[This dataset is embargoed until June 30, 2026]. The dataset provides measurements of water temperature, electrical conductivity (EC), pH and turbidity from rivers in the Peruvian Andes. Data were collected from 23 river sites in the Cordillera Vilcanota (12 sites) and Cordillera Blanca (11 sites) regions from 11/09/2019 to 18/09/2019 (Cordillera Vilcanota) from 7/05/2020 to 16/05/2020 (Cordillera Blanca). Each variable was measured once at each river site. Sites were selected along a continuum of declining glacier cover to investigate the influence of glaciers on river habitats. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/34df941d-abb8-4171-9c9d-33202e5a2ea5