La Paz, Bolivia: Valley of the Moon & High Altitude Tips (2026)
Discover La Paz, Bolivia's lunar landscapes at Valley of the Moon and navigate its high-altitude challenges. Get tips for exploring this unique city and preparing for your next adventure in 2026.
It's already Day 5 of my incredible South America adventure, and honestly, the intense altitude sickness from yesterday is still making me feel a bit hazy.
Despite feeling a little off, I decided to rally and take one of those small minibuses from La Paz's main square to visit the nearby Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna).

Here's the *boleteria*, or ticket booth. Once you grab your ticket and head inside...

Wow! Just as I'd seen in so many travel blogs, it's the Valley of the Moon!

The panorama here is incredible. It truly lives up to its name, "Valley of the Moon," with its rugged, uneven terrain that genuinely resembles the lunar surface.
While it wasn't as sprawling as I might have imagined, the landscape was unlike anything I'd ever seen and absolutely breathtaking.

Of course, I couldn't resist finding a few nooks and crannies to snap some fun photos!

This background would have been even more stunning without the fence. Still, I was feeling the lingering effects of altitude sickness from the day before – a persistent chill and general malaise. I layered up with every warm item in my backpack, even pulling out my neck warmer. Fashion choices aside, comfort was key!
So, while I didn't manage extensive sightseeing in La Paz, seeing the Valley of the Moon definitely lifted my spirits and made the visit worthwhile.
From now on, La Paz will forever be synonymous with altitude sickness for me, though!
A quick tip for getting back: The minibuses heading back to the main square depart from the opposite side of the road, and the bus numbers might be different. I can't recall the exact number, but the staff at the ticket booth are incredibly helpful and can write down the correct bus number for you!
After catching the designated minibus back to the city center, I picked up my backpack from the accommodation and set off for La Paz Airport.
It felt like ages since I'd last been to an airport – and oh, the joy of not taking another long-distance bus!
To get to the airport, I headed to the cable car station that I'd visited fruitlessly yesterday. From there, I took a cable car up to the upper part of the city.

Wow, the sheer number of houses sprawling across the hills is astounding. Just looking at it felt a little overwhelming! I can only imagine how incredible it would be to see all those lights twinkling at night – that would have truly brought tears to my eyes.
After reaching the upper town via cable car, I hailed a taxi to La Paz Airport. While the airport itself wasn't far, I remember the taxi fare being surprisingly high, likely due to a fee for taxis entering the airport grounds. It ended up being around ~$18.
Now, it's time to catch my Amaszonas flight to Uyuni at 7:30 PM. Next stop: the salt flats!
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I take a minibus from La Paz Square to the Valley of the Moon?
You can take a small minibus from La Paz Square to the Valley of the Moon. For your return, you'll need to catch a minibus heading back to the square from the opposite direction. The bus numbers might differ, so it's best to confirm the correct number at the ticket booth.
What is the specific way to use a cable car and a taxi to get from downtown La Paz to La Paz Airport?
To get to La Paz Airport, you can go to a cable car station, take the cable car to the upper town, and then take a taxi from the upper town to the airport. Please note that there's a fee for taxis entering the airport, so the taxi fare might be higher than expected.
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