The 6000m peaks of the Andes in order of height
This page last updated 29th May 2009.
This is the list of the 102 six thousand metre peaks in the Andes as revised in December 2004 for the third English edition of The Andes- A Guide for Climbers, published in October 2005. The Spanish edition of this guidebook, Los Andes - Una Guia para Escaladores, was published in August 2007 and the second French edition of Les Andes - Guide d'Alpinisme was published in November 2007.
The main source of new data for this new list of heights was the SRTM data. Many thanks to Jonathan de Ferranti of Fife for help with this. Click here for Jonathans list of the ten most prominent peaks in the Andes
A list of 99 peaks was published in the 2nd Edition of my guidebook. The three new additions to this list are 1. Chachacomani - new evidence suggest it is 6074m (rather than 5998m), 2. Volcan del Viento, a 6028m peak that doesn't appear on any Argentine map, and 3. Laguna Blanca which has been found on an Argentine map with a height of 6012m, a height supported by the SRTM data. Previous heights seen for Laguna Blanca were all under 6000m.
There are links to further information and pictures of all of the 6000m peaks in the Andes.
See also the 99% accurate 5000m peaks of the Andes which will be revised in the next few months.
Patagonian Peaks A listing of the major summits in Patagonia.
This list © 1999 - 2009 John Biggar. All heights are in metres.
We also now have a list of all the 300 or more peaks on this website in alphabetical order
The criterion used to select this list is a prominence height (re-ascent from the lowest col) of at least 400m from any higher peak. This figure was chosen for several reasons. Without greatly affecting the overall number of peaks, any larger prominence requirement eliminates some of the most notable summits in the Andes such as Tocllaraju, Jirishanca and Illampu while any lesser prominence criterion includes minor summits such as both the N and E peaks of Coropuna and up to five more Pissis peaks. In addition many surveys are not detailed enough to allow a prominence of less than 400m to be used with confidence.
By this criterion there are one hundred and two 6000m peaks in the Andes. Of the total of 102 peaks, 17 are in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru and 39 are in the Puna de Atacama area of Chile and Argentina.
The peaks are arranged below in groups of ten. The grades given are for the easiest ascent route. An asterisk by the date of first ascent denotes a peak known to have had a Pre-Colombian ascent, or on which significant ruins have been found high up. Dates in brackets indicate a disputed or uncertain first ascent.
All heights are in metres
THE SECOND HIGHEST PEAK
Perhaps the biggest debate in recent years has been whether Ojos del Salado or Pissis is the second highest summit in the Andes. Ojos del Salado has been nominated here after careful studying of the recent NASA Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data. While not producing exact summit heights for any mountains this data appears to now confirm Pissis as being under 6800m and Ojos over 6890m, with an accuracy of just 10m.
The 6000m peaks of the Andes
All peaks have a link to an information page or at least a photograph on this website but you may need to use your browsers back button to return to this page.
| PEAK | HEIGHT | GRADE | AREA | COUNTRY | FIRST ASCENT | |
| 1 to 10 | ||||||
| 1 | Aconcagua | 6959 | F | High Andes | Argentina | 1897* |
| 2 | Ojos del Salado | 6893 | F/PD | Puna | Argentina-Chile | 1937 |
| 3 | Pissis | 6795 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1937 |
| 4 | Bonete | 6759 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1970 |
| 5 | Tres Cruces Sur | 6748 | F | Puna | Argentina-Chile | 1937 |
| 6 | Huascaran Sur | 6746 | PD/AD | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1932 |
| 7 | Llullaillaco | 6739 | F | Northern Puna | Argentina-Chile | 1952* |
| 8 | Mercedario | 6700 | F | High Andes | Argentina | 1934* |
| 9 | Cazadero | 6658 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1970 |
| 10 | Huascaran Norte | 6655 | PD/AD | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1932 (1908) |
| 11 to 20 | ||||||
| 11 | Tres Cruces Cent. | 6629 | F | Puna | Chile | 1973 |
| 12 | Incahuasi | 6621 | F | Puna | Argentina-Chile | 1913 * |
| 13 | Yerupaja | 6617 | D/TD | Cord. Huayhuash | Peru | 1950 |
| 14 | Tupungato | 6570 | F | High Andes | Argentina-Chile | 1897 |
| 15 | Sajama | 6542 | PD | Cord. Occidental | Bolivia | 1939 |
| 16 | El Muerto | 6488 | F | Puna | Argentina-Chile | 1950 |
| 17 | Antofalla | 6440 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1954* |
| 18 | Illimani | 6438 | PD/AD | Cord. Real | Bolivia | 1898 |
| 19 | Nacimiento | 6436 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1937 |
| 20 | Veladero | 6436 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1986 |
| 21 to 30 | ||||||
| 21 | Ancohuma | 6427 | PD/AD | Cord. Real | Bolivia | 1919 |
| 22 | Coropuna | 6425 | F | Cord. Occidental | Peru | 1911* |
| 23 | El Condor | 6414 | F | Puna | Argentina | 2003 |
| 24 | Huandoy | 6395 | AD/D | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1932 |
| 25 | Ramada | 6384 | F | High Andes | Argentina | 1934 |
| 26 | Cachi | 6380 | F | Northern Puna | Argentina | 1950 |
| 27 | Ausangate | 6372 | AD | Cord. Vilcanota | Peru | 1953 |
| 28 | Huantsan | 6369 | TD | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1952 |
| 29 | Illampu | 6368 | AD/D | Cord. Real | Bolivia | 1928 |
| 30 | Chopicalqui | 6345 | AD | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1932 |
| 31 to 40 | ||||||
| 31 | Siula Grande | 6344 | D | Cord. Huayhuash | Peru | 1936 |
| 32 | Parinacota | 6342 | F | Cord. Occidental | Chile - Bolivia | 1928 |
| 33 | Reclus | 6335 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1986* |
| 34 | Chinchey | 6309 | AD | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1939 |
| 35 | Ampato | 6288 | F | Cord. Occidental | Peru | 1966* |
| 36 | Pomerape | 6282 | F | Cord. Occidental | Chile-Bolivia | (1946) |
| 37 | Palcaraju | 6274 | AD | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1939 |
| 38 | Salcantay | 6271 | AD | Cord. Vilcabamba | Peru | 1952 |
| 39 | Chimborazo | 6270 | F | Ecuador | Ecuador | 1880 |
| 40 | Majadita | 6266 | F | High Andes | Argentina | 1996 |
| 41 to 50 | ||||||
| 41 | Santa Cruz | 6241 | TD | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1948 |
| 42 | Tres Quebradas | 6239 | F | Puna | Argentina-Chile | 1937 |
| 43 | Pular | 6233 | F | Northern Puna | Chile | 1960* |
| 44 | La Mesa | 6230 | F/PD | High Andes | Argentina | 1934 |
| 45 | Olivares | 6216 | F | High Andes | Argentina-Chile | 1964 |
| 46 | Solo | 6205 | F | Puna | Argentina-Chile | (1949) |
| 47 | Copa | 6188 | PD/AD | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1932 |
| 48 | Quemado | 6184 | F | Northern Puna | Argentina | 1979 |
| 49 | Aucanquilcha | 6176 | F | Cord. Occidental | Chile | 1935* |
| 50 | Vallecitos | 6168 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1999 |
| 51 to 60 | ||||||
| 51 | El Toro | 6168 | F | High Andes | Argentina-Chile | 1964* |
| 52 | Ranrapalca | 6162 | D | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1939 |
| 53 | Tortolas | 6160 | F | High Andes | Argentina - Chile | 1924* |
| 54 | Pucaranra | 6156 | AD/D | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1948 |
| 55 | Alto | 6148 | n/k | High Andes | Chile-Argentina | 1944 |
| 56 | El Ermitaño | 6146 | F | Puna | Chile | 1967 |
| 57 | San Pedro | 6145 | F | Cord. Occidental | Chile | 1903 |
| 58 | Queva | 6140 | F | Northern Puna | Argentina | 1904* |
| 59 | Sierra Nevada | 6127 | F | Puna | Argentina-Chile | 2000 |
| 60 | Colanguil | 6122 | F | High Andes | Argentina | n/k |
| 61 to 70 | ||||||
| 61 | Hualcan | 6122 | AD/D | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1939 |
| 62 | Medusa | 6120 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1986 |
| 63 | Barrancas Blancas | 6119 | F | Puna | Chile | n/k |
| 64 | Callangate | 6110 | n/k | Cord. Vilcanota | Peru | 1957 |
| 65 | Chacraraju | 6108 | ED1/ED2 | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1956 |
| 66 | Marmolejo | 6108 | F | High Andes | Argentina-Chile | 1928 |
| 67 | Jatunriti | 6106 | AD | Cord. Vilcanota | Peru | 1955 |
| 68 | Chearoco | 6104 | AD/D | Cord. Real | Bolivia | 1928 |
| 69 | Famatina | 6097 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1947 |
| 70 | Aracar | 6095 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1958* |
| 71 to 80 | ||||||
| 71 | Jirishanca | 6094 | D/TD | Cord. Huayhuash | Peru | 1957 |
| 72 | Solimana | 6093 | n/k | Cord. Occidental | Peru | 1970 |
| 73 | Jatunhuma | 6093 | n/k | Cord. Vilcanota | Peru | 1957 |
| 74 | San Pablo | 6092 | F | Cord. Occidental | Chile | 1910 |
| 75 | Huayna Potosi | 6088 | PD | Cord. Real | Bolivia | 1919 |
| 76 | Colorados | 6080 | F | Puna | Argentina-Chile | 1999 |
| 77 | Chachacomani | 6074 | AD | Cord. Real | Bolivia | 1947 |
| 78 | El Plomo | 6070 | F | High Andes | Argentina-Chile | 1910 |
| 79 | Negro Pabellon | 6070 | n/k | High Andes | Argentina | 1969 |
| 80 | Veladero N.E(Baboso) | 6070 | F | Puna | Argentina | 2000 - by us!! |
| 81 to 90 | ||||||
| 81 | Vicuñas | 6067 | F | Puna | Chile | n/k |
| 82 | Guallatiri | 6063 | F | Cord. Occidental | Chile | 1926 |
| 83 | El Fraile | 6061 | F | Puna | Argentina-Chile | 1956 |
| 84 | Chachani | 6057 | F | Cord. Occidental | Peru | 1889* |
| 85 | Copiapo | 6052 | F | Puna | Chile | 1937* |
| 86 | Acotango | 6052 | n/k | Cord. Occidental | Chile Bolivia | 1965 |
| 87 | Socompa | 6051 | F | Northern Puna | Argentina-Chile | 1905* |
| 88 | Yayamari | 6049 | PD/AD | Cord. Vilcanota | Peru | 1957 |
| 89 | Pili | 6046 | F | Northern Puna | Chile | 1939* |
| 90 | Pucajirca | 6046 | TD | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1961 |
| 91 to 99 | ||||||
| 91 | Chaupi Orco | 6044 | PD | Apolobamba | Bolivia- Peru | 1958 |
| 92 | Quitaraju | 6036 | AD/D | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1936 |
| 93 | Tocllaraju | 6034 | AD | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1939 |
| 94 | Peña Blanca | 6030 | F | Puna | Chile | 1956* |
| 95 | Salin | 6029 | F | Northern Puna | Argentina-Chile | 1960* |
| 96 | Volcan del Viento | 6028 | F | Puna | Argentina | 1937 |
| 97 | Hualca Hualca | 6025 | n/k | Cord. Occidental | Peru | before 1990 |
| 98 | Caraz | 6025 | AD/D | Cord. Blanca | Peru | 1955 |
| 99 | Palpana | 6023 | F | Cord. Occidental | Chile | 1977* |
| 100 | San Francisco | 6018 | F | Puna | Argentina-Chile | 1913 |
| 101 to 102 | ||||||
| 101 | Laguna Blanca | 6012 | F | Puna | Argentina | n/k |
| 102 | Uturunco | 6008 | F | Cord. Lipez | Bolivia | 1955 |
This list © 1999-2009 John Biggar.
Top of PageFor number 103 onwards see our 5000m peaks of the Andes (Due to be updated shortly)
SOME NOTES
The 2000 SRTM data have now shown that the peak of Cienaga in the Argentine Puna near Salta and the peak of Los Gemelos 6196m do not have sufficient prominence to count as independent 6000m peaks on the above list.
The following peaks, all sometimes quoted higher than 6000m have been omitted from the list because most are given less than 6000m on the best IGM maps. Where possible the SRTM data has also been checked to verify that they are not over 6000m. Artesonraju 5999m, Pumasillo 5991m, Plata 5955m, Contrahierbas 5954m, Juncal 5950m+ (may be about c.6020m), Ameghino c.5940m, Lasunayoc 5936m, Polacos c.5935m, Cha? c.5930m, Nuevo Mundo 5929m, Galan 5912m, Pilar de los Pailas (Luracatao) 5946m and Acay 5770m. Sabancaya 5976m is now possibly higher than 6000m as it was erupting for many years in the 90?s!!
SOURCES FOR HEIGHTS USED ON THIS WEBSITE
In areas of South America the heights of some peaks are still subject to debate. Some Argentine peaks have AIGM survey heights that are 300m higher than the Chilean heights. The main areas for which no accurate survey maps exist are the Mercedario to Tupungato area of Argentina and the Patagonian ice-caps area. The heights given on this site are thought to be generally the most accurate figures taken from the following sources. In all areas Neate?s book was used when no survey height was available. In the most uncertain areas detailed above confirmation of many heights has been sought from the SRTM 2000 data.
Venezuela and Colombia - Neate, confirmed where possible in Colombia by CIGM 1:100,000
Ecuador - IGM 1:50,000 newest sheet available.
Peru - IGM 1:100,000 sheets. The AV 1930?s surveys of the Cordillera Blanca have been used where the PIGM sheets do not give a height (Note - the AV heights are mostly 20-30m higher than PIGM heights)
Bolivia - The AV maps for the Illimani and Ancohuma areas, otherwise BIGM 1:50,000 sheets or 1:250,000 sheets.
Argentina - mostly Argentine IGM 1:250,000 sheets. SRTM data was used to confirm or change many heights in poorly surveyed areas.
Chile and Chile/Bolivia and Chile/Argentina border peaks - Chilean IGM 1:50,000 or 1:250,000 sheets, which are generally much more modern than Argentine surveys in this area.
Patagonia - ChIGM 1:250,000 sheets where possible, Andes Patagonicos sheets for peaks on the icecaps, Fitzroy area and Cord. Darwin with some more important heights confirmed (where possible) by the SRTM data.
THE TEN MOST PROMINENT PEAKS IN THE ANDES
The ten peaks of any height in the Andes in order of prominence above any higher summit are listed here. Thanks to Jonathan de Ferranti and Eberhard Jurgalski and others for help with this list and many other height questions. See the Prominence website for more details. There is much debate about whether Pico Bolivar or Pico Colon is the highest point of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Bolivar has been chosen here.
| Name | Location | Height (m) | Prominence (m) |
| Aconcagua | Argentina | 6959 | 6959 |
| Pico Bolivar | Colombia | 5775 | 5584 |
| Chimborazo | Ecuador | 6270 | 4125 |
| Pico Bolivar | Venezuela | 4979 | 3955 |
| San Valentin | Chilean Patagonia | 4058 | 3696 |
| Ojos del Salado | Chile-Argentina | 6893 | 3688 |
| Ritacuba Blanco | Colombia | 5410 | 3645 |
| Mercedario | Argentina | 6700 | 3333 |
|
San Lorenzo |
Chile-Argentina | 3706 | 3319 |
|
Volcan Lautaro |
Chilean Patagonia | 3580 | 3302 |
