The Best Hotels to Book in Bolivia for Every Traveler

Your room in the Huper Hotel Boutique will tower above the rest from the sixth floor of the massive Hupermall in Cochabamba, with views extending to the Monumento Cristo de la Concordia. Inside, paintings and prints from Bolivian artists line the walls. It’s within walking distance of attractions such as the Palacio Portales, Museo de Historia Natural Alcide d’Orbigny and the Iglesia de la Recoleta.

If authenticity is what you’re after, you’ll find it at the Atix Hotel. The building’s facade, built from Bolivian wood and locally mined granite, stands out among the houses south of La Paz. Rooms are simple and chic with queen-size beds and rainfall showers. The restaurant, Ona, serves creative takes on local dishes such as fish stew and bife con chorrellana (steak served with mashed potatoes, grilled onions, peppers and a chimichurri sauce).

Explore Salar de Uyuni, the biggest salt flat in the world, from the rustic boutique Hotel Jardines de Uyuni. Here, you can relax after a long desert day in the steamy sauna or tuck into Bolivian dishes such as charque lipeño (sun-dried shredded llama meat topping potato and yellow chili) at Tika, the hotel restaurant. The owners run their own tour company, Hidalgo Tours, so you are guaranteed the best price on day trips to the flats, desert geysers and Isla Incahuasi.

For a luxurious extended stay in La Paz, look no further than the Ritz Apart Hotel. All suites include king, double or twin beds and a kitchenette for whipping up meals. If you’re traveling with a group, the grand deluxe suite is an excellent option, as it accommodates four people across two bedrooms. You can start each day with a complimentary breakfast in Duke’s Restaurant, and it’s worth returning in the evening as it serves steak and seafood alongside an extensive wine list.

Hostal Las Olas isn’t your typical bare-bones hostel. Here, you’ll bed down in one of a dozen funky cabins shaped like conch shells, turtles or castle-like towers, right on Lake Titicaca. Whether it’s through the stained-glass windows or on the hammock-lined patio of your cabin, you’ll always have a lake view. If you’re looking for more action than relaxation, the hostel rents out motorcycles and even offers a guided alpaca tour.

The Palacio de Sal Hotel – or Salt Palace – is a one-of-a-kind hotel in Bolivia. The 48,000sqft (4,459sqm) space is built entirely from local salt bricks – including the beds – mined from the Salar de Uyuni salt flats right outside. Head down to the opulent spa and take in desert views from the indoor heated pool. Its isolated location, miles away from town, will make the evenings perfect for stargazing.

Due to its concentration of whitewashed colonial buildings, Sucre is known as Bolivia’s White City. One such structure is On-Boutique, a 16th-century mansion-turned-hotel. Each of its six suites hints at the building’s age, with details such as vaulted wood-beam ceilings and clawfoot bathtubs. You can enjoy a glass of wine on the rooftop bar – the on-site cellar houses top Bolivian and Spanish bottles.

Whether you choose a room with a mountain or city view, you’ll still be at the heart of La Paz at Stannum Boutique Hotel and Spa. Rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, and the junior suite has an in-room jacuzzi tub. Downstairs, the hotel restaurant, Terra, dishes up Bolivian dishes such as the catfish-like surubí. The hotel also has an exhibition by one of the most famous artists in Bolivia, Mamani Mamani.

Colibri Camping and Eco Lodge is an ideal place to stay if you’re looking for some peace and quiet; it’s just half an hour from downtown La Paz. Here, you’ll have a choice of cabins, from an A-frame lodge to a fully equipped tiny house dubbed “the Pigsty.” Adventurous types will be pleased to know Colibri offers several expeditions, such as hikes up the jagged Muela del Diablo (the Devil’s Molar) or an ATV ride through the Valley of the Moon.

In 2016, this building looked like any other 1960s-style home in downtown Santa Cruz. It belonged to Consuelo Parada Suárez, grandmother of the hotel’s current owners, who transformed it with the help of local artists. From the mural adorning the entrance, titled Recuerdos del Casco Viejo (Memories of the Old Town), to award-winning portraits of Aymara women, the Cosmopolitano brings Santa Cruz’s culture to you. However, there are some international touches, such as Hermès-branded toiletries in every room and Aperol spritzes served at the bar nightly.