On the edge of the Salar de Uyuni, Casa Gastón is a ten-suite luxury hotel born from the vision of the late Gastón Ugalde, the ‘Andean Warhol’.
Set at the foot of Tunupa volcano, near the small Andean village of Jirira, Casa Gastón looks directly across the salt flats. The hotel was conceived and designed by Ugalde himself, widely regarded as the father of Bolivian contemporary art, who saw the salar as his greatest natural canvas. At its heart is a belief that art should be lived with, not observed from a distance.
Expect an excellent in-house program of immersive experiences exploring the salt flats, volcanic trails and quinoa fields, all rooted in sustainable tourism. Back at the hotel, soak in the lithium tubs, take in the on-site art installations and artworks, and enjoy the restaurant, with culinary direction by Bolivian star chef Marsia Taha.
What we love about Casa Gastón
- Just ten suites, each with floor-to-ceiling views across the salar, a private rooftop terrace and soaking pool, and an indoor bathtub carved from a single piece of stone by artisans who once worked on Ugalde’s sculptures.
- Gastón Ugalde’s art runs throughout the hotel, including Marcha por la Vida in the main lounge – a work incorporating footprints from Bolivia’s 1992 campaign marking 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance – and there’s an on-site artist residency programme.
- The architecture is a blend of ancient Andean building techniques and contemporary design, with natural materials and muted tones used to allow the landscapes outside to remain the focus.
- The restaurant is led by chef Marsia Taha, named Latin America’s Best Female Chef in 2024; her menus draw on ingredients from the Bolivian highlands, and the wine list is entirely Bolivian.
- A great programme of in-house excursions, from full days by 4WD across the salar to e-bike rides past llamas and flamingos and sunset drinks out on the salt flats.
- Each of the hotel’s two wings has its own spa, bookable for private use, with a dry sauna, wet sauna, and two massage tables for shaman-inspired treatments.
Experiences at Casa Gastón are rooted in the geography, mythology and everyday life of the Altiplano, curated with the same precision as the architecture and art itself.
Walk across the salt flats at sunrise, or set out with your guide for sundowners in the evening as the horizon softens and the full moon rises. Explore the slopes of Tunupa volcano on foot, passing pre-Columbian sites, ancient trails and natural viewpoints overlooking the Salar. Visits to nearby quinoa fields and llama herds offer insight into the agricultural traditions that continue to sustain Jirira and its small community.
On clear nights, the altitude and remoteness make for exceptional stargazing, with guided sessions that place Andean cosmology alongside astronomy. Cycling across the salt flats or descending from Tunupa provides a more kinetic way to engage with the landscape, while time spent within the property itself – in its art pavilions and communal spaces – invites quieter reflection on Ugalde’s enduring belief that art and life are inseparable.
When to Travel
The dry season, from April/May to October/November, is generally the most reliable time to visit the Uyuni salt flats. Conditions are at their clearest and driest, making it the best period for exploring the Salar and the surrounding Altiplano by vehicle or on foot. Daytime temperatures are typically mild, while nights can be cold, with sub-zero temperatures not uncommon at this altitude.
Those keen to see the salt flat’s mirror-like reflections should travel during the rainy season, from December to March, when shallow water pools across the surface. While visually striking, this period can limit access to certain areas and makes overland travel more dependent on conditions.
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