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A dramatic snow-covered Andean peak with glacial meltwater cascading down rugged rock faces above lush green slopes near Humantay.

Andes of Peru

The Andes of Peru form one of the highest and most rugged sections of the Andes mountain chain, which spans the length of South America. In Peru alone, there are over 100 mountains that rise above 15,000 feet, including Huascarán, the tallest in the country, which reaches an elevation of 22,205 feet. These peaks are part of several subranges such as the Cordillera Blanca and Cordillera Vilcabamba, known for their dramatic glacial scenery and alpine ecosystems. Peru has at least 16 active volcanoes, mostly concentrated in the southern Andes near Arequipa. Unlike other Andean nations, Peru’s mountains are home to a dense concentration of ancient archaeological sites, including Machu Picchu, built into the mountain cliffs themselves.

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Snow-capped peaks of the Peruvian Andes rise dramatically above a green high-altitude valley, with rugged cliffs and colorful mineral slopes under a cloudy sky

Narrow glacial valley flanked by steep, grass-covered slopes and distant jagged peaks of the Vilcabamba range

Isolated cone-shaped peak covered in golden and orange earth tones with surrounding grassy highlands at around 13,000 feet

Vast high plateau beneath the Vilcanota peaks dotted with grazing alpacas and reflective pools, reaching 14,000 feet in elevation

Steep canyon walls and a hidden river valley carved into the Vilcabamba Andes, with scattered trees and isolated farmland visible

Sweeping panorama of the Andes in the Vilcanota range, showing sharp ridges, glacial remnants, and green pastures at high elevation.

Dramatic cliffs and slopes of the Vilcanota range painted with streaks of orange and black volcanic rock under high-altitude clouds

Towering peaks of the Vilcanota mountain range with snow-capped summits rise above a vast alpine plain

Expansive view of windswept Andean tundra with scattered rocks and rugged terrain below the Vilcanota peaks

Deep valleys and misty ridgelines of the Vilcabamba range stretch across rugged Andean terrain

Still turquoise waters of Humantay Lake reflect the surrounding steep rock walls and green slopes beneath snow-draped Andean cliffs

The towering white-capped Humantay mountain range seen from a distance behind forested hills and soft green ridges beneath a dramatic cloudy sky

A snow-capped Andean summit with bright white glaciers glowing under a blue sky and grassy slopes covered in rocks and alpine vegetation below

The turquoise waters of Humantay Lake nestled beneath steep grassy hills and snowy cliffs of the Peruvian Andes with small rocky plants in the foreground

Golden-brown mountains of the Andes rising steeply under a cloudy sky with cairns made of reddish stones in the foreground near Humantay

Steep, forested mountains near Machu Picchu rise above dense cloud forest, showcasing the dramatic Andean peaks of southeastern Peru at elevations over 7,500 feet