Los Tajibos, Tribute Portfolio in Santa Cruz, Bolivia [In-Depth Hotel Review]

If you visited a beachfront resort in Hawaii or southern Florida in the ’90s, you’ve stayed at this hotel. The key difference is that this hotel is 1,300 feet above sea level, is nowhere near an ocean (or a beach!), and is in Bolivia. But I kept having to remind myself that I wasn’t near a beach because Los Tajibos hotel in Santa Cruz de la Sierra had all the vibes of trips to the ocean with my family as a kid.

Los Tajibos is a Tribute Portfolio hotel and participates in Marriott Bonvoy. I spent 2 nights here in mid-August and loved every second of it. I’m already wondering when I can visit this property again.

From the excellent hospitality to the ocean(less) vibes and the fantastic points rates, Los Tajibos deserves consideration if you’re looking for a unique property. It has a few areas for improvement, but what you get — and the fantastic price — massively overshadows a few small deficiencies.

Here’s what it was like during my stay, including an upgrade as a Marriott Bonvoy elite.

Booking

I booked Los Tajibos, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel for 11,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night. That price will snag an executive room with a garden view and 1 king or 2 queen beds.

Cash rates for the standard rooms were $136 per night for the member’s flexible rate. All rates included breakfast.

That provides nearly 1.24 cents per point on the redemption, an extra 77% over the average value of Marriott Bonvoy points. Obviously, I was excited with the value I got.

A few days before my arrival, I noticed that the hotel had upgraded my room to an executive suite. At $260 per night, this is the room I stayed in:

Hot Tip:

If you’re considering booking a cash rate, make sure to check out our recommendations for the best credit cards for Marriott Bonvoy loyalists to maximize your earnings.

Location

Los Tajibos is located northwest of the historic center of Santa Cruz de la Sierra. The local neighborhood is full of shops, restaurants, cafés, and several other hotels. The streets were easily walkable with good sidewalks.

However, the September 24th Square, Basilica, and other parts of the city center are more than 2 miles away. Uber functions well in Santa Cruz, and you’ll pay $2 to $3 for a one-way ride. Taxis pass the hotel regularly, as well.

From the Viru Viru International Airport (VVI), approximately 10 miles away, an Uber ride costs $8.50 to $10.

Los Tajibos also offers a shuttle service to and from the airport. A few days before my arrival, I emailed the hotel asking for the best way to come to the property when my plane arrived at 2 a.m. I wasn’t sure how easily I’d find taxis or Uber drivers. The hotel informed me it had a shuttle, which cost $18. I did not want to bank on finding infrequent taxis at that hour, so I booked the shuttle.

Surprisingly, the hotel insisted that I prepay for the shuttle before they would confirm it. I could pay by credit card online or bank transfer. I found this odd as a Marriott Bonvoy Titanium Elite with a confirmed reservation.

I took an Uber to the airport on departure. That was much cheaper, and I knew it wouldn’t be an issue, given that I left during sunlight hours.

Hot Tip:

I paid for the shuttle with my Marriott Bonvoy Boundless^® Credit Card, hoping it would count as a Marriott purchase and trigger the up to 17x-point earning rate. Unfortunately, the third-party processing network coded as “business services” and didn’t earn bonus points.

Checking In

The entrance caught my attention as soon I saw it approaching from the shuttle. From the plant-covered wall to the large lobby, I loved the layout. And the overhang looked like something you’d find at Epcot.

Bellhops were ever-present at the front door, and one quickly opened the door of the shuttle as we came to a stop. His warm smile was contagious.

The 2 employees at the front desk greeted me by name, knowing who I was from the prearranged shuttle. They were friendly without overdoing it. It was 2:30 a.m., after all.

The check-in was very efficient. As I’d paid with points and already paid for the shuttle transfer, I provided a credit card for incidentals, someone made a copy of my passport, and then I received my room key.

When I asked how to find my room, the hotel employee responded with a “as if we wouldn’t show you the way” expression. I got the feeling Los Tajibos doesn’t receive a lot of high-tier elites from Marriott Bonvoy.

The night manager came out to greet me and insisted on carrying my backpack as we headed off toward my room. I loved his sense of humor during the walk. “You’re going to fall asleep and forget everything I tell you. Just remember that breakfast ends at 10:30, and it’s included.”

Elite Benefits

Breakfast is included with all rates, so you won’t need to worry about this during stays at Los Tajibos. That’s great news since the “choose a welcome gift” at Tribute Portfolio properties typically requires you to choose between points, a welcome gift, or a daily breakfast.

With breakfast covered, Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador Elites can choose between a welcome gift or points. At Los Tajibos, the offer was for 1,000 points or amenities, including a drink at the bar or snacks brought to your room. This could include fruits or nuts (I chose fruits) and options of beer, wine, or sodas (Coke for me).

Other perks included access to the lounge and room upgrades based on availability.

Amenities

Amenities were abundant at Los Tajibos.

Gardens

The 15 acres of gardens, courtyards, and open spaces definitely contributed to the beach resort vibe. At several points, I had to remind myself we were in the mountains and nowhere near an ocean. This open-air hallway surrounding the courtyard of my building and adjacent to the breakfast restaurant provided a nice place to enjoy a breeze while escaping from the hot sun in the afternoon.

Some of the furniture had signs of wear and tear.

These were the “garden view” rooms in my building. Given that they face the back of the property, they don’t seem to receive the upkeep and maintenance that rooms surrounding the pool receive.

But the gardens themselves were fantastic. I knew this was no ordinary “handful of trees” when I saw directional signs around the gardens.

Lined with countless trees, these paths were a great place to walk in the shade and get some exercise. In fact, I saw employees from both the hotel and nearby businesses taking afternoon strolls here during their lunch breaks.

And there were a handful of benches throughout the gardens — great spots to relax, chat with friends, or have a drink in the shade.

People weren’t the only living species in the gardens. I stumbled across this peacock on day 1.

And I saw this red-footed tortoise meandering around on day 2.

Club Lounge

Within the Sunset tower — the hotel’s taller, newer building — there is a club lounge. It’s accessible for those booked into rooms with lounge access and those with Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite status and above.

You’ll find coffee, an 82-inch TV, co-working stations, and a printer inside the lounge. Multiple seating options were available as well.

Fitness Center

The fitness center was small and spread across 2 floors in the Sunset tower. There were a handful of exercise bikes and treadmills on the upper floor of the gym.

The lower floor had a weight bench, dumbbells, a pair of weight machines, and a water cooler.

Sports Court

On the far side of the gardens, there was a sports court. No tennis net was on the “tennis courts” I’d seen directions to on the signposts throughout the property. Instead, goalposts at each end told me this court hosts soccer more often than tennis. It also looked like no one had used it in a while.

Spa

Los Tajibos has a full spa located on the ground floor of the Sunset tower.

The “water circuit” sign piqued my interest, leading to this giant whirlpool.

The spa also had 2 types of saunas, with a shower near each for rinsing off. There was a mixed-gender dry sauna.

And there were separate steam rooms for men and women.

The spa also offered a full range of massages.

Pool

The pool sat at the center of the property, and it was immensely popular with guests during my stay.

Numerous lounge chairs and umbrellas encircled the pool, and palm trees provided additional shade. I also saw a cleaning crew scrubbing the tiles around the pool early each morning, preparing the pool for guests.

The hotel’s traditional building (where I stayed) had several balconies overlooking the pool. Leaving my balcony door open to soak up the “not at a beach” vibe was nice, except when someone brought his wireless speakers to the pool and treated other guests to his bad taste in music.

There was also a house phone near the pool, which was convenient for anyone who needed it.

The pool was open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. At night, there were lights in the pool, but the surrounding area wasn’t lit — a clear sign it was closed for the day.

Adults-Only Pool

At the foot of the Sunset tower, there was an adults-only pool. All 3 times I tried to visit it, the staff were cleaning the pool. I was always told it was opening “in a few minutes.”

Convention Center

Adjacent to the gardens, there was a large convention center. It was accessible both from the garden path and from the outside street.

The convention center had nearly 60,000 square feet of event space and could hold 3,600 people for corporate events, weddings, presentations, and more.

Depending on needs, its large halls could also be divided into 16 smaller rooms.

Artwork

There was artwork throughout the property, and I loved stumbling on these pieces. This tile art of macaws was on the side of a building near the pool.

And I found this statue of a horse near the entrance to the Sunset tower.

Adjacent to the lobby was a proper art gallery showcasing work from local artists.

Parking

Complimentary parking was available behind the gardens, and numerous spaces were available.

But the property also advertised complimentary valet parking. This would be even more convenient for those arriving by car.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi was stable and rapid throughout my stay. I got average download speeds of 90 Mbps and uploads of nearly 48 Mbps.

Salon

Behind the spa, there was a salon. On top of haircuts and styling, it offered manicures, pedicures, and dye services.

Sunset Tower

This tower is the newest part of Los Tajibos, having opened in January of 2023.

As the newest part of the property, it has more modern design features.

The spa, salon, and lounge were in this building. However, access to floors with guest rooms requires a key card for a room in the tower. I was only able to access the public spaces.

Executive Suite

My room was in the traditional Los Tajibos building, past this open-air courtyard in the center.

Each hallway had a locked door which you could only open with a key card for a room on that floor. This was a great security feature.

My hallway, located on the top floor of this 3-story building, had angled ceilings from the roof above.

Before my arrival, I knew I’d been upgraded to an executive suite. I had room 221, near the hall’s far end. The executive suite has nearly 770 square feet of space.

Living Room

Entering the doorway, I came across a small table and a statue. The property was simply full of artwork.

The living room had a small table with 3 chairs in the corner, but most of the space was dedicated to a large L-shaped couch. It looked like it would hold a fold-out bed, but I was surprised it didn’t.

There was a small wood-and-glass coffee table in the middle of the room, plus several paintings on the wall. Across from the couch was a TV above a 3-drawer wooden dresser with a door leading to the minifridge.

The minifridge had bottled water, Coke and Fanta products, and local beers. I didn’t see a price list, so I asked the front desk to confirm. The items were complimentary due to my Titanium Elite status.

Next to the dresser, there were recycling bins. That was a pleasant surprise.

In the corner next to the couch was a wooden table with a notepad and pen, a TV remote, and a house phone. Interestingly, the description of my suite on the hotel website brags that the suite has 3 phones. I’m unsure why that’s necessary or worth bragging about, but this was the first one I saw.

Half Bathroom

Next to the room’s entrance, there was a half bathroom. There was a door for privacy, and inside there was a sink with a marble counter, a large mirror on the wall, and a toilet.

On the wall next to the toilet, I found phone number 2.

Bedroom

Through the door from the living room, I found a spacious master bedroom. Against the far wall, there was a comfortable king-sized bed with soft, comfortable sheets and a padded bench at the foot. For reasons I’ll never understand, the bed had 7 pillows.

In the far corner, another painting was on the wall, and a nightstand held phone number 3. There was also a digital clock, a notepad, and a TV remote.

The nightstand also had a note outlining environmental initiatives related to laundry at the hotel. Placing this card on the bed was a request for new sheets. Otherwise, housekeeping wouldn’t swap them while making the bed.

Above the nightstand, there were light switches, a 3-prong outlet, and even a USB charging port.

I was surprised to see a light switch on the other side of the bed but no outlet. Then, I found it hidden behind the nightstand.

A TV was on the wall above a desk with a rolling chair near the living room. I’ll rate the chair’s comfort level as “medium.”

There were 2 outlets on the wall under the desk.

To the left of the bed, this hallway led to another door, which opened to the hallway. While it seemed convenient, I wasn’t a fan. The hallway had tile floors, meaning nothing absorbed the noise outside. If people passed talking loudly or rolling a suitcase, it created a lot of noise near the bed, waking me up. I awoke to people in the hallway both nights, unfortunately.

The mirrored doors in this short hallway led to a closet. It had hangers, a steamer, a laundry basket, and a bathrobe on one side.

The other side had a price list for laundry services, a small safe, and several shelves.

Master Bathroom

The master bathroom was large and had more than I had expected.

The marble counter around the sink had lots of space. The oat-infused bar of soap smelled like warm oatmeal and made me hungry every time I washed my hands.

Toiletries included a pump bottle of unscented, non-branded lotion. There were also individually packaged items, including a shower cap, sewing kit, shoe mitt, and vanity kit. The vanity kit contained an emery board, cotton pads, and cotton swabs.

The counter also held drinking glasses and complimentary bottled water.

On the wall was an adjustable makeup mirror and a black bag with a hair dryer inside.

The shelf under the sink was empty. There was a small trash bin, though.

Past the counter, there was an enormous whirlpool tub. Soak your cares away in here.

The toilet was in its own closet in the bathroom’s far corner.

Behind the bathroom door was a small (but not cramped) glass box for the shower. The shower got HOT quickly. Keeping the water at a temperature that didn’t burn me required keeping it at the 1% hot/99% cold position on the dial. If you like super-hot showers, you should come here.

Surprisingly, the pump bottles of toiletries in the shower also had no branding or scent.

Balcony and Views

My suite’s balcony looked over the pool and toward the Sunset tower.

I loved that there were small, separate balconies accessible from both the living room and bedroom.

Food and Beverage

La Terraza

You can’t tell me this restaurant isn’t in Waikiki. Just look at this picture.

La Terraza was located between the pool and the lobby and served food 24 hours a day. The breakfast buffet was available from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., and a country buffet was available for lunch from noon to 3 p.m.

Afternoon tea was available from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. but required a reservation. Dinner was served from 6 to 10 p.m. from a set menu. The restaurant also offered Saturday brunch from noon to 3 p.m.

The breakfast buffet was included for all guests and had quite a spread. This central island had cold cuts, cheeses, and finger sandwiches. The small propeller-like items spun to chase flies away, which was a nice touch.

Hot dishes rotated daily but always included some type of eggs and a meat, and always included both pancakes and French toast.

Numerous fruits were available, as well. These included whole fruits, diced fruits, and fruit salad.

If you like carbs, La Terraza had them. There were muffins, croissants, breads, rolls, and more. Plus, there were multiple types of fresh-made jams and peanut butter.

The buffet also had 3 types of cereal — corn flakes, raisin bran, and a chocolate-vanilla puffs cereal — yogurt, and multiple types of milk.

In addition to coffee and hot tea, the end of the buffet had watermelon juice, pineapple juice, and a machine that made fresh-squeezed orange juice.

Jardin de Asia

At the far end of the hotel’s 15-acre property, Jardin de Asia served Asian fusion and teppanyaki from set menus.

Lunch was served from noon to 3 p.m. Dinner was available from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. It’s possible to book a table online in advance.

Service

Service at Los Tajibos was excellent in nearly all aspects. I found it strange that the hotel insisted I pay for the airport transfer in advance because this is not standard practice, based on my experience visiting 190+ countries and hundreds of Marriott Bonvoy stays. Nonetheless, service on the ground was great.

During check-in, the employees were really friendly without overdoing it. They seemed genuinely warm and inviting, and I loved that they walked me to my room to ensure I could find it easily and that I was satisfied with the room.

I also had a choice of welcome gift at check-in, and I chose the fresh fruits and a pair of Cokes. The best part was that I could choose when I wanted to receive the items in my room. Given that I arrived at the hotel in the middle of the night, I would’ve declined the welcome gift if it had required staying awake until someone from room service arrived with the snacks. Allowing me to choose a time for the next day was ideal.

Service at breakfast each morning was great as well. Yes, it’s a buffet, so there wasn’t much involved in the service. However, the employees at the buffet making custom-ordered omelets and those clearing dishes were consistently friendly.

I also enjoyed the lemonade available around the clock in the lobby. Given the hot temperatures outside when I went sightseeing, this was a welcome treat on my return.

Service was excellent at checkout, also. A friendly employee verified that I had no outstanding charges and promised that the hold on my credit card would clear soon. She offered to print my folio or send it by email and then asked if I needed help getting to the airport. As I’d already requested a ride with Uber, I declined.

She bid me a cheerful farewell, and the bellhop waived as the car pulled away. Service felt authentically friendly — not stiff or forced — and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Final Thoughts

The hotel’s receipt email arrived before I reached the airport. It was another positive element of a great stay at Los Tajibos, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel. This hotel had all the makings of a 90s-esque beach resort. All it lacked was the beach.

From the laid-back vibes to the open-air layout and multiple courtyards, I felt like I’d stayed at this property before. Maybe that’s why I loved it so much. It felt familiar and comfortable, and this is a property I’d absolutely visit again. Plus, the price can’t be beat.