El Viejo Molino

There’s a restaurant and bar on site, plenty of room for kids to play, and a pool and outdoor area with great views. The hotel is clean, though the rooms look a bit old and dated, and the Wi-Fi worked better outside than in our room. Friendly dogs and cats were around the property too. I’m told this counts as five-star quality for a Bolivian hotel, though visitors from other countries might see it differently. I’d have liked to stay longer. It felt a bit like paradise, about a 10 minute drive from Coroico.

For 880 bolivianos a night, I expected more than this, or at least basics like running water and pool access. We were locked inside our room, and thankfully one of us was still outside and could get maintenance. There was no phone in the room and the Wi-Fi didn’t work, so otherwise we would have had to scream for help. We had to contact the front desk three times about the water. It was turned on only once. With kids, it was really difficult not being able to wash their faces, brush their teeth, flush the toilet, or shower. The hotel also claims to have Wi-Fi, but there was none. Being off the grid is fine if that’s what’s advertised. That evening, the pool and game tables were reserved for romantic dinners, but nobody told us when we booked or checked in. We walked down with our kids and found a very drunk man in the pool with a woman and lots of bottles. Staff told us to leave, so we had to stay in our room instead of enjoying the evening as a family. We contacted the manager and got no reply; the staff there just apologized. The place is outdated and poorly maintained. Light fixtures hang out of the ceiling, and the supposedly clean towels and sheets were stained. This is not a five-star hotel. Maybe it was in 1975. Be careful if you decide to stay here.

The staff really make the stay comfortable. Everyone was friendly and happy to help. The views are breathtaking, and the restaurant serves good, sometimes great food. You can also eat in town if you prefer. It’s one of the best hotels in Coroico. Keeping things clean in the jungle can’t be easy, but the rooms, bathrooms, pool, restaurant, and other facilities were very clean and well maintained. There were bugs in open areas and some dirt from the roads and gardens, which may be hard to avoid. I hope to come back soon.

The place is clean and the staff are friendly. If you plan to eat outside, let the front desk know, or you might wait a while to be served. The kitchen may close before its official time when business is slow, so tell them in advance if you want a meal later and they’ll wait. And bring a flashlight if you’re walking to the plaza and back at night. It gets very dark.