The haunting beauty of Hotel Del Salto: The real-life inspiration behind this new novel

USA Today

17-04-2025

The haunting beauty of Hotel Del Salto: The real-life inspiration behind this new novel
Some places jump off the page. Others, you jump into.
Perched on the edge of a cliff in Cundinamarca, Colombia, the Hotel Del Salto is a relic of the opulence and horrors of colonialism.
Its grand facade, looming over the misty abyss of Tequendama Falls, is the kind of place that invites amazement and a little unease.
The abandoned mansion turned museum has long been rumored to be haunted. It is also the eerie real-life inspiration for Carolina Flórez-Cerchiaro's gothic horror novel 'Bochica,' publishing in May 2025 by Primero Sueño Press.
'I first visited the site in 2016 with my brother,' Flórez-Cerchiaro told USA TODAY. 'He's also fascinated by the supernatural and eerie history, and I remember standing there, looking at the house and the waterfall, and thinking, 'This would be the perfect setting for a horror novel.' I even posted a photo on Facebook with that exact caption.'
Almost a decade after that visit, the setting in 'Bochica' mirrors the hotel's grandiosity and unsettling atmosphere. The novel's central mansion, much like the real Hotel Del Salto, is a structure that does not belong – a colonial wound embedded into Muisca land. The Muisca people, indigenous to the region, hold Tequendama Falls as a sacred place.
'I wanted to avoid the common horror trope of vilifying indigenous history – so often, horror stories frame native beliefs as 'curses' rather than acknowledging their sacred importance,' Flórez-Cerchiaro said. According to legend, when the Spanish invaded, some Muisca chose to leap from the waterfall rather than surrender, believing they would be transformed into condors, soaring to freedom.
'The moment you arrive, you feel this overwhelming mix of beauty and tragedy. The house itself is imposing, and then you have this massive waterfall right across from it,' Flórez-Cerchiaro said. 'I wouldn't call myself a true believer in the supernatural, but there's an energy there. It's peaceful yet unsettling.'
Who benefits from the land?
Hotel Del Salto, originally a luxurious residence, became a hotel in 1928 to cater to the Colombian elite visiting Tequendama Falls. However, the building was abandoned in the 1990s, partly due to declining tourism and the contamination of the Bogotá River. Its reputation took a darker turn as it became infamous as a suicide site.
The aura of Hotel Del Salto is precisely what Flórez-Cerchiaro channels in her novel as she recounts the heaviness felt in the area and the superstition of not getting too close out of fear of being pulled.
'Isolation is a crucial gothic element, and this place is the definition of it. You have a house built on sacred land, far from everything,' Flórez-Cerchiaro said. 'Then, you bring in history – this land belonged to the Muisca people. To them, (Tequendama Falls) was sacred ... Then, a mansion is built there. It's a mix of colonialism, erasure, and a house that shouldn't exist.'
Her novel 'Bochica' follows Antonia, a woman who returns to the isolated estate of her childhood only to confront its violent past. The mansion in 'Bochica' is a place where the supernatural and historical trauma are entwined, much like Hotel Del Salto itself.
"The mansion in my book, much like the real Hotel Del Salto, was built for the elite to enjoy breathtaking views. But what about the history that came before? That land wasn't empty – it was sacred. The hotel was built for tourism, but who gets to benefit from it?' Flórez-Cerchiaro added. 'Even today, the real site is being restored as a museum, which has good intentions, but good intentions can allow abuse.'
Today, the once-abandoned Hotel Del Salto has been repurposed as the Tequendama Falls Museum of Biodiversity and Culture. But despite its new role, the eerie stories remain.
'Gothic horror has always been a great lens for exploring women's power – or lack of it,' Flórez-Cerchiaro said. 'It's a horror novel, yes, but it's also about what women are willing to risk to have control over their own lives.'
For travelers drawn to the macabre, visiting Hotel Del Salto is an opportunity to step into a setting where history and horror mix together. The museum offers an educational experience on the region's biodiversity and cultural heritage. And for those who want to experience the haunted beauty of the place without boarding a plane to Colombia, 'Bochica' offers a convenient alternative.
'There's a line in the book that says that the house is so beautiful, but it's a disguise to a lot of suffering that goes far beyond ... just Antonia and her family's suffering,' Flórez-Cerchiaro said. 'It goes way deeper. I think that we should be acknowledging all of it. Not to say that we have to stop visiting places (like this), but you know, just acknowledge the history.'