Chacaltaya Mountain & Valley of the Moon Day Trip

Summary

La Paz Altitude Hike & Lunar Landscape Walk with Local Guide

You’ll climb high above La Paz on Chacaltaya Mountain with a local bilingual guide before wandering through Bolivia’s surreal Valley of the Moon. Expect crisp air, wild views over the Altiplano, and strange earth formations you can touch. With group transport included and stories from your guide along the way, this is a day you’ll remember long after you’re back at lower altitude.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the crunch of frost under my boots as we stepped out near Chacaltaya — not snow exactly, but something sharper, almost like crushed glass in the thin air. Our guide, Daniel, grinned and asked if anyone else’s head felt floaty yet (it did). The van had dropped us partway up, so we only had to walk the last stretch, but honestly, every breath felt like a small victory. I kept stopping to look back at La Paz sprawled below — all those colors stacked on the hillsides, tiny from up here. Someone pointed out Illimani in the distance, its peak looking impossibly far away.

I tried to chat with Daniel about how people used to ski here (he laughed — “not anymore!”), but mostly I just listened to the wind scraping over rocks and my own heartbeat. There was this moment when we reached 5,300 meters and everything went quiet except for a couple of stray dogs trotting past like it was no big deal. My hands were freezing but I didn’t care; I just wanted to remember that view forever. We took photos, but they don’t really show how thin and bright the light feels up there.

Afterwards, we drove across La Paz — which is its own kind of wild ride — heading south until suddenly the city dropped away and we were surrounded by these weird clay spires in the Valley of the Moon. It’s not huge, but walking those dusty paths between formations that look like melting candles or old bones… well, it’s stranger than I expected. The sun was low by then and everything turned gold and shadowy. Daniel told us some local kids call one rock “El Abuelo” because it looks like an old man’s face (I could kind of see it). I kept brushing dust off my jeans and thinking about how places can feel so far from home but also oddly familiar at the same time.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Chacaltaya & Valley of the Moon

• Visit Chacaltaya Mountain and walk for views
• Walk through Valley of the Moon formations

Top questions

How high is Chacaltaya Mountain on this tour?

The tour reaches about 5,300 meters above sea level on Chacaltaya Mountain.

Is transport included from La Paz?

Yes, shared group transport is included for both Chacaltaya and Valley of the Moon visits.

Do I need to be very fit for this day trip?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels but not recommended for pregnant travelers or those with poor cardiovascular health.

Are guides bilingual?

Yes, your guide speaks both Spanish and English during the tour.

Is lunch included?

No lunch is included in this day trip; bring snacks if you wish.

Can infants join this tour?

Infants are allowed but must sit on an adult's lap during transport.

What’s included

Your day includes shared group transport between La Paz, Chacaltaya Mountain, and Valley of the Moon plus a bilingual Spanish-English guide who leads both walks and shares stories along the way.