All famous and influential television, including CNN, and fashion magazines like Vogue are turning their spotlight to this hotel, more accurately saying the world’s first salt hotel and the world’s premier salty hotel named Palacio de Sal, located in Salar De Uyuni, Colchani, Potosí, Bolivia – in the middle of Salar De Uyuni which is called the world’s largest mirror on earth.
Most parts, including the walls, the ceilings, the furniture, the beds, etc., of Palacio de Sal, are made of salt or salt bricks. One day, Juan Gabriel Quesada, the creator of Palacio de Sal, decided to build a hotel that was not ordinary but exciting. He and his team made strong salt bricks instead of the usual clay bricks and built the world’s first salt hotel. Palacio de Sal eloquently stands in the middle of the Salar De Uyuni salt flats today, which was Juan’s carefully crafted vision.
Now, what happens to this hotel made out of salt during the rainy season in Bolivia from late December to April? Factually, salt hotels have a lifespan of only ten to fifteen years, as rain causes them to disintegrate, and the building must be rebuilt.
The hotel is constructed using more than one million dense blocks, sourced straight from the salt flats and held together with a mixture of ground salt and water. Each year, after the rainy season, around 10% of the structure erodes, prompting a reconstruction process to restore it.
Best time to eat the Salt:
Best time to travel to the salt flats and the Palacio de Sal is during the dry season, typically from May to October. The weather is more stable during this period, and you’ll likely have clear skies and sunny days.
Palacio de Sal is more or less like the usual luxury hotels with facilities such as a spa, swimming pool, on-site restaurant and bar, a salty golf course, and even gift shops and lockers. The hotel also has artistic sculptural pieces made of salt by artists and craftsmen of the community. Each room has an igloo-style dome made of salt, which is insulated with plastic tarps. However, every view from each point of this hotel will leave you stunned by the breathtaking views of the salt lake.
Palacio de Sal, known for its unique structure, has earned significant recognition in the hospitality industry. In 2019, it was awarded ‘Best Hotel’ and received a TripAdvisor recommendation badge. Featured in prominent publications for its unusual concept, the hotel stands out as a leader in making life ‘less ordinary.’ It’s also a certified pet-friendly destination.
Imagine telling the story of visiting a hotel made of salt amidst the vast salt flats, Salar De Uyuni, in Bolivia! There are more salt hotels named Luna Salada Hotel and Hotel de Casa Andina in Bolivia, yet do you want to tell the story you tell as “I visited a salt hotel.” or “I visited the world’s first salt hotel.” You know which story will stand out!
