topographic prominence, plus a separate subsidiary list for peaks with 200–400 metres.
| Preview rank | Peak | Elevation | Country | Range | Counting rule |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aconcagua | 6,962m | Argentina | Central Andes | 400m+ major peak |
| 2 | Ojos del Salado | 6,893m | Chile / Argentina | Atacama | 400m+ major peak |
| 3 | Monte Pissis | 6,793m | Argentina | Atacama / Puna | 400m+ major peak |
| 4 | Huascarán Sur | 6,768m | Peru | Cordillera Blanca | 400m+ major peak |
| 5 | Cerro Bonete Chico | 6,759m | Argentina | Puna | 400m+ major peak |
| 6 | Nevado Tres Cruces Sur | 6,748m | Chile / Argentina | Atacama | 400m+ major peak |
| 7 | Llullaillaco | 6,739m | Chile / Argentina | Puna | 400m+ major peak |
| 8 | Mercedario | 6,720m | Argentina | Central Andes | 400m+ major peak |
| 9 | Walter Penck / Cazadero | 6,658m | Argentina | Puna | 400m+ major peak |
| 10 | Incahuasi | 6,640m | Chile / Argentina | Atacama | 400m+ major peak |
| 11 | Yerupajá | 6,635m | Peru | Cordillera Huayhuash | 400m+ major peak |
| 12 | Tupungato | 6,570m | Chile / Argentina | Central Andes | 400m+ major peak |
| 13 | Sajama | 6,542m | Bolivia | Western Cordillera | 400m+ major peak |
| 14 | Illimani | 6,438m | Bolivia | Cordillera Real | 400m+ major peak |
| 15 | Coropuna | 6,425m | Peru | Cordillera Ampato | 400m+ major peak |
Three Andes Progression Paths
First 6,000m progression
- Ecuador acclimatization peaks
- Cotopaxi or Cayambe
- Chimborazo
- Huayna Potosí
- Illimani
- Aconcagua
Cordillera Blanca progression
- Pisco
- Tocllaraju
- Huascarán or Chopicalqui
- Alpamayo
- Artesonraju
- Chacraraju
Patagonia technical progression
- Patagonia trekking and weather experience
- Long alpine rock routes elsewhere
- Minor Chaltén massif objectives
- Aguja Guillaumet or comparable
- Fitz Roy routes
- Cerro Torre-level objectives
The Andes by Country
| Country | Defining character | Highest peak | Best-known objectives | Primary season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Argentina | Highest non-Asian peak, Central Andes expeditions and Patagonia | Aconcagua 6,962m | Aconcagua, Mercedario, Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre | November–March |
| Chile | Atacama volcanoes and Patagonian massifs | Ojos del Salado 6,893m | Ojos del Salado, Tres Cruces, shared Patagonia objectives | October–March |
| Peru | The world’s highest tropical range and concentrated technical 6,000ers | Huascarán 6,768m | Huascarán, Alpamayo, Yerupajá, Chacraraju | May–September |
| Bolivia | Accessible 6,000m progression from La Paz and the Altiplano | Sajama 6,542m | Illimani, Huayna Potosí, Sajama | May–September |
| Ecuador | Equatorial volcanoes and efficient glacier progression | Chimborazo 6,263m | Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, Cayambe, Antisana | June–August and December–January |
| Colombia | Northern Andes, tropical glaciers and remote Sierra Nevada | Pico Cristóbal Colón / Simón Bolívar area | Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Cocuy | Region-specific |
| Venezuela | Sierra Nevada de Mérida and high tropical rock objectives | Pico Bolívar | Pico Bolívar and surrounding summits | Region-specific |
Greatest Andes Peaks FAQ
What is the greatest peak in the Andes?
Aconcagua ranks first overall because it combines the highest elevation in the Americas, Seven Summits stature, expedition commitment and unmatched progression value. A technical climber may reasonably rank Cerro Torre or Fitz Roy first instead.
What is the highest mountain in the Andes?
Aconcagua in Argentina is the highest mountain in the Andes and the Americas. This page uses 6,962 metres, consistent with current Argentine government references.
How many major 6,000-metre peaks are in the Andes?
John Biggar’s Andes peak list identifies 100 major 6,000-metre summits using at least 400 metres of topographic prominence. Different counting rules produce different totals.
What is the best first 6,000-metre peak in the Andes?
Huayna Potosí is one of the most accessible guided 6,000ers, while Chimborazo offers a stronger multi-day progression when paired with lower Ecuador volcanoes. Neither should be treated as an easy mountain.
What is the most beautiful mountain in the Andes?
Alpamayo is the classic answer for symmetry and fluted ice. Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Artesonraju and Yerupajá are equally strong contenders under different definitions of beauty.
What is the hardest mountain in the Andes?
There is no single universal answer. Cerro Torre, Yerupajá and Chacraraju are among the range’s most serious technical objectives, while conditions and route choice can change the ranking.
When is the best time to climb in the Andes?
Central Andes and Patagonia objectives generally favor austral summer, while Peru and Bolivia favor the May-to-September dry season. Ecuador has multiple useful windows, so an Andean climbing season exists in every month.
Have the Global Summit Guide team climbed Aconcagua?
No. The Ludlow family has visited Patagonia and stood at the base of Aconcagua, but has not climbed Aconcagua. It remains a future objective.
Key factual sources
Build the Andes list that fits your future
Start with a realistic next mountain, then keep the lifetime list visible. The Andes can provide glacier training, first 6,000ers, remote expeditions, high-altitude progression and the world’s most serious technical alpine climbing.
Build my lifetime listMatch my next peakWhich of the Andes’ Greatest Mountains Actually Fits You?
The main ranking measures why each mountain matters. This table answers a different question: which objective fits your current experience, available time, logistics tolerance and climbing goal?
| # | Mountain | Difficulty / climber level | Typical trip | Relative cost / access | Best for | Why it belongs on a lifetime list |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aconcagua | High-altitude expedition | 18–22 days | $$$$ · major park-permit, mule and expedition infrastructure, but unusually developed logistics for a mountain this high. | Experienced high-altitude trekkers ready for their first major expedition-scale summit. | Highest mountain outside Asia, Seven Summits stature and the Andes’ defining altitude objective. |
| 2 | Cerro Torre | Elite alpine | 3–6 week weather window | $$$$ · El Chaltén access is easy; the technical climbing, weather window and self-sufficient logistics are not. | Elite alpinists with advanced rock, ice, mixed and Patagonian weather experience. | One of world alpinism’s defining technical and historical mountains. |
| 3 | Fitz Roy | Elite alpine rock | 3–5 week weather window | $$$$ · straightforward access to El Chaltén, but summit routes require elite technical systems. | Highly experienced alpine rock climbers who can move fast during short Patagonia weather windows. | The Andes’ most recognizable granite skyline and a global climbing symbol. |
| 4 | Alpamayo | Advanced alpine ice | 10–14 days | $$$ · Huaraz gateway, expedition approach and technical guide/logistics commonly required. | Climbers with solid glacier experience and sustained steep-ice competence. | The classic Andean beauty prize: extraordinary shape plus genuinely technical climbing. |
| 5 | Huascarán | Serious glaciated 6,000er | 10–14 day mountain program, longer with proper acclimatization | $$$ · Huaraz / Musho access, guide and glacier logistics, conditions highly consequential. | Experienced glaciated-peak climbers seeking a major 6,000m expedition rather than a first glacier climb. | Peru’s highest summit and the crown of the Cordillera Blanca. |
| 6 | Ojos del Salado | Remote altitude expedition | 10–14 days | $$$ · remote 4×4 access, high-desert logistics and significant acclimatization planning. | Climbers who want extreme altitude and expedition remoteness without sustained technical climbing. | Highest volcano on Earth and one of the Andes’ most distinctive environments. |
| 7 | Chimborazo | Guided glacier 6,000er | 7–10 day Ecuador program | $$ · strong road/refuge access and efficient Ecuador logistics, but acclimatization days remain essential. | Climbers moving from lower glaciated volcanoes into a serious first major 6,000m summit. | Exceptional progression value and the point farthest from Earth’s center. |
| 8 | Yerupajá | Elite technical expedition | 2–4 weeks | $$$$ · remote Huayhuash access, expedition logistics and serious technical/objective hazards. | Elite expedition alpinists with extensive technical Peru and high-risk route judgment. | A world-class giant whose seriousness is far greater than its mainstream recognition. |
| 9 | Cotopaxi | Intro glacier mountaineering | 5–8 day acclimatization program | $$ · excellent Quito/park access and established guiding, subject to volcanic and glacier conditions. | Strong hikers ready to learn basic guided glacier systems after proper acclimatization. | One of Earth’s most recognizable volcanoes and an efficient Andean progression mountain. |
| 10 | Illimani | Serious glaciated 6,000er | 6–9 days | $$ · La Paz provides excellent staging, but the upper route is more serious than the access suggests. | Climbers who have already succeeded on Huayna Potosí-level objectives and want a larger Bolivian step. | Bolivia’s defining skyline mountain and a superb bridge toward larger expeditions. |
| 11 | Chacraraju | Elite ice & mixed | 2–3 weeks | $$$$ · Huaraz / Parón logistics, technical expedition support and highly conditions-dependent lines. | Advanced ice and mixed alpinists already operating around Alpamayo-level technical difficulty. | One of the Cordillera Blanca’s premier technical prizes. |
| 12 | Huayna Potosí | Intro guided 6,000er | 3–6 days plus acclimatization | $ · unusually close to La Paz with established local guiding and relatively low logistics cost. | Properly acclimatized climbers seeking a first guided 6,000m glacier objective. | Exceptional access, value and progression utility. |
| 13 | Sajama | Remote glacier volcano | 7–10 days | $$ · remote Altiplano access but comparatively modest commercial expedition infrastructure. | Acclimatized climbers who want a quieter, more remote 6,500m Bolivian objective. | Bolivia’s highest mountain and one of the Andes’ great high-desert volcanoes. |
| 14 | Artesonraju | Advanced technical ice | 8–12 days | $$$ · Cordillera Blanca access with technical guide/logistics and conditions-sensitive ice terrain. | Climbers with prior steep-ice experience who value aesthetics as much as altitude. | An extraordinary ice pyramid with immense photographic and climbing appeal. |
| 15 | Mercedario | Remote altitude expedition | 14–20 days | $$$ · fewer established services and more remote logistics than nearby Aconcagua. | Experienced expedition climbers who want Aconcagua-scale altitude with much greater solitude. | One of the Andes’ great under-climbed 6,700m giants. |
Difficulty is intentionally not one grade.
Aconcagua’s problem is primarily expedition altitude. Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre are elite technical alpine objectives. Huayna Potosí is comparatively accessible but still reaches 6,088 metres. A single difficulty scale would hide the differences that actually determine whether a mountain fits you.
The $ symbols are relative—not live quotes.
They compare the logistics burden of these 15 mountains. Operator pricing, permits, guide ratios, exchange rates, transport and technical conditions change by season. Use the individual mountain guide when you move from lifetime-list research into actual trip planning.
Turn the Lifetime Ranking Into a Realistic Next Mountain
“Greatest” and “best next climb” are different questions. Start with the path that matches the kind of Andean climbing you actually want to build toward.
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Global Summit Guide is an independent mountaineering resource founded in 2026. The team combines first-hand trekking and climbing experience with in-depth research and professional health and nutrition review to help climbers choose objectives, prepare properly, and stay safe.
Health, altitude, and nutrition content is reviewed by Taylor Ludlow (Registered Nurse) and Brigg Hoopes (Nutritionist).
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