Hotel Palacio de Sal

Hotel Palacio de Sal is the best-known salt hotel in Bolivia and the natural splurge for a visit to the Salar de Uyuni. It stands at the edge of the flat near the village of Colchani, a short drive from the town of Uyuni, and its construction is the attraction: walls, floors, beds and furniture are built or sculpted from blocks of salt cut from the flat itself. Rooms are comfortable and warm for the altitude, public areas are spacious and the setting, with the white plain stretching to the horizon, is hard to match. Expedia lists the property at 4.5 stars, and travelers use it as a base before or after a salt flat tour.

Location and getting around: Colchani is the small salt-working village at the gateway of the Salar, about twenty kilometers north of Uyuni town, so you are outside the town rather than in it. Most guests arrive on a pre-arranged transfer from Uyuni airport or the bus terminal, or as part of a tour package that includes a night here. Because you are at the edge of the flat, sunrise and sunset excursions are quick, and you can stand on the salt within minutes. If you want restaurants and shops, Uyuni town is a short taxi ride away, but most guests eat at the hotel.

The rooms and the building: the salt construction gives the hotel a distinctive look, with salt-block walls and carved details, and the layout is more spread out than a typical hotel. Rooms vary, so ask about heating, hot water and the view when booking, since nights at this altitude are very cold. Salt is hygroscopic and the atmosphere is dry, so bring lip balm and moisturizer. Some guests report that the hotel offers heated rooms and an on-site restaurant, but check the current facilities with the property before you rely on them.

Who it suits: couples, honeymooners and photographers who want a salt flat sunset and sunrise with a comfortable bed in between. It is less convenient for those who want to walk to cafes at night, or who are on a tight budget. It works well before a multi-day jeep trip, or as a reward after one. Book early for the dry season from May to October and for the wet-season mirror months from December to March, and ask about transfers, breakfast and any salt flat excursions that the hotel arranges. Remember that this is a remote area, so card payments and internet may be limited and cash is useful.