Its topography includes a small area of Chile's central valley, glaciers, rivers, volcanoes, and the Andes range, which forms the border with Mendoza Province in Argentina.

The provincial capital of Puente Alto lies approximately 21 km (13 mi) south-southeast of Santiago.

As a province, Cordillera is a second-level administrative division of Chile, governed by a provincial delegate who is appointed by the president.

The current delegate is Marcela Mella Ortiz, who was appointed by President Gabriel Boric.

[4] The province comprises three communes, each governed by a municipality consisting of an alcalde and municipal council: Pirque, Puente Alto and San José de Maipo.