Illampu Art Boutique Hotel — Hotel in La Paz

Beauiful hotel with very detailed decor representing the whole of Bolivia. It’s situated next to the witche’s market, so very central. It’s very safe, you need your key to enter elevators and floors. The breakfast restaurant is breathaking, at the 9th floor with an incredible 360 degrees view of La Paz. They just opened in June 2024, so that was the only available restaurant, but there are several around and great ones accessible through ride share apps. The staff is great, very helpful and welcoming. I have to say though, having been to several other hotels around the country, I noticed they didn’t have a tea bar or offer complimentary coca tea which is important when arriving in a high altitude city. Also, the main reason I was booking here is because I had been freezing throughout my stay in Bolivia (August-September) and I wanted a heater in my room because very little hotels have them. The rooms do have a mural heater but I still got somewhat cold, it wasn’t enough for me. They offer an extra blanket but it wasn’t an alpaca whool blanket like other hotels offer. Also, the shower’s water was warm and not hot which is also something I was looking forward to. I did mention this issue to the staff and they did their best to fix the water situation but I didn’t notice a difference. I do think the price is high for Bolivia considering the lack of warmth, which was my number one priority but it’s a very...

Hotel Illampu opened in early June 2024. It is modernized and both uniquely and tastefully decorated, and I think that those familiar with Marriott’s Design Hotels or Hyatt’s Unbound Collection will find themselves at home here.

Positives: The room is insulated, equipped with a good heater, and has a hot shower with good pressure. The Wi-Fi is stable and quick. Location is excellent - you’re a very short walk from both the Witch’s Market and the gondola. Credit cards are accepted. Staff can speak English and are friendly and highly accommodating. They allowed me to check in very early, which I was grateful for after a long overnight bus ride.

Negatives: Biggest problem: The bed and pillows in my room were very, very firm. I usually prefer firmer bedding but even I had trouble falling asleep. A different reviewer mentioned soft beds - maybe there are different options available, so I would suggest calling ahead to ask. The floor was dusty. The bottoms of my feet would be stained in dust just by me walking from the shower to my bed. The room was otherwise very clean, so this was an unfortunate oversight - hopefully it will be addressed quickly once the housekeeping staff are more experienced.

Despite these issues, being able to check in early was such a big help that I feel like I had a...

An experience that didn’t live up to the price paid.

Unfortunately, I can’t give this hotel a positive review. While the staff did their best to assist us, the overall experience fell short of expectations.

We had requested an early check-in at 4:30 AM, which was granted for an additional 50% of the total rate — a charge we accepted. However, the first room given to us had a very strong, unpleasant smell. After requesting a change, we were moved to another room, but this one had a broken bathroom window letting in cold air from outside. On top of that, the curtains were dirty, and one of the towels had hair on it.

Breakfast is served on the 9th floor, which offers a beautiful view over La Paz, but the food selection was quite limited. Please also be aware that the hotel is located in front of a very noisy street, and there is no sound isolation in the building.

Given the circumstances, we asked for a late checkout, which was approved. All things considered, and being fair, I would rate this stay a 3/5. For a hotel at this price point, I...