Highest Mountain in Every South American Country
South America is the altitude continent. Nine of its twelve country highpoints are Andean, and the crux on almost all of them is acclimatisation rather than technical climbing.
12 peaks · 0 climbed by Martin
| # | Country | Highest point | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Argentina | Aconcagua | 6,961 m |
| 2 | Chile | Ojos del Salado | 6,893 m |
| 3 | Peru | Huascarán | 6,768 m |
| 4 | Bolivia | Nevado Sajama | 6,542 m |
| 5 | Ecuador | Chimborazo | 6,263 m |
| 6 | Colombia | Pico Cristóbal Colón | 5,700 m |
| 7 | Venezuela | Pico Bolívar | 4,978 m |
| 8 | Brazil | Pico da Neblina | 2,994 m |
| 9 | Guyana | Mount Roraima | 2,772 m |
| 10 | Suriname | Juliana Top | 1,230 m |
| 11 | Paraguay | Cerro Peró | 842 m |
| 12 | Uruguay | Cerro Catedral | 514 m |
The dry Andean season from December to February suits the southern peaks; the tropical Andes climb best from June to September.
Quick stats
Peaks on this list
12
0 climbed by Martin
Highest
6,961 m
Aconcagua, Argentina
Lowest
514 m
Cerro Catedral, Uruguay
Median elevation
4,978 m
52,457 m stacked total
Continents covered
South America
Main ranges
Western Cordillera, Andes (volcanic) (2) · Principal Andes (1) · Andes (volcanic) (1) · Cordillera Blanca, Andes (1) · Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (1)
Difficulty spread
e.g. Cerro Catedral (Uruguay)
e.g. Cerro Peró (Paraguay)
e.g. Aconcagua (Argentina), Ojos del Salado (Chile), Huascarán (Peru)
Route options
Walk-ups and drive-ups
Marked trail, road or short forest walk. Under two hours for most people, no navigation problems.
Gear: Trainers or light boots, water, a phone map. Nothing technical.
Hiking routes
Long day hikes on paths or easy scree, occasional hands-on scrambling steps but no exposure that needs a rope.
Gear: Boots, poles, layers, headtorch for an early start.
Alpine routes
Multi-day expeditions, high altitude, real glacier hazard or committing rock and ice. Acclimatisation is part of the plan.
Gear: Full alpine kit, crevasse rescue, tent or hut chain, and a partner you trust.
Best season
tropical peaks
9 on this listYear-round, driest in the local dry season
Near the equator temperature barely shifts; rainfall decides. Aim for the dry months and start before dawn to beat afternoon convection.
southern peaks
3 on this listDecember – March
Southern-hemisphere summer. Expect the reverse calendar from Europe — the Andes and Oceania peaks come into condition when the Alps close out.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the highest mountain in South America?
Aconcagua at 6,961 m in Argentina — the highest mountain outside Asia.
Which South American highpoints are non-technical?
Aconcagua's normal route and Ojos del Salado are walk-ups at altitude; Huascarán and Illimani need real glacier and rope skills.
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