Andes Website : Climbing, Skiing, Trekking and Guidebooks in South America

The 6000m peaks of the Andes in order of height

 This page last updated 17th January 2023.  

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NEW - I now have a (provisional) list of the climbers who have climbed the highest number of these 6000m peaks.

This is the list of the 100 six thousand metre peaks in the Andes as revised for the fifth English edition of The Andes- A Guide for Climbers, published in March 2020. The list has been revised to reflect recent research by myself (John Biggar) Eberhard Jurgalski, Edward Earl and Maximo Kausch using digital elevation data sources and photographic analysis.

Heights in red below have been revised due to the SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) data, ASTER data, handheld GPS data or other recent information sources. Many thanks to Jonathan de Ferranti in 2004 and also to Eberhard Jurgalski, Edward Earl and Maximo Kausch in 2013-2015 for help with this.  Click here for Jonathans list of the ten most prominent peaks in the Andes.

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   This link is to the index page for eight further pages containing peaks from 5000m-5999m.

Patagonian Peaks  A listing of the major summits in Patagonia.

All peak lists on this website Š 1999 - 2023 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


HISTORICAL NOTES & CURRENT ISSUES

A list of 99 peaks was published in  the 2nd Edition of my guidebook in 1999. There were three new additions to the list for the 3rd edition in 2005.  1. Chachacomani - new evidence suggested it was 6074m (rather than 5998m), 2. Volcan del Viento, a 6028m peak that doesn't appear (named) on any Argentine map, and 3. Laguna Blanca which was found on an Argentine 1:100,000 map by me, with a height of 6012m, a height supported by the SRTM data. Previous heights seen for Laguna Blanca were all under 6000m. 

Two peaks have now been deleted from the list for the 4th edition, resulting in a list of exactly one hundred 6000m peaks. The two deletions are Tocllaraju and Caraz in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru, both now thought to be just under 6000m, and given provisional height s of c.5980m now. For Tocllaraju there is strong digital elevation evidence. For Caraz the evidence is from photographic analysis by myself and Edward Earl and is admittedly less strong.

The biggest current issues with this list are over the height of some peaks in Peru, particularly in the Cordillera Blanca. I have generally used the PIGM heights here, as SRTM data is often void.  However Artesonraju, Caraz and Contrahierbas may eventually prove to be over 6000m whilst Tocllaraju is almost certainly under. There is also some doubt about whether Pucajirca is over 6000m or not. I feel that due to glacial/snow melt many snow-covered peaks in the Blanca may now be 10-20m lower than they were last century. In particular the height of Huascaran Sur is really in need of a good modern survey. See the NOTES at the foot of the table for more details about specific peaks.

Recent changes made for the 5th edition of "The Andes - A Guide for Climbers" include revising Pucajirca's height downwards to an estimated 6010m and using a recent handheld GPS reading for San Francisco of 6038m (digital elevation data indicate 6030m or higher).

 


SELECTION PROCESS

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 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. This cut-off is also remarkably close to the 7% rule, that Eberhard Jurgalski and others have been promoting as a worldwide "standard" for measuring the independence of a peak. Whether you use the 7% rule or the 400m rule you end up with the same list of 6000m peaks in the Andes, notwithstanding other uncertainties!.

By this criterion there are currently exactly one hundred 6000m peaks in the Andes. Of the total of 100 peaks, 15 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.

For a list of the 31 additional 6000m peaks with between 200m and 400m prominence see our Subsidiary 6000m peaks  page.

All heights are in metres


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 6793 F Puna Argentina 1937
4 Bonete 6759 F Puna Argentina 1970
5 Llullaillaco * 6752 F Northern Puna Argentina-Chile 1952*
6 Tres Cruces Sur 6748 F Puna Argentina-Chile 1937
7 Huascaran Sur * 6746 PD/AD Cord. Blanca Peru 1932
8 Mercedario 6710 F High Andes Argentina 1934*
9 Cazadero 6670 F Puna Argentina 1970
10 Huascaran Norte 6655 PD/AD Cord. Blanca Peru 1908 (1932)
  11 to 20
11 Tres Cruces Central 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 6550 PD Cord. Occidental Bolivia 1939
16 El Muerto 6510 F Puna Argentina-Chile 1950
17 Nacimiento 6460 F Puna Argentina 1937
18 Antofalla 6440 F Puna Argentina 1954 *
19 Illimani 6438 PD/AD Cord. Real Bolivia 1898
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 (Libertador) 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 Ampato 6288 F Cord. Occidental Peru 1966 *
34 Pomerape 6282 F Cord. Occidental Chile-Bolivia (1946)
35 Reclus 6275 F Puna Argentina 1986*
36 Salcantay 6271 AD Cord. Vilcabamba Peru 1952
37 Chimborazo 6270 F Ecuador Ecuador 1880
38 Majadita 6266 F High Andes Argentina 1996
39 Santa Cruz 6241 TD Cord. Blanca Peru 1948
40 Tres Quebradas 6239 F Puna Argentina-Chile 1937
41 to 50
41 Pular 6233 F Northern Puna Chile 1960 *
42 Chinchey * 6222 AD Cord. Blanca Peru 1939
43 Olivares 6216 F High Andes Argentina-Chile 1964
44 Solo 6205 F Puna Argentina-Chile (1949)
45 Palcaraju c.6200 AD Cord. Blanca Peru 1939
46 Copa * 6188 PD/AD Cord. Blanca Peru 1932
47 Quemado (Palermo) 6184 F Northern Puna Argentina 1979
48 La Mesa 6180 F/PD High Andes Argentina 1934
49 Aucanquilcha 6176 F Cord. Occidental Chile 1935 *
50 El Toro 6168 F High Andes Argentina-Chile 1964 *
51 to 60
51 Ranrapalca 6162 D Cord. Blanca Peru 1939
52 Tortolas 6160 F High Andes Argentina - Chile 1924 *
53 Hualcan * 6160 AD/D Cord. Blanca Peru 1939
54 Pucaranra 6156 AD/D Cord. Blanca Peru 1948
55 Alto (San Juan) 6148 n/k High Andes Chile-Argentina 1944
56 El Ermitaņo 6146 F Puna Chile 1967
57 San Pedro 6145 F Cord. Occidental Chile 1903
58 Queva  (Quehuar) 6140 F Northern Puna Argentina 1904 *
59 Sierra Nevada 6140 F Puna Argentina-Chile 2000
60 Colanguil 6122 F High Andes Argentina n/k
61 to 70
61 Medusa 6120 F Puna Argentina 1986
62 Vallecitos 6120 F Puna Argentina 1999
63 Barrancas Blancas 6119 F Puna Chile n/k
64 Callangate (Collpa Ananta) 6110 n/k Cord. Vilcanota Peru 1957
65 San Pablo 6110 F Cord. Occidental Chile 1910
66 Chacraraju 6108 ED1/ED2 Cord. Blanca Peru 1956
67 Marmolejo 6108 F High Andes Argentina-Chile 1928
68 Jatunriti (Chumpe) 6106 AD Cord. Vilcanota Peru 1955
69 Chearoco 6104 AD/D Cord. Real Bolivia 1928
70 Famatina (Belgrano) 6097 F Puna Argentina 1947
71 to 80
71 Aracar 6095 F Puna Argentina 1958 *
72 Jirishanca 6094 D/TD Cord. Huayhuash Peru 1957
73 Solimana 6093 n/k Cord. Occidental Peru 1970
74 Jatunhuma (Pico Tres) 6093 n/k Cord. Vilcanota Peru 1957
75 Huayna Potosi 6088 PD Cord. Real Bolivia 1919
76 Colorados 6080 F Puna Argentina-Chile 1999
77 Chachani 6075 F Cord. Occidental Peru 1889 *
78 Chachacomani 6074 AD Cord. Real Bolivia 1947
79 El Plomo 6070 F High Andes Argentina-Chile 1910
80 Negro (Pabellon) 6070 n/k High Andes Argentina 1969
81 to 90
81  Baboso 6070 F Puna Argentina 2000 - by us!!
82 Vicuņas 6067 F Puna Chile n/k
83 Guallatiri 6063 F Cord. Occidental Chile 1926
84 El Fraile 6061 F Puna Argentina-Chile 1956
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 (Montura) 6049 PD/AD Cord. Vilcanota Peru 1957
89 Pili (Acamarachi) 6046 F Northern Puna Chile 1939 *
90 Chaupi Orco 6044 PD Apolobamba Bolivia- Peru 1958
91 to 99
91 San Francisco 6038 F Puna Argentina-Chile 1913
92 Quitaraju 6036 AD/D Cord. Blanca Peru 1936
93 Palpana 6035 F Cord. Occidental Chile 1977 *
94 Peņa 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 Laguna Blanca 6012 F Puna Argentina 2006 *
99 Pucajirca * c.6010 TD Cord. Blanca Peru 1961
100 Uturunco 6008 F Cord. Lipez Bolivia 1955

This list Š 1999-2023  John Biggar.

*****   NOTES

Heights in red above have been revised due to the SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) data, ASTER data or other recent information sources such as my own hand-held GPS readings. Many thanks to Jonathan de Ferranti in 2004 and Eberhard Jurgalski and Maximo Kausch in 2013-2014 for help with the SRTM data. 


5 - Llullaillaco - The height is often quoted as 6739m (ChIGM and AIGM height), but recent satellite elevation data, plus handheld readings by myself and Maximo Kausch indicate a higher altitude of at least 6745m, (SRTM - Eberhard Jurgalski) and 6752m (GPS - Max Kausch). My own 2009 measurement indicates the 6752m figure.. Therefore Llullaillaco is probably higher than both Tres Cruces and Huascaran Sur, (see below).
7 - Huascaran Sur - There has been much debate about the height of Huascaran Sur recently. It is really in need of a good modern survey. The 1930's DAV survey gave 6768m, the 50's PIGM gave 6746 and what little SRTM and ASTER data is available may indicate a height of only 6720m-6730m. A recent survey by INAIGEM (2017) using precise land based GPS obtained a height of 6757m.
42 - Chinchey - Many maps, including the PIGM, show a height of 6309m, but analysis of several photos by Edward Earl suggest that it is quite a bit lower. The 6222m height appears on the original DAV survey from the 1930's.
46 and 53 - Copa vs. Hualcan - Some sources, including Eberhard Jurgalski believe that Hualcan is marginally higher than Copa, citing evidence from SRTM data. My own analysis of photos seems to indicate that Copa is marginally higher, but not by more than 10m. It is likely that Copa is slightly lower than the height quoted here.
99 - Pucajirca - The PIGM map is very vague, and does not give a spot height. There is a 6046m spot height on the DAV map, but that is believed to be inaccurate. Pucahirca may not be as high as 6000m, the 6010m height used here is an estimate form photo analysis. There is also some uncertainty about which of the three main peaks of the Pucajirca massif  is actually highest.
 Top of Page

For a list of the 31 additional 6000m peaks with between 200m and 400m prominence see our Subsidiary 6000m peaks  page.

For peaks number 101 downwards see our  5000m peaks of the Andes 

 


SOME NOTES

Peak heights marked in red above are from the latest SRTM data, ASTER data, handheld GPS data, and photo analysis and research by Maximo Kausch, Eberhard Jurgalski, Edward Earl, myself and others. These entries are mainly peaks whose height we have raised slightly due to there being an SRTM cell altitude higher than the previously quoted summit altitude, plus one or two peaks, known to be fairly flat-topped, where the SRTM data make a lower altitude much more probable.

The SRTM data appear to show 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., and that Muertito may or may not be over 6000m and may or may not have over 400m prominence. For now the former two appear in our subsidiary 6000m peaks list and the latter appears in our list of major 5000m peaks.

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, Tocllaraju c.5990m, Caraz c.5980m, Plata 5955m, Contrahierbas 5954m, Juncal 5953m (may be about c.6020m), Pilar de los Pailas (Luracatao) 5946m, Ameghino c.5940m, Lasunayoc 5936m, Polacos c.5935m, Chaņi c.5930m, Nuevo Mundo 5929m, Galan 5912m, and Acay 5770m.

Sabancaya 5976m is now possibly higher than 6000m as it was erupting for many years in the 1990'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. Neate's book was sometimes used when no survey height was available. In some uncertain areas confirmation, or at least corroboration, of many heights has been sought from the SRTM data and/or from photographic analysis.

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). Quite a few peaks have been checked (where possible) by photo-analysis. These are mainly mentioned in the notes and marked by a *

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, Colon has been chosen here.

Name  Location  Height (m) Prominence (m)
Aconcagua Argentina 6959 6959
Pico Colon (or Bolivar) Colombia 5730 5538
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 6710 3333
San Lorenzo Chile-Argentina 3706  3319
Volcan Lautaro Chilean Patagonia 3580 3302

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