The Tayka Desert Hotel (Tayka Hotel del Desierto), in the Bolivian Cordillera, is at an elevation of about 4,550m or about 15,000 ft. The Guinness Book of World Records and a number of online articles have cited the Everest View Hotel in Nepal, at about 13,000 ft, as the highest hotel in the world. The definition of “hotel” can vary considerably but the Tayka Desert Hotel is definitely a hotel and I have yet to identify one that is higher.

In addition to its elevation, the Tayka Desert Hotel is also extremely remote – probably 6-7 hours of desert driving from the nearest town which can supply it.  As one should expect, the facilities are basic with the exception of hot water available only in the afternoon/evening, ok beds, and wireless internet, which is touchy and accessible only once the sun has been up long enough to provide sufficient power. The hotel is off the grid, entirely reliant on solar and wind energy. As a result, power to all but the lights is shut off at night. Unfortunately, this includes the heat, which makes for a rather cold sleep. There are no hot showers in the morning either. Dinner is set, ok, and a bit on the light side.  Breakfast is very basic.

Many travellers here suffer the effects of altitude sickness, having driven up from Uyuni (3,700m) or San Pedro de Atacama in Chile (2,500m).

This must be an extremely difficult place to operate a hotel and although it presents challenges for guests, the Tayka del Desierto is a convenient way station for people traversing this remote landscape, a landscape that is undoubtedly one of the world’s most unique and mesmerizing.