The Coolest Boutique Hotels in Bolivia

This sophisticated city slicker of a hotel spans a few floors of a modern high-rise building, a five-minute taxi ride from the historic and financial centre of La Paz. Streamlined rooms with accents of colour (striped wallpaper, hot pink bed throws) feature large picture windows, which frame jaw-dropping views of the city. Book the King Mountain room for vistas overlooking the snow-capped Illimani peak. Relax in the spa or take a stroll to the lovely nearby Botanical Garden.

Barely a 328ft (100m) walk from Sucre Cathedral, you’ll find Boutique La Posada. Exposed dark wood beams, vaulted brick ceilings and traditional tiles blend elegance and comfort. Ask for your morning coffee or comida típica (traditional food) to be taken on the terracotta patio, set with colourful potted plants, or under the shade of the gazebo.

Beautiful restoration means you can enjoy the cooling stone patios and shaded terraces of this colonial mansion-turned-hotel. Towers, brick floors and hand-carved doors add to the period charm of a hotel that’s a destination in itself. There’s the on-site El Tapado museum, revealing secret family treasures, as well as the La Caballeriza patio and old church atrium that is now a sun deck. Tuck into llama steaks and Bolivian wine for dinner at the restaurant.

Don’t touch the walls of this sand-coloured stylish hotel, perched on the edge of the world’s largest salt flats in Uyuni, as it’s made entirely of salt. Each cosy sound-proofed room is decorated with locally-woven fabrics. Fill up on breakfast in the light-filled restaurant – eggs, sausage, bacon, waffles, yogurt, juice, pastries and fruit are among the offerings. Explore Salar de Uyuni by hiking or wildlife watching, before soaking away any aches and pains in the spa with views of those mesmerising salt flats.

In the heart of the La Paz South Zone, this hotel oozes urban sophistication. You are greeted by a bright, glass atrium and 65 rooms offering views of the mountains or La Paz cityscape. Start the day with fresh coffee and pastries at Puro Gelato & Caffé. Finish it with cocktails and light fare in the rooftop Casabar after a dip in the heated indoor pool, complete with sauna and jacuzzi.

A nifty 656ft (200m) walk from San Francisco square in La Paz, this colonial house is no ordinary hotel with distinctive carved wooden walls and elegantly-arched walkways. Whitewashed walls offset dark wood beams overhead in homely rooms with traditional textile bed throws. The vaulted ceilings in El Pan de Oro restaurant create a snug space for sampling regional dishes such as empanadas or international fare for the less adventurous traveller.

After arriving in La Paz in 2016, this newcomer to the city’s boutique hotel scene has earned a strong reputation for providing modern luxury and comfort while paying homage to Bolivia’s unique cultural heritage. Located in the upmarket Zona Sur (South Zone), this sophisticated 53 room, five-star boutique hotel is jam packed with works from Bolivian artists that proudly acknowledge the country’s national identity. As a member of Design Hotels TM, a group of exquisite international boutiques, Atix is a hit for its quirky architectural features, elegant indoor heated swimming pool, classy fine dining restaurant and funky cocktail bar with unbeatable city views.

Known as the Salt Palace in English, it really is just that – a grand 48,500sqft (4,500sqm) establishment that was constructed using over a million salt bricks extracted from the nearby Salar de Uyuni. Everything possible has been made entirely out of salt, including beds, tables and chairs. This delightfully quirky 30 room boutique is listed as one of the most unusual hotels of the world, yet features all the required modern amenities for a comfortable stay such as a fully-stocked bar, spa and sauna and even a salty nine-hole golf course. In recent years, nearby copycat hotels have tried to replicate its success, though El Palacio de Sal remains the original and the best.

As with Mi Pueblo Samary, El Pueblito Hotel Boutique is designed to replicate an 18th-century Bolivian town complete with houses, central plaza, town hall, bazaar and chapel. Set in the tranquil countryside just outside the expat haven of Samaipata, this 11-room boutique eco-resort is spacious, relaxing and incredibly peaceful. The town-within-a-town also happens to feature one of Samaipata’s finest restaurants, enough reason to pay a visit in itself. An abundance of nearby natural attractions makes El Pueblito the perfect escape from hectic city living.