16 Best Hotels in Southern Bolivia, Bolivia

This newer hotel and community project is in Tahua, a small village right on the edge of the northern side of the flats under the volcano Thunupa. It's more upscale than other hotels in the region, as reflected in the locally crafted furniture, arty design, and, impressively, Wi-Fi. An extension of its natural environment, the hotel has stone floors and walls made of salt blocks. Most rooms have views of the surrounding dessert. It also has the great advantage of being at the end of the new road from La Paz and 20 minutes from the Isla del Pescado, meaning you can avoid Uyuni entirely. It is one of the four Tayka hotels that the upscale tour groups use, and is the best option for those looking for some comfort during their Salar tour.

It's a hotel, made of salt, on the edge of one of the planet's most amazing natural wonders. There's not much more to say. Although the Salar itself is about a mile away, the views at sunset are incredible, and the stars and silence at night are priceless. The rooms are warm and comfortable with great showers, and the design is attractive. Luna Salada is not flawless—the crunchy salt on the floor can be annoying, and the food can be found wanting at times—but with an open mind this can be the perfect way to end or begin your Salar experience. The best option is to come by rental car to avoid the obscene transfer costs. You should organize your trip deeper into the Salar with a reputable company before coming to the hotel, as their in-house tours are not the best. Book well in advance.

This is a good option for those on a budget who still want to stay in colonial-style splendor—so long as you don’t mind some peeling paint and a healthy dose of kitsch in the furnishings. It's not totally without charm: the interior courtyard is colorfully painted and full of greenery, and the rooms, although worn and not very well illuminated, are spacious and clean. There is a small crafts market across the road; a lot of the crafts are pretty generic, but it will do for some traditional woven textiles in a pinch.

When you notice the colorful wood ceiling in the reception room—a reproduction of the original painted by a Jesuit priest—you know instantly that this family-owned hotel is a gem. Built as a private home in the late 17th century, the gleaming white colonial structure with a handsome rooftop terrace has large, airy rooms with sunlight streaming in through tall windows. The top-floor rooms are the best, and are worth the extra cost. All the outdoor spaces are inviting, particularly the upper terraces and the sundeck that offers excellent views of the entire city.

Among the very uninspiring collection of hotels and generally apathetic service that Potosí offers, La Casona is easily the best budget option despite its decidedly backpacker feel. The staff is hit and miss, but some are friendly and helpful, and the location is the best selling point—it's in a beautiful old building just a block and a half from the main plaza. The rooms are spartan at best, but those with a private bathroom are clean, warm, and more than sufficient as a base for a few days. The breakfast is forgettable; rather, eat out with the money you saved by not bothering with one of the bigger, more expensive hotels. The Wi-Fi is better in some locations than others; check before settling into your room.

This is the typical Sucre hotel experience of an old colonial-style mansion-turned-hotel, but La Posada rises to the top thanks to its recent renovation and expansion and its location not half a block from the plaza. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, with new finishes; unfortunately they are a little dark because of the small windows that come with the old architecture. Those on the second level, overlooking the ancient apricot tree in the courtyard, are the best, with nice open spaces to relax in.

Although far from the central plaza—and walking at this altitude is not for most—this is one of Potosí's more modern hotels offering large, clean rooms and nine suites spread over three floors. The rooms are rather somberly decorated but comfortable with balconies overlooking a courtyard under a glass dome. The restaurant is open from 7 am to 11 pm.

Quiet and with a slightly stuffy attitude, this is the most upscale hotel in town, although rather far from the five stars it claims. The large, spacious lobby is a treat, and the location and staff are excellent. The rooms are spacious and clean but nothing special.

Artwork by local Potosí painters brightens hallways and rooms in this centrally located hotel, probably the best in the city for the price, although you may find this designation relative. There's a small patio on the top floor where you can risk a little sun. The big plus here is central heating.

Calm and soothing, the well-kept lobby that greets you as you walk into the Hotel Monasterio sets the perfect tone for this beautiful hotel, once a 16th-century monastery. Though a couple of the rooms have rather overbearing decor (the blue room and the gold room, in particular), most are nicely decorated and comfortable.

This whitewashed colonial hotel is just two blocks from the colorful Plaza 10 de Noviembre. It looks a little run down from the outside, but the interior is fine for Uyuni. Many rooms overlook the hotel's two courtyards. Ask to see the room before signing in and check the hot water. The power has been known to go out on occasion and there's no backup generator, so pack a flashlight for emergencies.

This hotel has a serious claim to the top spot in Sucre to spend your tourist dollars. Details throughout the hotel blend traditional colonial architecture with a colorful Bolivian finish. The manicured central courtyard garden and the expansive bougainvillea that flows down from the third floor will definitely grab your attention, but it's the little things that will win you over: the option to try a traditional breakfast with bread made in a wood-fired oven; the comfortable and colorful lounging area; the luxurious and modern rooms decorated in colorful good taste.

This historic hotel with its impressive warren of arches and courtyards has been impeccably restored, and is a paradise for history and antique buffs thanks to its colonial exterior and neo-classical French interior. Some of the mural work and antique furniture is truly impressive. A visit to the tunnels below offers a rare insight into the life of this storied building, originally built in the late 17th century as the seat of the royal administrator of the region. Unfortunately, it is only really worth it if you shell out for the very best rooms; the standard rooms, while luxurious, are aging a little—peeling paint, rattling fridge, imitation antique furniture—and not in line with the price.

A modern, well-designed small hotel, Terravina is an excellent option near central Tarija. The rooms are comfortable, complete with sofa, desk, and a compact but good bathroom. The decor (with wall-size wine-themed photos behind the bed) may not be to everyone's taste. The staff is friendly, and the owner is one of the best sources of tourist information in the city and can help with everything from Tarija’s numerous festivals to visits to wineries. Their customizable wine tour is excellent.

An all-round decent option a few blocks up from the plaza, this hotel offers simple, comfortable rooms and friendly staff. The location is good, although uphill, and everything is generally clean and pleasant. The attached restaurant isn't a bad option; the breakfast is fine, although the quality is up and down.

This impeccable hotel offers something different in a city full of hotels set in colonial-style buildings. Here, you'll find a stylish, modern take on mid-19th-century neoclassical, republican architecture. The central courtyard with its tall red columns surrounding a pleasant fountain wows as you walk in, and the rooms more than deliver on this initial promise. They are all tastefully decorated and unassumingly luxurious, and always respectful of the surrounding historic building. The best rooms are on the ground floor overlooking the spacious and beautiful garden out back, but all are a pleasure to be in.