Hotel Museo Cayara — Hotel in Municipio Yocalla

I had the great pleasure of staying two days at the Cayara last September. It was one of the most interesting spots I visited in Bolivia. While nearby Potosi (~45 km away) was the reason to be in this part of Bolivia, the Hotel and Museum Cayara added immensely to this part of the journey. In a gorgeous setting, several verdant valleys beyond the city, this "hacienda" has been in operation since 1577. The setting is beautiful and the surrounding history astonishing. Check out Bolivia's first hydroelectric power station, on the Cayara grounds, still providing electricity to the neighborhood. Or check out the modern dairy operation -- providing all of Potosi's ice cream! This hotel, with gorgeous rooms (including wood-burning stoves, as well as electric heaters, is in the setting of a museum that captures Potosi's history, including rooms full of old arms, a library with texts from Bolivia's history, and a main room adorned with fascinating art and objects. The service was top-notch, the staff not only accommodating and friendly but informed about their historical surroundings. The meals were lovely, thanks to a very fine chef and wait staff. The Hotel Cayara and Museum were part of a two-week tour of Bolivia conducted by Wilderness Travel, and was one of many wonderful elements of that brilliantly composed journey. I will always treasure my days...

It took close to an hour to drive from Potosi to this hotel. It is far from the city on dirt roads. However, the historic nature of the hacienda and the collections here are incredible and interesting. ||The hotel has beautiful courtyards and we were greeted with a welcome drink. The main area where meals are served is heated by a lovely fireplace. There are two libraries with many old books. We were given a tour of the old bedrooms, the armory, and the chapel. All were fascinating. We also got to see the hydropower plant where electricity is generated. ||The rooms were pretty basic, but the beds had electric blankets. There were two space heaters in my room. There was also a wood stove, but in was told there was a danger of smoke in the room at night if it got windy. Unfortunately, the room and bathroom were very dimly lit. I had windows on each side of the room. It was very quiet at night. ||All the meals were very good and service was friendly and attentive. ||There are no amenities such as a fitness area or hot tub. The rooms are not large enough to do yoga. ||I was completely in awe of the historical collections of this hotel. However, there’s not much to do during your stay and you’re really far...

Ok, so it's located some way out of Potosi down an unmarked, somewhat rutted dirt road but these are all to its advantage. Away from the bustle of the city in a setting of rural quiet and calm, the Museo Cayara is a true gem. While we did have the place virtually to ourselves during our stay, service was always exceptional, the food was excellent and our room was quiet and comfortable. The property is the former home of the present owner and a portrait of her grandfather, former owner of a local silver mine, hangs over the fireplace in the sitting room. We were there in winter and certainly appreciated that the fire was kept burning throughout the day and evening. When bad weather meant that our driver couldn't reach the hotel to pick us up in the morning, the owner rapidly directed one of the employees to pack us into a four wheel drive vehicle and get us back into the city - a move typical of the service and hospitality that we experienced throughout our stay. The museum section of the house is exceptional and well worth a visit in...