Valle de las Animas Sunrise Tour: Private, First to Arrive

Watch sunrise paint the Mordor rocks, then walk through Mars-red valleys and La Paz's oldest streets

A private 10-hour tour from La Paz that starts at 5 am in Valle de las Animas (also called Mordor Valley), where you hike 1.5 hours to the sunrise viewpoint across 17 kilometers of towering rock formations at 3,650 meters altitude. The itinerary then moves through Moon Valley's yellow landscape, the city's highest viewpoint, a lunch stop at a top-five restaurant, the Witches Market, and a roundtrip on the world's longest cable car. Private transport, a bilingual guide, breakfast, snacks, and entrance tickets are included; lunch is separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Valle de las Animas and La Paz tour

• Drive 45 minutes to Valle de las Animas
• Enjoy sunrise at Valle de las Animas viewpoint
• Walk 1.5 hours in Valle de las Animas
• Have breakfast box with the team
• Visit Valle de Luna (Moon Valley)
• Explore best viewpoint of La Paz city
• Return to La Paz city
• Walk to top local restaurant for lunch (not included)
• Visit San Francisco church and Witches Market
• See Jaen Street, Plaza Murillo, or San Francisco
• Ride Cable Car Purple roundtrip
• End tour near Witches Market for shopping

The Experience

The tour begins at 5 am with a 45-minute drive outside the city to Valle de las Animas, a 17-kilometer stretch of immense rock formations that earn the nickname "Mordor." You walk for 1.5 hours total to reach the best sunrise viewpoint, arriving before other groups—the operator is the only one to offer this timing and guarantees you'll be first. The altitude is 3,650 meters (11,975 feet), but the difficulty is rated easy, and the guide carries oxygen and a first aid kit. Breakfast comes as a box you share with the team at the viewpoint.

After sunrise, you descend into Moon Valley, a yellow landscape that got its name from Neil Armstrong and feels, according to the itinerary, like walking on Mars. Then the tour climbs to the city's best overlook before returning to La Paz proper. The guide will recommend one of the top five restaurants for typical Bolivian food—you choose and pay separately, so bring cash in bolivianos (around 100–130 per person). From there, the walking portion covers the Mercado de las Brujas (Witches Market), where the guide explains local beliefs in traditional medicine, plus Jaen Street, Plaza Murillo, and the San Francisco church, depending on how much daylight remains.

The tour ends with a roundtrip on the Cable Car Purple, the world's longest and highest cable car system, which the guide explains as you ride. You return to the main station near the Witches Market, where you can shop before the day closes. The whole group stays under the size of a private party, and the guide speaks English, Spanish, or French. Bring waterproof clothing (weather changes frequently at this altitude), sunglasses, sunscreen, and a buff-mask or similar face protection.

What’s included

• Private air-conditioned vehicle with pickup from your La Paz hotel.
• bilingual guide in English, Spanish, or French.
• breakfast box at the sunrise viewpoint.
• snacks throughout the day.
• entrance tickets to Valle de las Animas, Moon Valley, and the Cable Car Purple roundtrip.
• oxygen tank and first aid kit carried by the guide.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcome

Operated by Visit South America

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're staying in La Paz without a car and want to reach the high valleys before dawn—the private pickup and early start mean you'll be at the sunrise viewpoint ahead of other groups, and the guide handles all the logistics so you only bring yourself and cash for lunch.

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Top questions

What is Valle de las Animas and why does the tour go there at sunrise?

Valle de las Animas is a 17-kilometer valley of towering rock formations outside La Paz, nicknamed "Mordor" for its otherworldly landscape. The sunrise timing lets you watch the light hit the rocks before other tour groups arrive, and you hike 1.5 hours to the best viewpoint at 3,650 meters altitude, where breakfast is served.

Is the altitude difficult, and what happens if I feel the effects?

The hike itself is rated easy, but you'll be at 3,650 meters (11,975 feet), which is high. The guide carries an oxygen tank and a first aid kit, and the operator notes the tour suits all fitness levels. Bring sunscreen, a buff-mask, and waterproof clothing, as weather changes frequently at this elevation.

What's included in the tour price, and what do I need to pay separately?

The tour includes private transport, a bilingual guide, breakfast, snacks, and all entrance tickets to the valleys and cable car. Lunch at a restaurant in La Paz is not included—you choose where to eat and pay separately, so bring cash in bolivianos (around 100–130 per person).

How long is the tour, and what time does it end?

The tour runs 10 to 12 hours, starting at 5 am and ending around 3 pm near the Witches Market. The exact finish time depends on how much daylight remains for the walking section through the city's historical sites.

Do I need my own transportation to get to the starting point?

No—private transport is included, so the guide picks you up and drives you the 45 minutes to Valle de las Animas. You'll need to arrange pickup from your hotel or a meeting point in La Paz; confirm the details when you book.