Departure at 8:00. Acclimatization: minimum 48 hr in La Paz beforehand (condition of sale).
This tour combines in one day the summit of Chacaltaya, at 5,421 m, with the Valle de la Luna: up in the morning, down in the afternoon, in 8 hr 30 min. It includes a minibus with a high-mountain driver, guide, entry to the Valle de la Luna, coca tea and a light snack with water; lunch is not included. It requires 48 hr of prior acclimatization in La Paz, and the summit depends on the weather: it is not guaranteed.
Highlights
- Two worlds. The Chacaltaya summit and the clay labyrinth of the Valle de la Luna, on the same day.
- Breathing differently. Your breathing changes between the summit and the valley, and that contrast is what sets this tour apart.
- Summit at 5,421 m. With Huayna Potosí and Illimani in front of you, if the day allows.
- Optional valley. If the altitude takes its toll in the morning, the valley is optional: we take you to your hotel first.
What does the itinerary look like?
- Morning, up highThe first half of the day goes entirely to gaining altitude.
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The route leaves La Paz and climbs without a break to the Club Andino refuge, at about 5,250 m, where the coca tea arrives hot and your hands appreciate it before your throat does. Outside there is dark rock, sometimes patches of snow in the hollows, and air that comes in without filling you.
The final walk to the summit, at 5,421 m, is done slowly, at a pace that anywhere else would embarrass you. Up there, if the day allows, the altiplano opens out completely, with Huayna Potosí, Illimani and the city reduced to a distant smudge. It is cold, the wind does not let up and people talk little, partly because of the view and partly because talking takes effort.
- The descentThen you head down to the Valle de la Luna, which sits between 3,600 and 3,965 m: a long descent in which the air comes back all at once.
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Before you arrive there is a short break for the snack. It is not a meal: you can buy something to eat at the refuge or in the Valle de la Luna.
- Afternoon, down lowHere the air works again: your nose clears, your hands warm up and your legs respond, just the opposite of the morning, when every step was negotiated with your lungs.
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You walk without counting your steps, and that is the first thing you notice. Warm clothes start to feel like too much and end up in the backpack.
The Valle de la Luna is a labyrinth of crests and spires of pale, soft ground, on a 45-minute circuit. The color changes with the mineral: beige, light brown, nearly red stretches, others violet. Among the formations you realize you are breathing without thinking about it. The same person who a few hours earlier counted three steps between pauses now climbs a slope while talking.
The contrast of this day is measured in your lungs.
- Return to La PazBack in La Paz around 16:00, closing an 8 hr 30 min day.
What is included in this tour?
Included
- Minibus with a high-mountain driver
- Spanish-speaking guide; English on request
- Entry to the Valle de la Luna
- Coca tea and light snack with water
Not included
- Lunch: the day includes only a light snack with water
What do you need to know before booking?
Chacaltaya only, or both?
If you are after the summit and the glacier, the Chacaltaya-only tour is the option. If you also want to feel the contrast between the altitude and the valley, this tour joins them in one day. It is not a discount on two bookings: it is a separate tour, with its own booking.
Altitude, health and descent
Same protocol as on the Chacaltaya tour: minimum 48 hr of prior acclimatization in La Paz (condition of sale), a high-mountain driver and immediate descent to a lower altitude at any sign of discomfort.
- Not suitable. Children under 10, pregnancy, heart problems or uncontrolled hypertension, significant vertigo or very limited physical condition.
Altitude and health
This tour reaches 5,421 m. It is not recommended in case of pregnancy, heart or respiratory disease, uncontrolled hypertension or significant vertigo. Minimum age: 10 years. Prior acclimatization: Minimum 48 hr in La Paz beforehand (condition of sale). We advise you to stay well hydrated, avoid alcohol on the first day and check with your doctor before booking. If symptoms of altitude sickness appear, the guide may decide to descend, for your safety.
Before you book: payment, cancellation and the unexpected
Payment and booking
When you book, you pay 30% of the total: 15% as a booking payment (arras, non-refundable) and 15% as a deposit. Then a second deposit of 20% 30 days before departure and the remaining 50% 7 days before departure. If you book 15 days or less before departure, you pay 100% of the total when you book and it is non-refundable. If a payment does not arrive by its due date, the booking is cancelled automatically. You can pay in foreign currency with Libélula, RedEnlace and Revolut, or by bank card, QR code or bank transfer; the payment provider may charge transaction fees.
Cancellation and date changes
More than 45 days before departure: 100% of the deposit (15%) is refunded, less bank fees for the money transfer; the booking payment (arras) is not refunded. From 45 to 31 days: 50% of the deposit is retained, which corresponds to the pre-payment of lodging, transfers or others. From 30 to 8 days: 100% of what you paid is retained. From 7 days to 24 hours: everything you paid is retained. Less than 24 hours, and in case of a no-show: the full price is due. Date change: possible depending on the availability of the company and of our providers, with a new quote; sums already paid to providers are not refundable and must be paid again. If Terra Alta cancels or postpones the trip, you choose a new date at no extra cost or a refund of what you paid, except costs already paid to providers that cannot be recovered.
Prices
Prices are in US dollars per person, based on a group of 6 people, in a shared departure.
Blockades, closed roads and weather
A flooded salt flat (roughly December to April) is not a reason to cancel: the tour goes ahead with an itinerary adapted by the guide, with the mirror effect, and Incahuasi island may not be reachable; no refund is due for the visits that change. If a dangerous external event (a storm, heavy snowfall or another natural event) or social unrest or a blockade requires it, Terra Alta may modify, postpone or cancel the trip to protect travellers; what applies is what is provided for a cancellation by Terra Alta.
Tips and expenses
Tips are not included and are voluntary. Entrance fees listed in bolivianos are approximate and may change; they are paid on site, in cash.
Insurance
Terra Alta does not include travel insurance. If you wish, we recommend taking out a policy with medical assistance and repatriation from high altitude.
Frequently asked questions
How much acclimatization do I need?
Minimum 48 hr in La Paz beforehand, and it is a condition of sale. The protocol is the same as on Chacaltaya: a high-mountain driver and immediate descent at any sign of discomfort.
Is lunch included?
No. It includes coca tea and a light snack with water during the tour. It is not a lunch, but there is a short break for the snack before the Valle de la Luna, and you can buy food at the refuge or in the Valle de la Luna.
What if the altitude affects me in the morning?
The Valle de la Luna is optional in that case: we take you to your hotel first.
Who should not take this tour?
Children under 10, pregnant women, people with heart problems or uncontrolled hypertension, significant vertigo or a very limited physical condition. If you have any doubts, consult a health professional before booking.
What happens if the weather is bad?
The summit is not guaranteed. Terms for changes, cancellation and refunds are in the “Before you book” block.
Guides to prepare your trip: Chacaltaya: how to get there and what to expect from the altitude · altitude sickness: symptoms and prevention · what to see in La Paz and around
From USD 58 / person
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