So, you’re stuck on the desert moon. It happens to everyone playing Super Mario Odyssey. You've cleared the main story, you've probably kicked a few cacti, and now you're staring at an empty slot in your collection. Sand Kingdom Power Moon 68 is one of those annoying, multi-step quests that makes you realize just how massive this game actually is. It’s not just a "walk here, ground pound there" situation.
It’s a long haul.
Honestly, the "Round-the-World Tourist" quest line is one of the coolest—and most tedious—things Nintendo put in the game. It features a Tostarenan (one of those skeleton guys with the festive hats) and his taxi-driving companion who decide they’re bored of the heat and want to see the world. If you’re looking for Moon 68 specifically, you’re actually looking for the start of a global trek. You can’t just stumble upon it. You have to trigger it.
Where Does Sand Kingdom Power Moon 68 Actually Start?
You’ll find the Tostarenan and the New Donk City taxi driver parked near the entrance of Tostarena Town. They’re right by the Crazy Cap shop. If you talk to them, the Tostarenan mentions he’s tired of the sand. He wants to see something else. Anything else. This conversation is the literal spark for a quest that spans almost the entire game map.
But here’s the kicker. To get Sand Kingdom Power Moon 68, you can't just talk to him once. You have to follow him to his first destination, talk to him there, and then—eventually—he comes back.
Wait. Let’s back up.
Most people get confused because they think the moon appears the moment they talk to the guy in the Sand Kingdom. Nope. He leaves. He heads to the Metro Kingdom first. You have to go find him in the urban jungle of New Donk City, standing near the entrance to the city. Once you talk to him there, he’ll give you a moon for that kingdom. Then he moves again. It’s a literal chase.
The Travel Itinerary You Need to Follow
To eventually wrap up the Sand Kingdom portion of this saga, you need to track this tourist through a specific sequence of locations. If you miss one, the loop doesn't progress. It’s a linear path.
- Metro Kingdom: He’s near the entrance. Talk to him to send him to the next spot.
- Cascade Kingdom: Look for him near the Odyssey. He’s admiring the waterfalls.
- Luncheon Kingdom: He’s hanging out near the entrance to the Volcano path.
- Moon Kingdom: You’ll find the taxi parked near the Odyssey on the lunar surface. Talk to him here—it's getting cold, right?
- Mushroom Kingdom: He’s near the fountain, looking at Peach's Castle.
After he visits the Mushroom Kingdom, he realizes that while the world is great, there’s no place like home. He goes back to Tostarena. This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. When you return to the Sand Kingdom and find him back at his original spot near the taxi, talk to him one last time. He’ll be so grateful for the journey that he finally hands over Sand Kingdom Power Moon 68.
It’s a lot of loading screens.
Why This Moon Drives Completionists Crazy
The reason this specific moon is a headache is that it requires players to have unlocked almost every major kingdom in the game. You can't finish this quest in one sitting if you’re still early in the story. It’s a "Post-Game" or "Late-Game" objective.
Think about the logic for a second. Why would a guy from a desert want to go to a moon made of cheese (Luncheon) or the actual Moon? It’s charming, sure, but if you’re just trying to hit 100% completion, it feels like a glorified fetch quest without the fetching. You’re just the guy who checks in on his vacation.
There’s also the issue of the "hidden" requirements. You have to have defeated Bowser at the Wedding Hall for the Mushroom Kingdom portion to even be accessible. So, if you're trying to hunt down Sand Kingdom Power Moon 68 before finishing the main plot, you're going to hit a brick wall. Stop. Go beat the game. Then come back to the desert.
Common Mistakes and Glitches
Is it glitched? Probably not.
Most players think they’ve lost the tourist. "I talked to him in New Donk City, but he's not in Cascade!" Check again. Sometimes he’s tucked just slightly out of view of the Odyssey landing pad. In the Cascade Kingdom, for instance, he’s right there by the shop and the flags, but if you just sprint toward the waterfalls, you’ll run right past him.
Another tip: Check your map. When you land in a kingdom, the taxi is a pretty large asset. It’s easier to spot the yellow cab than the tiny skeleton man.
Also, make sure you actually get the moon in each location. If you talk to him and walk away before the moon animation finishes or if you somehow skip the dialogue, the game might not register the flag for the next location. Talk, get the moon, move on. Simple.
The Cultural Context of Tostarena
Nintendo put a lot of heart into the Sand Kingdom. It’s based heavily on Mexican culture, specifically the Day of the Dead (Día de Muertos). The Tostarenans are colorful, musical, and full of life despite being, well, skeletons.
The "Round-the-World Tourist" quest reflects the theme of the game: travel. Super Mario Odyssey is, at its core, a road trip movie in video game form. Having a local inhabitant mirror Mario’s journey makes the world feel lived-in. It’s not just Mario and Cappy seeing the sights; the NPCs are curious about the world too.
Actionable Steps for Your Completion Run
If you want to knock this out efficiently, don't jump back and forth.
- Finish the Main Story. Don't even bother starting the tourist trek until Bowser is defeated. It saves you the frustration of realizing a kingdom isn't open yet.
- Start at the Taxi. Go to the Sand Kingdom town. Talk to the Tostarenan.
- The Kingdom Hop. Follow this order: Metro -> Cascade -> Luncheon -> Moon -> Mushroom.
- The Final Return. Go back to the Sand Kingdom. The taxi will be back in its original spot.
- Collect the Moon. Talk to the Tostarenan to receive Power Moon 68.
This quest is a marathon, not a sprint. Take the time to enjoy the dialogue—the Tostarenan has some funny observations about how weird the rest of the world is compared to his sandy home. Once you grab that 68th moon, you’re one step closer to that final golden sail.
Check your list. If 68 is checked off, you’ve officially mastered the art of the Odyssey tourist trap. Now, go find those remaining Purple Coins; those are the real nightmare.