Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Urkupiña El Cactu $
(
693-2032; Arce 46; r B$160, s/d without bathroom B$40/70)
A bit dirty and unorgan-
ized in the common areas, this budget spot earns points for the clean rooms (staff put in
heaters before you go to bed, but don't sleep with them on - you could suffocate). The
mattresses are a bit lumpy, and you'll probably be pretty cold by the AM. You gotta feel
bad for their pet parrot who must be miserable in the cold.
HOTEL
SALT HOTELS JUST OUTSIDE UYUNI
There are several hotels not far from Uyuni around the
salar
that are built of salt. These are unique and comfort-
able places to stay, where nearly everything is constructed of blocks of salt (with a few obvious exceptions).
Right on the edge of the salt, the
Hotel Palacio de Sal
(
622-9512;
www.palaciodesal.com
; s/d B$1190/
1400;
) is a luxurious complex built almost completely out of the white condiment. The first such hotel
opened in the region, it boasts all sorts of facilities ranging from a pool and sauna to a salt golf course (don't bring
your favorite white balls). Breakfast and dinner are included in the rates. The hotel is booked through Hidalgo
Tours in Potosí or at the Jardines de Uyuni hotel; it comes cheaper as part of a package.
Another salty option is
Luna Salada Hotel
(
278-5438;
www.lunasaladahotel.com.bo
;
s/d B$600/775)
, an
award-winning place, 7km from Colchani, with 23 stylish rooms and a panoramic restaurant.
It's illegal to stay in the salt hotel on the way to Isla Incahausi. While people still bribe their way into the hotel,
human habitation here - including the waste you generate - can be very hard on the environment.
SOUTHWEST CIRCUIT
On the standard tour, you will stay in a hotel made of salt the first night (just on the edge
of the salt flat). They are all basically the same, with salt furniture, crushed salt floors and
rough mattresses. The next night, you'll stay in a basic lodge. None have heaters, some
have hot showers (for B$10 extra), and you will be cold! They generally put your whole
group in one room (sometimes couples can ask for a private room). If you are doing it
yourself, these basic hotels cost about B$30 per night.
Tayka Hoteles
(
7202-0069;
www.taykahoteles.com
)
has four hotels along the
Southwest Circuit: Hotel Tayka de Piedra (
Click here
)
, del Desierto (
Click here
)
, de
Los Volcanes (
Click here
)
and de Sal (
Click here
). They cost about US$100 a night,
with much of the money going directly to the community, making this a top choice for
green travelers. All the Tayka hotels offer plenty of perks, such as comfortable beds with
