A Stay Worth Its Salt
You can’t help but stare when you see it. A sparkling white lodge in the middle of the Bolivian desert—built almost entirely from blocks of salt.
Image source: The Hotel Guru
On the edge of the Salar de Uyuni—the largest salt flat in the world—sits the Palacio de Sal (“Palace of Salt”), the world’s first hotel made entirely of salt. Walls, floors, ceilings, furniture… even parts of the décor are carved from compressed salt bricks, each about 14 inches wide.
The original concept opened in 1998, dreamed up by Juan Quesada Valda, and later rebuilt in its current location in 2007 with modern plumbing and better environmental design. Today, the boutique property features 42 rooms, a saltwater pool, a spa, and a restaurant serving regional dishes like llama and lamb—plus the unspoken rule: no licking the walls.
Guests come for the surreal setting, but stay for the views—miles of blindingly white flats by day, and a night sky packed with stars.
Planning a trip? The hotel is about 25 km from Uyuni, and rooms book up fast during the dry season (May–November), so reserve early.
Learn more about the one-of-a-kind Palacio de Sal.Got a quirky travel story of your own? Share it in the forum!
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