Many visitors to South America choose Andes Mountains Peru vacations as their first choice, and for good reason. Besides being stunningly beautiful, the Andes Mountains in Peru provide a myriad of attractions, from historical ruins, to charming mountain towns. Many Andes Mountains South America natives still dress in traditional garments, and in Peru, the descendants of the mighty Inca are among the most colorful people you will find anywhere on the planet. The bulk of Andes Mountains Peru vacations find their base in the tourist haven city of Cusco. From Cusco, you can hike the Inca Trail, take a train to Machu Picchu, visit the Sacred Valley and even descend into the Amazon Jungle. As for Andes Mountains facts, no mountain range on the planet is longer, and save for the Himalayas, none is higher. The Andes Mountains highest point, Cerro Aconcagua, is found in Argentina, but you will also find Andes Mountains Peru peaks that top out at more than 20,000 feet above sea level. The highest peak in the Peruvian Andes is Huascarán Sur, and it rises some 22,200 feet.

The Andes Mountains South America chain extends over seven countries. At their northern reach, they begin in Venezuela, where they run south through parts of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Argentina. Peru is undoubtedly a country that certainly owes much of its tourism industry to its share of the Andes Mountains. One of the most interesting Andes Mountains facts pertaining to Peru is that the mountain chain’s highest concentration of snow peaks is found here. If you want to try snow skiing in the Andes Mountains, however, the options are extremely limited, and you won’t find anything even remotely akin to the kinds of resorts you might expect in the Rocky Mountains or the Alps. When you think of Peru, you likely conjure up images of snowy peaks and the Andes Mountains lost city of Machu Picchu. When it comes to Andes Mountains facts pertaining to tourism, it is understood that Machu Picchu is the most visited destination. During its peak season, Machu Picchu sees some 3,000 visitors a day, and it appears that the flow of people is not bound to decrease any time soon.

If you are looking for a good place to enjoy Andes Mountain Peru activities, you might head to Huascarán National Park, which surrounds the country’s highest mountain. Trekking and mountain climbing are among the top pursuits here, as are guided ecological tours. Horseback riding and some minimal options for snow skiing can also be found at Huascarán National Park. This park is located within Peru’s Cordillera Blanca, which means White Range. Another of the more interesting Peruvian Andes Mountains facts is that the Alpamayo mountain, which is found in the Cordillera Blanca, was named by UNESCO as, “the most beautiful mountain in the world”. The Cordillera Blanca is a prime destination when it comes to Peru tours in the mountains, as are the Andes Mountains in and around the city of Arequipa.

Peru Map

Arequipa sits in the Andes highlands, some 7,740 feet above sea level, and one of its most enduring symbols is the Misti volcano rising on the horizon. You can hike around Misti without the use of climbing equipment, and you might choose to tackle the trails at the nearby Colca Canyon as well. The volcanoes near Arequipa are ideal for mountain climbing, while the mountain rivers provide rafting adventures you won’t soon forget. One of the great things about the Andes Mountains in Peru is that their descending western slopes give way to the exciting Amazon Jungle. Combining treks and visits to ruins in the Andes Mountains is a perfect compliment to exploring Peru’s Amazon Rainforest. In Cusco, you will find plenty of tour agencies that can help you pair both mountain and jungle tours, giving you the chance to experience some of the best that Peru has to offer. From both Arequipa and Cusco, you can arrange to travel southeast to the town of Puno, which lies on the shores of Lake Titicaca. This large body of water is found at an elevation of over 12,000 feet above sea level in the Andes Mountains, and tours to Lake Titicaca islands are among the most rewarding and unique on the planet. The joys and attractions of Peru’s Andes Mountains are too numerous to fully cover here, but you can bet that if you visit this magical land, you will find yourself enjoying at least a few of them. Book an Andes Mountains South America vacation in Peru, and come see why the ancient Inca so fell in love with these stunning peaks and valleys.