The mountains of South America, particularly the Andes, exhibit a variety of climate types primarily influenced by altitude and geographic location. They have distinct vertical climatic zones including:

• Warm and humid (tierra caliente) at the base or foothills.
• Temperate and semi-humid (tierra templada) in mid-level areas.
• Cool and dry (tierra fría) in the highlands.
• Cold to freezing (tierra helada) in the glacial summit areas.

The climate is characterized by large daily temperature variations, with warm days and very cold nights. Annual rainfall varies but tends to concentrate in the southern summer, and there is often a long dry season with drought conditions. Winds can be continuous and violent, adding to coldness and dryness, especially in higher altitudes. At higher elevations like the Altiplano, temperatures average between 1° to 2° C (34° to 36° F) annually with a harsh environment caused by dryness and strong winds. The climate varies along the length of the Andes, with the northern parts being rainier and warmer, eastern central parts also wet, while western parts to the Atacama Desert are extremely dry. In summary, the mountains of South America feature an alpine climate with cold, windy, and snowy conditions at the highest elevations, transitioning through cool and dry for highlands, semi-humid temperate zones, to warm humid conditions in the lower foothills.