Your stay — Uyuni Palace
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The Property — Uyuni Palace
Uyuni Palace is a tired 3-star on Avenida Ferroviaria, the main drag. The lobby has a worn red carpet and a small reception desk where the staff are helpful but unhurried. It’s clean and functional — think faded Andean textiles and a courtyard where you can park a 4x4. This place suits backpackers and tour groups on a budget who want a bed and a hot shower before the 4am salt flats departure, not anyone chasing charm. The USP is location: a three-minute walk from the train station and five from Plaza Arce.
Chronicles of Uyuni
Uyuni was founded in 1890 as a railway hub, growing around the train station that still anchors the town. The British-built railway brought tin from the mines of Potosí, and the streets were laid out in a grid with corrugated-iron roofs and low adobe walls. By the mid-20th century, mining declined and tourism took over, with the Salar de Uyuni becoming the main draw. Today the town is a dusty frontier outpost of 10,000 people, its identity split between railway nostalgia and gringo trail logistics. The train cemetery — a dozen rusting locomotives five minutes out of the centre — is the most photogenic relic of that past.
Best Time to Visit
Full Uyuni guide →Best months
MayJuneJuly
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Uyuni Palace, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the second floor facing away from Avenida Ferroviaria (the main street). The second floor puts you above street-level bustle but avoids the top floor where Bolivian altiplano sun heats the roof. These rooms get afternoon shade from the building next door, which keeps them cooler.
Rooms to avoid
Ground-floor rooms at the front: they face the pavement and pick up foot traffic, tour van doors slamming, and early-morning street vendors. Also avoid any room directly beside the stairwell – the concrete construction echoes footsteps up to 10pm and again from 6am when groups head to the salt flats.
Best views
Rear-facing rooms on floor 2 or 3 overlook the interior courtyard and the small backs of neighbouring buildings. You dodge the main road view of dusty Avenida Ferroviaria with its tour jeeps and diesel fumes. No mountain views here – Uyuni is flat and dusty.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3. The building has three floors with no lift, so the middle floor is far enough from the lobby commotion and the roof's heat gain.
🔊 Noise notes
Avenida Ferroviaria is the town's main drag for the salt flat tours. From 5am to 8am, tour operators rev engines and customers load gear. In the evening, a few tour bars on the same street play music until 11pm. The hotel's thin single-glazed windows do little to block this.
Insider tips
1. Request a bottom-shelf room for the fridge. The top shelves get warm because the cooler units leak heat downward – your drinks will stay properly cold on the lower racks. 2. Check in by 2pm to snag a rear-facing room. The front desk often assigns rooms first-come-first-served, and the rear ones go fast because they're quieter.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Uyuni Palace
Free basic Wi-Fi (approx. 5 Mbps down) in lobby and all rooms; no password but requires acceptance of terms on captive portal; no paid upgrade available
No lift – only stairs; property is a converted two-storey colonial building with all 24 rooms up one flight of stairs (no ground-floor rooms)
Two physical Bolivian newspapers (El Diario, La Razón) in lobby each morning; no digital newsstand or FT
Check-in from 13:00, check-out by 11:00; early bag drop from 09:00 free; late check-out until 14:00 costs BOB 50, after 14:00 charged half a night
Free luggage storage in locked room behind reception; no limit on bags but no insurance for valuables
No step-free entry – main entrance has two steps; no wheelchair-accessible rooms or bathrooms; narrow corridors and stairs-only access to all floors and facilities
No on-site parking; free street parking along Av. Ferroviaria (unsecured, first-come); nearest public car park is 'Estacionamiento Uyuni' at Calle Sucre 123 (BOB 15 per night, 5-min walk); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no municipal tourist tax in Uyuni)
Deposit & card hold: 50% advance deposit via bank transfer or card link; at check-in a BOB 200 (approx. USD 29) incidental hold placed on credit card
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Iglesia de Uyuni (326 m · ~4 min walk)
- Place of worship: Adventista del Séptimo Día (709 m · ~9 min walk)
- Place of worship: Jesucristo de los Santos de los úlitimos días (775 m · ~10 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Plaza Arce — 111 m · ~1 min walk
Museo Ferrocarril y Centro de Interpretación de Uyuni — 535 m · ~7 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Banco Ecofuturo — 135 m · ~2 min walk
Farmacia Dra. Ahorro — 149 m · ~2 min walk
Uyuni — 207 m · ~3 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Bolivian Boliviano, BOB
Exchange dollars or euros at casas de cambio in Uyuni town; avoid airport and tourist bureaux for poor rates.
Cards accepted in larger hotels and some tour agencies; cash essential for markets, street food, and local transport.
10% tip in restaurants if service charge not included; small change for luggage porters and guides; no tip for taxis.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Instant coffee at a basic cafe or market stall, around 5-8 BOB.
Set lunch menu (menú del día) at a local eatery, about 20-30 BOB.
Simple main like a salteña or lomo saltado at a basic restaurant, roughly 25-40 BOB.
Near the train cemetery and market area for anticuchos and empanadas, 5-15 BOB.
Local markets and small shops; no major supermarket chains in town.
Local market stalls for affordable alpaca sweaters and hats; negotiate price.
Share taxi or micro (minibus) within town, 2-3 BOB per ride; from Uyuni airport, a shared taxi into town about 10-15 BOB per person.
Book your Salar de Uyuni tour in town with a group to split costs; bring a reusable water bottle and fill up at your accommodation; eat where locals queue for lunch menus.
Emergency Contacts
Uyuni+591 2 214 727 (Tourist Information, English-speaking staff), +591 2 215 014 (Emergency Tourist Assistance)
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Uyuni, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Uyuni Palace
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Banco Ecofuturo — 135 m · ~2 min walk — pharmacy · Farmacia Dra. Ahorro — 149 m · ~2 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Central Plaza (parada) → El Condorito (Av. Ferroviaria)
💡 Micros stop on Av. Ferroviaria near the hotel. Signal the driver by raising your hand. Pay when you get off. Carry small coins — drivers rarely have change.
Uyuni Airport (UYU) → Hotel El Condorito
💡 No rank outside arrivals. Call your hotel for a pre-arranged pickup; they'll send a trusted driver. Cash only, exact change helps.
Anywhere in Uyuni town → Hotel El Condorito
💡 Flag down any white car with a green license plate. Negotiate before you get in. Short hops are 5 BOB; from market to hotel maybe 7 BOB.
Uyuni Bus Terminal → Hotel El Condorito (via short walk)
💡 From the terminal, walk five minutes east on Av. Ferroviaria. Hotel is on the right, opposite the cement factory. Ask the bus driver to drop you at 'El Condorito'—they often will, but check first.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Uyuni Palace?
Request a room on the second floor facing away from Avenida Ferroviaria (the main street). The second floor puts you above street-level bustle but avoids the top floor where Bolivian altiplano sun heats the roof. These rooms get afternoon shade from the building next door, which keeps them cooler.
Which rooms should I avoid at Uyuni Palace?
Ground-floor rooms at the front: they face the pavement and pick up foot traffic, tour van doors slamming, and early-morning street vendors. Also avoid any room directly beside the stairwell – the concrete construction echoes footsteps up to 10pm and again from 6am when groups head to the salt flats.
Is Uyuni Palace noisy?
Avenida Ferroviaria is the town's main drag for the salt flat tours. From 5am to 8am, tour operators rev engines and customers load gear. In the evening, a few tour bars on the same street play music until 11pm. The hotel's thin single-glazed windows do little to block this.
Which rooms have the best views at Uyuni Palace?
Rear-facing rooms on floor 2 or 3 overlook the interior courtyard and the small backs of neighbouring buildings. You dodge the main road view of dusty Avenida Ferroviaria with its tour jeeps and diesel fumes. No mountain views here – Uyuni is flat and dusty.
What are insider tips for staying at Uyuni Palace?
1. Request a bottom-shelf room for the fridge. The top shelves get warm because the cooler units leak heat downward – your drinks will stay properly cold on the lower racks. 2. Check in by 2pm to snag a rear-facing room. The front desk often assigns rooms first-come-first-served, and the rear ones go fast because they're quieter.
What time is check-in at Uyuni Palace?
Check-in at Uyuni Palace is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Uyuni Palace have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi (approx. 5 Mbps down) in lobby and all rooms; no password but requires acceptance of terms on captive portal; no paid upgrade available
Is there a city or tourist tax at Uyuni Palace?
None (no municipal tourist tax in Uyuni)
Where can I eat cheaply near Uyuni Palace?
Set lunch menu (menú del día) at a local eatery, about 20-30 BOB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Uyuni Palace?
Share taxi or micro (minibus) within town, 2-3 BOB per ride; from Uyuni airport, a shared taxi into town about 10-15 BOB per person.
When is the best time to visit Uyuni?
MayJuneJuly
Top Attractions in Uyuni
💡 Best visited during the dry season (May to October) when the flats are flat and reflective. Be prepared for strong winds and extreme temperatures.
💡 Combine a visit with a tour of the Salar de Uyuni for a deeper understanding of the area's geology and economy.
💡 Be prepared for a challenging hike and strong winds. Bring plenty of water and sun protection.
💡 Visit early in the morning or late in the afternoon for the best light and fewer tourists.
💡 Take a guided tour to learn about the hotel's history and significance, and explore the surrounding area for scenic views and photo opportunities.