Quitaraju

Height: 6,036 m
Country:
Peru flagPeru

Quitaraju is a striking 6,040-meter (19,816 feet) peak in Peru’s Cordillera Blanca range, nestled alongside its more famous neighbor, Alpamayo. While it may be less well-known, Quitaraju offers an equally rewarding and challenging ascent. The mountain is renowned for its steep ice and snow faces, particularly on the north ridge, which is the most popular route. Climbers are drawn to Quitaraju for its stunning, technical routes and for the sense of remoteness that comes with venturing beyond more crowded Andean peaks.

Reaching Quitaraju’s summit involves advanced alpine skills, including steep ice climbing on pitches up to 65 degrees. Most expeditions start from the base camp at Santa Cruz, ascending the glacier fields before reaching a high camp near the Col shared with Alpamayo. From here, climbers face sustained ice walls, crevasse crossings, and knife-edge ridges leading to the summit ridge.

The summit of Quitaraju provides panoramic views of the surrounding Cordillera Blanca, with unobstructed sights of peaks like Artesonraju and Huascarán. Climbers who tackle Quitaraju often have prior experience with technical ice and mixed routes, as the ascent is demanding both physically and mentally. For mountaineers seeking a high-altitude Andean challenge in a pristine and dramatic setting, Quitaraju is a compelling objective.

Prepare for an adventure climbing Quitaraju. This overview provides essential details on routes, difficulty, costs, and the best times to go, helping you plan a successful expedition.

Difficulty

  • AD: Fairly hard (alpine grade 3)
  • D: Hard (alpine grade 4)

When to go

  • June to August

Guide links

These guides offer organised mountaineering expeditions for Quitaraju. From here you can check each guides profile, or browse directly to their website to see the trip. You can separately view the guides directory to browse all guides in one place.
Below is a curated list of independent mountain guides offering expeditions for Quitaraju. Each guide provides their own experience, allowing climbers to select the approach that best suits their style, budget, and experience level. You can explore each guide’s dedicated trip page to review what they offer, from logistics and support to pricing details, with no additional influence from us.
GuideInfoCost
Peruvian Mountainsview guides trip webpage from $2,600
Grupo Alpamayo Tours logoGrupo Alpamayo Toursview guides trip webpage from $2,650
Peruvian Mountains Adventures & Expeditions logoPeruvian Mountains Adventures & Expeditionsview guides trip webpage from $2,800
Explore the 3D route map for a realistic view of the ascent to Quitaraju. This interactive map provides a close-up look at key points like base camp and high-altitude camps along the way. For those planning their own expeditions, it offers a helpful overview of the mountain's terrain and surroundings.
What you can see from the summit of Quitaraju. Click and pan around the map to explore, and zoom in/out to see the names of neighbouring mountains.

Quitaraju Links

useful websites, Groups and communities

Groups / links with more info on the Quitaraju route.

These climbs are similar in length, difficulty, and elevation. Offering a similar level of challenge as the Quitaraju climb.

climm Tocllaraju
Tocllaraju
 AD
Peru
$820
 6,034 m
climm Yanapaccha
Yanapaccha
 AD
Peru
$280
 5,460 m
climm Chopicalqui
Chopicalqui
 AD
Peru
$500
 6,345 m
climm Artesonraju
Artesonraju
 AD - D
Peru
$1,750
 6,025 m