14 DAY TRIAL // Just when you thought you had seen everything in terms of unusual hotels, there comes a surprise: a luxury venue that stands out of the crowd due to the material used to construct it. It's called Palacio de Sal and was made with one of Bolivia's most abundant resources: salt.
The use of locally sourced materials is a trend among developers nowadays, and this unique Bolivian resort is made entirely of salt blocks. Walls, floors, ceilings, and even the furniture are made of the seasoning favorite, so the place is considered unique in the world.
The 4,800 square-foot (445 square-meter) hotel took two years to complete and was built from a whopping one million 35cm (13.7-inch) blocks of salt. It sits on the world's largest salt flat, Salar de Uyuni, and has a total of 16 rooms, each resembling igloos due to their salty construction material.
Located in the port of Colchani, on the eastern shore of the Great Salar de Uyuni and just 25 km (15.5 miles) from the city of Uyuni, the Hotel Palacio de Sal features a bar, a beautifully designed dining area and, unsurprisingly, its own salt baths. It also includes a dry sauna, a Steam room, and a saltwater pool.
According to Distractify, the hotel was originally built in 1997, but had to be dismantled in 2002 after every rainy season caused water damage. In 2007, the complex was rebuilt and all the amenities of a normal hotel were added to comply with the government regulations.
It could be the perfect location for an adventurer who wants to try something new and unique without sacrificing comfort. However, there is one strict rule that all clients must obey: licking the walls is strictly prohibited to preserve the building's integrity.
“The hotel is certainly invaluable. All our guests are amazed by it and tend to try to lick the walls or furniture made of salt just to be sure it is made of salt. We can promise that it all is. As the name indicates, our hotel is like a palace. It has a unique infrastructure and is a treat for the eyes,” a representative for the resort said.
Because of its unique characteristics, Palacio de Sal has been selected among the most unusual hotels in the world by the magazine News Week and among the top 10 travel and adventure destinations by Travel and Leisure magazine, according to the resort's website.