Best mountain destinations in South America

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South America's mountain landscapes are dominated by the Andes, the longest continental mountain range in the world, running the full length of the continent's western side through an extraordinary variety of climate zones and ecosystems. The range encompasses everything from tropical cloud forest and high-altitude desert plateau to glaciated peaks and Patagonian ice fields, with inhabited mountain cultures of considerable depth layered across the physical drama.

Trekking infrastructure is well developed across the most visited Andean regions, with multi-day circuits, mountain huts and local guiding industries supporting a wide range of experience levels. More remote ranges and lesser-known areas of the Andes receive a fraction of the visitors that the headline destinations attract and reward the additional planning required to reach them with genuine wilderness and cultural encounters largely undiluted by mass tourism.

Altitude sickness is a serious consideration across much of the range, with major trekking hubs sitting well above 3,000 metres and acclimatisation time essential before undertaking physical activity. Weather windows are narrow in Patagonia and variable across the range, making flexible itineraries more practical than fixed schedules. Your money goes a long way across most of the continent making extended mountain itineraries accessible even when weather requires additional nights.