Climbs over 6,000 m

The graceful pyramid at the head of the Ishinca valley is the most accessible 6,000 m peak in the Cordillera Blanca with real technical interest. Its northwest ridge mixes glacier travel, serac zones and short steep pitches into a memorable summit day.

Copa is a broad, gently angled 6,000 m giant that rewards endurance rather than technical skill. A long glacier plateau and wide summit slopes make it one of the most achievable high summits in the Andes for strong, well-acclimatised climbers.

Chopicalqui's southwest ridge is one of the great classic lines of the Cordillera Blanca: a long, elegant snow crest leading to a 6,354 m summit next door to Huascarán. It is a demanding but achievable step up for climbers who have done Pisco or Tocllaraju.

The perfect pyramid above Laguna Parón is widely believed to be the mountain in the Paramount Pictures logo. Its southeast face is a long, sustained snow climb of consistent angle that finishes on an airy summit, a true test of fitness and technique.

Alpamayo's quieter neighbour across the col, Quitaraju offers a long north-face snow climb to a summit just over 6,000 m. Climbed from the same high camp, it is the natural partner to Alpamayo or a superb objective in its own right.

The highest mountain in Peru and the highest point in the tropics, Huascarán Sur is the big prize of the Cordillera Blanca. The Garganta route is not extremely technical, but the altitude, the icefall and the long summit day make it a serious expedition.