Mountaineering

Mountains and living amongst natural surroundings has always interested humans. Some climb to conquer the highest summits, others to discover their personal limits, some simply to enjoy being among nature. Whatever your reason, mountaineering requires good physical fitness, a steady temperament and team abilities - along with survival skills.

The Andes is the world’s second greatest mountain range after the Himalayas. It is the world’s longest continental mountain range, forming a continuous chain of highlands stretching over seven countries along the western coast of South America in a range that is more than 7,000 km long, up to 700 km wide, and of an average height of 4000 m. There are also numerous peaks towering above 6000m – the highest being Mount Aconcagua, at 6962m.

The Andes have been inspiring people since time immemorial. In the distant past, ancient cultures worshipped the Apus, the mountain gods. Today, men and women travel from all parts of the world intent to climb to the summits of these seemingly unconquerable peaks.
Inka Travel Guides offers mountaineering expeditions in three different sections of the Andes:
In the Central Andes of Peru, our mountaineering expeditions take you to conquer some of the Cordillera Blanca’s highest and most impressive summits – Huascaran, Alpamayo, Pisco, Chopicalqui, Urus, Ishinca, Tocllaraju, Vallunaraju, Quitaraju, and Mururaju.

In the Southern Andes of Argentina, our unique expedition conquers the ‘Roof of the Americas’- Mount Aconcagua’s 6962m peak.

In the Cordillera Occidental of Ecuador, we take you climbing up two stunning volcanoes – Cotopaxi and Chimborazo.

Cordillera Blanca / Peru

The Cordillera Blanca, or ‘White Range’, encompasses some of South America’s highest mountains. This 180km-long range has the greatest number of summits topping 6000m outside the Himalayas, including Peru’s highest peak - Mount Huascaran, 6768m. The Cordillera Blanca is the world’s highest tropical mountain range and features stunning natural scenery, including 663 glaciers and 269 glacial lakes, as well as 33 archaeological sites. The flora and fauna found in the mountains are equally impressive, including the Puya Raimondi, the San Pedro cactus, Quenual tree, spectacled bear, puma, hummingbird, vicuna, viscacha, Andean goose and condor.

Peru’s capital of andinismo – Andean mountaineering – the Cordillera Blanca is a climber’s paradise offering endless opportunities, from short, non-technical ascents suitable for first time mountaineers to long, highly challenging climbs meant for experienced and physically fit mountaineers. The views, over expanses of pristine snow, are breath-taking.

The mountaineering season in the Cordilleras Blanca lasts from May to September. The weather during the dry season is generally very stable with normally one or two bad days during the week. Freezing level is about 4500m - 5000m during the day, but strong sun can make it feel much warmer in the valleys. Wind is rarely a problem in the mountains during the dry season. Precipitation and temperature vary in accordance to altitude; the average temperature is between 9ºC – 0ºC.

Inka Travel Guides offers you the possibility to climb ten of the Cordillera Blanca’s most splendid summits: