Triassic igneous and sedimentary rocks exposed within the basement of the Andes were deposited in a series of rifts, and may record the early disassembly of western Pangaea. These rocks are sporadically exposed along almost the entire length of western South America, although reliable geochronological and isotopic data are sparse. We combine new geochronological (zircon U–Pb), isotopic (Hf, Nd) and geochemical data with stratigraphic observations to constrain the age and tectonic setting of the Mitu Rift of southern Peru. The Peruvian Mitu Rift is compared with other Triassic rifts in Colombia and Ecuador (Palanda Rift; 240–225Ma), Bolivia (Mitu Rift; Triassic), Bolivia, Chile and Argentina (e.g. Cuyo Basin; 246–230Ma), and conclusions are reached regarding the relationship between Triassic extension along the western margin of Pangaea, and the eventual formation of the Proto-Caribbean and Central Atlantic oceans. The Mitu Rift (Peru) was active during ~245–240 to ~220Ma and was synchronous with rifting along the Pacific margin of Colombia and Ecuador, along the Chilean margin and western Argentina, and probably rifting within Bolivia. Rifting north of the Huancabamba Deflection was accompanied by subduction and led to seafloor spreading, whereas rifting along the Peruvian and Chilean margins mainly occurred in the absence of subduction and terminated prior to the formation of extensive transitional crust. Extension within Peru and Chile probably occurred via a combination of transtension, steepening and detachment of an arrested slab. We propose that plate tectonic forces initiated the early break-up of Pangaea by attenuating its margins and enhancing mantle upwelling. Prolonged extension may have propagated along pre-existing weak zones that extended into the continental interior, captured melts derived from the upwelled mantle forming a LIP (e.g. Central Atlantic Magmatic Province), became hot and weak and eventually lead to the formation of a juvenile ocean (e.g. Central Atlantic). Display omitted •The Mitu Rift (central and southern Peru) formed during ~245–240 to ~220Ma.•Middle–Late Triassic extension affected the entire western margin of S. America.•Plate margin forces initiated the early disassembly of western Pangaea.