The Andean Region are a group of nations in South America connected by the Andes mountain range. The Andean Region is sometimes used to refer to all seven countries that the Andes runs through, regions with a shared culture primarily spread during the times of the Inca Empire (such as the Quechua language and Andean cuisine), or it can be used in a geopolitical sense to designate countries in the region that are members of the Andean Community trade group and have a local (as opposed to European) cultural orientation.
The Andes extend through the western part of South America in following countries:
- Colombia
- Venezuela
- Ecuador
- Peru
- Bolivia
- Argentina (not considered to be geopolitically an Andean country)
- Chile (not considered to be geopolitically an Andean country)
When grouped as the Andean region, the emphasis is on the mountainous regions of these countries. For example, the Argentine pampas are not part of the Andean region, but western Argentina along with Chile is part of the Andean region, and has cultural continuities with its Andean neighbors. Venezuela, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia are part of the Andean Community (a trade grouping), and each contains Amazon Rainforest and Amazonian indigenous people as well as Andean mountains.
Introduction to Contemporary Latin America 