Salt Hotel, Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia

Posted by Jackie Hewett on Sun 27th January 2008 at 12:05 PM, Filed in Unusual Hotels

OK – so most of us have heard about the Ice Hotel in Norway, but here is something different – the Hotel de Sal Playa - a hotel made entirely of salt (even the beds), although the roof, some chairs and (fortunately bed coverings) are made of other materials!!

Salt Hotel Exterior

The terms Salar de Uyuni means Salt Lake, and this particular salt lake is 40 miles square, and situated in a national park called the ‘Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa’ situated in the Andes neat the Chilean boarder (South West Bolivia).  The hotel even bills itself as a spa and you can have various (salt-based of course) treatments that are designed to purify the skin and help you detox.  In 1993 a tour operator came up with the idea and built the hotel with 14 by 14 inch blocks cut from the salt flats.  There are 12 two-bed guest rooms and bathrooms are shared – there are flushing toilets but no showers.  The rooms are situated around a central courtyard.  If you don’t fancy staying here you can of course drop by for a visit.
Inside the Salt Hotel
There is a surprising amount to do it the vicinity, there are volcanos and geysers nearby and you can see some rare James’ flamingos at the nearby Laguna Colorada, herds of llama, 26 foot high cacti and of course the salt-mine, with some amazing and unusual scenery.  At the nearby village of Uyuni there is even a railroad ‘graveyard’ where you can see vintage engines and boxcars.  There are some great and unusual photographic opportunities.
Uyini Train Graveyard

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