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South America has the highest mountains in the world after Asia, with the highest peak reaching seven thousand meters; all the highest peaks belong to the Andes mountain range, a chain that extends for 7,000 kilometers, always in the westernmost part of the continent and a short distance from the Pacific Ocean.Thanks to their extension, the Andes are the longest mountain range on the planet, starting in the northern extremity of the continent and ending in the southernmost one, with numerous peaks above 5,000 meters, present in all 7 countries crossed; they have a width between 200 and 700 kilometers.
The major peaks are located between Argentina and Chile, followed by those of Peru and Bolivia, with heights between 7,000 and 6,500 meters; the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia is the only other continental chain to exceed 5,000 meters.
| Mountain | Height (meters) | Height (feet) | Mountain Range | Country |
| Aconcagua (1) | 6,961 | 22,838 | Andes | Argentina |
| Ojos del Salado (2) | 6,893 | 22,615 | Andes | Argentina / Chile |
| Monte Pissis | 6,793 | 22,287 | Andes | Argentina |
| Huascarán (3) | 6,768 | 22,205 | Andes | Perù |
| Cerro Bonete | 6,759 | 22,175 | Andes | Argentina |
| Nevado Tres Cruces | 6,753 | 22,156 | Andes | Argentina / Chile |
| Llullaillaco | 6,739 | 22,110 | Andes | Argentina / Chile |
| Yerupajá (4) | 6,632 | 21,759 | Andes | Perù |
| Nevado Sajama | 6,542 | 21,463 | Andes | Bolivia |
| Chimborazo (5) | 6,268 | 20,564 | Andes | Ecuador |
| Pico Simón Bolívar (6) | 5,775 | 18,947 | Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta | Colombia |
| Pico Bolívar | 4,978 | 16,332 | Andes | Venezuela |
| Pico da Neblina | 2,994 | 9,823 | Guiana Shield | Brazil |
| Mount Roraima | 2,810 | 9,219 | Guiana Shield | Brazil / Guyana / Venezuela |
| Julianatop | 1,230 | 4,035 | Guiana Shield | Suriname |
| El Cerro del Aripo | 940 | 3,084 | Trinidad Island | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Cerro Tres Kandú | 842 | 2,762 | Ybytyruzú | Paraguay |
| Cerro Catedral | 514 | 1,686 | Sierra Carapé | Uruguay |
* only the most significant mountains after the seven highest are shown
(1) The highest peak on the planet outside Asia.
(2) It is the highest active volcano on Earth.
(3) The highest mountain in the area between the two Tropics.
(4) Summit that corresponds to the highest point of the Amazon River basin.
(5) It is the highest mountain near the equator, making it the furthest point from the center of the Earth.
(6) First and only mountain above five thousand meters excluding the Andes.