Kachi Lodge

Each of the six comfortable domes, which sleep three people, offers a 28 m² bedroom, comfortable bedding, and handmade woven blankets made from naturally dyed llama wool and alpaca, as well as a private bathroom with hot running water. The interior design features custom-made furniture crafted from regional materials, unique textiles, decorative details such as beautiful cushions, and unique paintings by Gastón Ugalde—internationally known as the Bolivian Andy Warhol.

On each side of the bed are handmade lamps woven from regenerated cactus wood, old water sieves, or straw.
In front of the bay window is a small table carved from Bolivian wood, next to it a rattan armchair and a low wooden stool. A wooden lattice wall installed behind the bed separates the shower and washroom from the bedroom. A pellet stove maintains a comfortable temperature between 19 and 23°C.

Room amenities:

• wheelchair accessible
• clothes rack
• seating area
• dining area
• adapter
• shower
• pellet stove
• Wi-Fi only available in the main lounge. Service unreliable.

restaurant

Yes, you can enjoy fine dining even in the salt flats at an altitude of 3,660 meters. In a smaller dome connected to the lounge dome is a state-of-the-art kitchen run by Proyecto Nativa, a celebrated restaurant from the constitutional capital of Sucre. 

Chef Juan Pablo Gumiel brilliantly combines local flavors and international influences, selecting the best organic products grown locally. Above all, Juan Pablo passionately expresses the cuisine of his childhood through original dishes and creative recipes, which have made him one of the rising stars of the Bolivian food scene. An exciting gastronomic journey through Bolivia's rich biodiversity awaits you. The experience is rounded off with local wines and an herbal tea station.

Kachi Lodge offers a wide range of activities (included in the price). Once you have met your guide, you can choose your own program each day according to your favorite interests.

• The adventure begins as soon as you arrive. On the way from Uyuni, you will probably stop at the old train graveyard with its dozens of old locomotives and carriages from the early 20th century.
• 4X4 across the Salar ( half-day tour, flexible timing)
  Even if you already got your first impressions of the Salar on your way here, there are still more wonders waiting to be discovered and offering great photo opportunities. The drive across the Salar itself is an adventure. Look for "ojos de sal" – small pools that produce impressive salt crystals. Or hike on one of the many islands that exist in this vast expanse. Your guide and driver will help you choreograph some entertaining perspective photos. Make sure your camera/phone has enough storage space!
• Hike on the Tunapa Volcano (half-day excursion, 1 1/2 hours each way, including lunch)
  A hike to the Tunupa Mirador or summit is one of the highlights of a stay at Kachi Lodge. The dormant volcano with its ochre and red slopes is 5321 meters high and is revered by the locals as the female deity who gave birth to the Salar. On the way to its huge slopes, you will drive across the Salar in an off-road vehicle to the town of Coquesa, where a beautiful, winding road takes you directly to the crater floor of the volcano at an altitude of 4600 meters. As the road climbs over fields and boulders, the view of the endless expanse of the Salar is breathtaking. Surrounded by unusually colorful terrain, you hike up to a first ridge at 4900 m. The views are worth the trip! For the more resilient, there is an ascent along the wind-exposed ridge. Adrenaline lovers can enjoy a 360° view and a unique look into the crater of the volcano at the edge of the caldera. The descent is a straight path through a sandy rocky bay: with your heels first, you'll be downhill in no time.
  In a sheltered corner, next to a small stone house, lunch is lovingly served: a feast of wine, fresh salads, homemade delicacies, and quinoa.
• Mountain biking on the Salar (flexible timing)
  Kachi Lodge offers a selection of high-quality mountain bikes: an ideal way to explore the surrounding islands or get out into the great outdoors. The surface of the Salar is perfectly flat and ideal for rides directly from the lodge or longer tours from the center of the Salar. For the more adventurous, there is also the option of experiencing an adrenaline-fueled downhill adventure on bikes from the nearby Thunupa volcano.
• Quinta Fields & Llama Herds(one-hour excursion, Jirira village)
  Visit Celia and her quinoa fields and learn about the local culture and vitality of the Jirira community. A pillar of the community, Celia guides visitors through the many steps involved in growing, harvesting, threshing, and separating the quinoa grains from the wooden stalks on which they grow. You are invited to participate in this process. Julian, a local farmer who also battles the extreme climate, welcomes you to his llama herd. You will learn about the quality of the wool, the importance of llama meat to local communities, the desertification that is at stake due to climate change, and the breeding season of llamas.
• Sunrise hikes ( 1–2 hours around the lodge)
  Sunrise is one of the most beautiful moments on the salt flat, as the light reflects off the surface of millions of tiny crystals. A hike to the cactus-covered Kachi Island near the lodge or a short drive in an off-road vehicle to a small hill at the edge of the salt flat offers spectacular views. Unique encounters with 80- to 100-year-old cacti and their strange silhouettes are part of the journey. Upon returning to the lodge after a morning walk, breakfast awaits you with freshly baked bread, steaming hot coffee, and exotic fruits.
• Sunset drive ( approx. 2 hours)
  A sunset drive is an adventure in itself. It is spectacular every time to catch the last rays of light: behind small salt extraction sites that turn pink; near a body of water where the reflections at the end of the day are true works of art; or in the middle of the salt flats, from where the horizon turns orange – every sunset is fascinating.
  Enjoy a glass of wine or a cocktail prepared on the spot. And under the first stars, it's finally time to return to Kachi Lodge.
• Stargazing on clear nights ( 30 min – 1 hour)
  At night, when the telescope is out, the sky seems to open up and pour stars over your head: thanks to the lack of pollution and the altitude, the stars and the Milky Way seem close enough to touch. At night, the Salar almost seems like a constellation of its own, as the salt crystals create myriads of tiny sparks. Getting to know the constellations in the southern sky becomes an unforgettable experience.
• Visit to the ancient archaeological site of Alcaya ( half-day excursion, 1 1/2 hours each way, including lunch)
  Alcaya is known as a sacred site for local Bolivian communities: it is believed to have been the city of one of the oldest pre-Inca civilizations in the Andes. Perched at an altitude of 3,800 meters on a hillside next to a bucolic river, this pre-Columbian citadel is an open-air museum: you can stroll around dozens of small round stone houses and silos (grain stores), located between terraced fields and an irrigation system, most of which have remained intact. In the lower part of the village, small graves and skulls bear witness to the size of the necropolis. A few mummies – perfectly wrapped in fetal positions – remain intact, alongside ceramics and woven objects from the 12th century.
  As you walk down the ancient paths, you can feel the spirituality of the Alcaya site.
  Lunch is served nearby, away from the river: a feast of fresh vegetables, quinoa, avocado, homemade delicacies, and coca tea—a perfect echo of the ancient way of life of the inhabitants of this settlement.

All tours are conducted with your own guide, private vehicle, and driver.