potosi bolivia mine tour

Visiting Cerro Rico: Essential Potosi Mine Tour Info

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Thinking about heading inside Cerro Rico? Otherwise known as the mountain that eats men, close to 8 million to be more precise, taking a Potosi mine tour Rico isn’t for the fainthearted. 

We had been debating whether we were going to venture inside the dark and devastating silver mines of Cerro Rico for months, but after much back and forth decided to go for it.

We wanted to learn more about the history of Potosi and see first hand the terrible working conditions and the destruction colonial rule wreaked on this part of Bolivia.

A history that is very much unknown to many outside of South America. 

We also thought it was important as consumers of silver and other precious metals to properly understand the human cost of mining such luxuries.

But why were we so unsure?

Potosi Mine Tours

Well first of all the Cerro Rico mine in Potosi is an active third world mine.

My dad is an ex-miner and spent the biggest part of his working career down a coal mine. Some of the things that happened to him and pals of his down there were awful.

And that was in the UK.

So we knew going down a mine in Bolivia, with nowhere near the same safety precautions and regulations was a whole different ball game. 

Second of all, there’s lots of different thoughts about the ethics of going in there as a tourist to see the miners at work and what is essentially poverty tourism.

And third of all, although we’re not medically claustrophobic, neither of us are fans of confined spaces. It’s the reason we don’t much like scuba diving, because you can’t just get out.

If these are concerns you have as you decide whether to take a Potosi mine tour, read on. 

We’ll be covering all the things you need to consider in terms of safety and moral justification, practical information about the Cerro Rico tour and what to expect afterwards. 

Watch Our Cerro Rico Mine Tour Experience Below:

Cerro Rico, Potosí

Cerro de Potosí or Cerro Rico or Rich Hill, directly translated, is situated in the southern highlands of Bolivia and is where close to 80% of the world’s silver came from.

The silver reserves of Potosi were once so vast that the mines of Cerro Rico pretty much single handedly bankrolled the Spanish colonisation of the Americas. 

For hundreds of years, the Potosi silver mines made this dot on Bolivia’s map one of the richest cities in the world. The concentration of wealth was unparalleled. 

It’s now one of the poorest cities in the world, having been almost depleted of silver by the time Bolivia got its independence from Spain. The city’s demise has continued ever since.

As soon as you step foot in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Potosi, its crumbling colonial grandeur is immediately apparent. 

Huge, opulent churches sit between extravagant dilapidated buildings, hiding dark and sinister secrets fuelled by power and greed. 

Criss-crossed with over 20,000 tunnels, the mines’ government funding has long since stopped.

But around 15,000 men still venture into the bowels of Cerro Rico, working as part of cooperatives to extract less profitable minerals such as lead, tin and zinc. 

These are then sent all over the world to make things like elements for electronics. 

Who are Potosi’s Miners?

Because they work for themselves, the Potosi miners have to buy all of their own equipment. This includes everything from helmets and boots to shovels and dynamite.

The miners work wholly underground for between 10 to 12 hour shifts usually, but sometimes 24 hours. Yet they don’t take food into the mines. 

They believe the combination of dust and food will make them sick, so instead they survive on just coca leaves to give them the energy they need. Every miner you see in Cerro Rico will have a huge bulging lump in one of their cheeks.

Being a miner in Potosi is a rough job and incredibly dangerous, but there’s so few other work options.

The younger, stronger miners are usually the ones doing the most manual jobs, such as pushing the heavy carts. Some miners are as young as 12 or 13.

Potosi’s miners don’t usually live past 40-50 years. By that stage their lungs are usually just too knackered and they’re coughing up blood, succumbing to silicosis and emphysema.

Asbestos, arsenic, and other carcinogenic agents also cause lung and airway cancers.

And so Cerro Rico is just there, looming over the city, casting it’s foreboding shadow.

It’s a strange, contradictory mix of wealth and trauma. Yet a necessary life blood for the families of Potosi. 

Every miner has relatives who have died from black lung or in mining accidents, yet they have no choice but to follow in their footsteps in order to support their families. 

Husbands, brothers and sons risk their lives everyday to provide for their families. It’s a cruel existence that all want to escape, but simply lack the means. 

Potosí Mine History

Described as human greed trapped in soil, Cerro Rico has a long history of human misery and suffering.

From further away, the red hill that devours people has a bizarre, seductive beauty. But as you get closer up, you’ll find a wind-swept and rubbish-strewn barren mountain.

It filled us with dread, yet intrigued us as the same time.

The story goes that in 1545, a shepherd discovered the huge silver ore reserve in Cerro Rico by complete chance when he started a fire to keep warm. Molten silver is said to have literally oozed out of the flames.

The Spanish crown found out about it soon after and Potosi all but sprung up overnight, subsequently changing the course of history. As from the 16th to 18th century, Spanish colonists exploitatively mined Cerro Rico until the silver ran out.

During those colonial times, slaves were sent in to work 6 month shifts, 7 days a week for 20 hours a day. Most just never came out, dying from exhaustion, disease, poisonous gasses, cave-ins, falling rocks and suicide. 

The slaves were indigenous peoples from the Americas plus tens of thousands of people shipped from Africa.

Dispensable lives, forced into a hell on earth.

They say that with the amount of silver dug out from Potosi, you could build a bridge all the way to Spain. And another bridge could be built all the way back with the bones of those who have died in the mines.

At the peak of its wealth, there was even a phrase in Spanish used for describing immense richness, ‘vale un Potosi’, which means ‘worth a Potosi’. 

The Legend of El Tio

While inside Cerro Rico, miners believe that they are at the mercy of a sinister devil-like god of the underworld called El Tio, the Uncle. 

The master of the Potosi mine and the dark forces within it, there is a shrine above each mine shaft of the horned figure, usually with a huge penis to symbolise his masculinity and power.

The miners make offerings such as 95% alcohol, cigarettes and coca leaves to him and pray that he keeps them safe from accidents and provides quality minerals for them to mine. 

Things to Consider

Regardless of how good the Potosi mine tour company is that you choose, the Bolivian silver mines are inherently dangerous. And as much as your guides will do their best to keep you as safe as possible, there are many things beyond their control.

When you book the tour, you’ll have to sign a disclaimer acknowledging that you are aware of the risks you are putting yourself at by going inside the Cerro Rico silver mines. 

The tour company we went with was very careful to point out that is isn’t a tour for enjoyment, it’s a social tour. 

So think about what your motivations are for going down the Potosi mines. If you’re after a voyeuristic adventure, to gloat that you’ve been in the mines of Potosi, it isn’t for you.

Choosing a Potosí Mine Tour

It’s important that you choose a reputable tour company to take you down the Potosi mines. Both in terms of safety and their ethical responsibility towards miners.

After much research, the Potosi mine tour company we choose to go with was Koala Tours.

Before we go any further I just want to point out that we are in no way affiliated with Koala Tours. We paid full price for our tour and were not asked to write about our experience. 

Our main guide worked for 3 years in the specific mining cooperative that we visited and our assistant guide/driver was also an ex-miner. 

When considering which Potosi tour company to go with, this is a hugely important ethical factor. Because it not only provides miners with a rare alternative source of income, it also means that the guides are sensitive and respectful to the miners at work. 

The whole time we were in the mine our guides spoke about the miners as ‘we’ and you could clearly see that they were good friends with many of them.

The cost of the tour we choose was slightly more expensive than with other companies. 

This is because part of it goes directly to the cooperative we visited for exclusive access to those particular mines.

And because the groups are smaller, with a maximum of eight people. You also have two guides, one at the front and one at the back. 

These are both important factors, because not only does it mean the mining cooperative are directly benefiting from the tourism, the mine isn’t overrun with tourists.

Safety & Ethical Considerations

Some Potosi mine tours have up to 14 tourists with a single guide. This significantly reduces the chances of your guide being able to keep you safe in the mine. It also means that if one of group freaks out underground and needs to be taken out, there’s a problem.

Our guide was clear with us from the beginning that if any of us started to not feel good, to tell them and the assistant guide would escort us out. None of our group needed to do this, but having it as an option was reassuring. 

Another important safety consideration when you are choosing a Potosí Mine Tour is that if you don’t fluently understand Spanish, make sure your guide speaks English.

It’s extremely noisy inside parts of Cerro Rico and when a 3 tonne cart is hurtling towards you along a rusty broken track, it’s not the time to misunderstand a command from your guide.

Some other concerns that people have is that going down the Potosi mines is the equivalent of a human zoo. This wasn’t our experience at all.

All of the miners we met seemed perfectly okay with tourists visiting their place of work. They greeted us warmly, enthusiastically chatting with our guide.

We spoke with 4 or 5 different miners, our guide Ronald translating between Spanish or the local language of Quechua and English. 

Were very happy with our experience with Koala Tours. They provided an educational and sobering experience that certainly put our own working conditions into perspective.

However, do not just go with Koala Tours because we did!

You need to do your own research at the time of booking your Potosi mine tour. Read the most recent reviews and speak to people locally in Potosi. 

Essential Potosi Mine Tour Info

Most Potosi mine tour companies have morning and afternoon tours. 

Koala Tours have tours at 8:45am and 1:30pm which each last around 4-5 hours.

The current cost of the tour (2020) is $130 BOB (£14.50 GBP / $19 USD) per person. 

The price includes transport and your protective gear including rubber wellie boots, overalls and a helmet with battery lamp.

After getting geared up, you’ll swing by the miners markets to buy some gifts for the miners you are about to go see. 

This isn’t included in the tour price. 

And I say this because I’ve read reviews where people have refused to buy gifts for the miners as it was an additional cost they weren’t made aware of. Don’t be that dickhead.

Helpfully, our guide suggested an amount of things to buy between our group, totalled it up and split the cost between us. It was worked out at $30 BOB (£3.50 GBP / $4.50 USD) each.

We mainly took drinks, but also some coca leaves and a couple of sticks of dynamite.

If you can’t afford to buy gifts for the miners, you shouldn’t be doing the tour in my opinion.

Cerro Rico Tour Practicalities

Doing a Potosi silver mine tour is inherently dangerous, there’s no way of getting away from that. 

So even though your guides will do everything they can to keep you safe, you need to be aware of that and let it sink in.

You will be, and feel, very vulnerable.

The tour is physically challenging. Not only because it’s difficult to breathe well with all the dust, but also because there are places where you will have to run and dip into nooks and alcoves to dodge the heavy trolleys whizzing along the tracks.

They don’t have brakes and can’t just be stopped.

There will likely be dynamite explosions, where the tunnels can fill with dust. This makes it harder to see and breathe. 

It’s a completely alien environment. It’s pitch black, a thick underground darkness and even with your head torch, visibility is still poor.

The tunnels are narrow and you’ll be hunched over the majority of the time. You’ll also need to crawl or climb in places, grabbing onto anything you can while watching out for electrical wiring.

The environment is constantly changing. In places it’s incredibly noisy, then in other parts deafeningly silent. It also goes from swelteringly hot to really chilly in seconds as you move through the tunnels of the Potosi mine.

You’ll smell sulphur and hear dynamite blasts rumbling in the background.

Never leave your guides, listen carefully to what they say and clarify if you don’t fully understand.

Our guides carried and took responsibility for dishing out the gifts we bought from the miners market.

Some tours leave it up to you to choose and carry the gifts. We read reviews about people feeling awful being asked for a drink by thirsty miners after they’d handed everything out already. We didn’t have this.

Things to Take With You

The guides and miners on our tour were completely fine with tourists filming and taking photographs in the mine.

Be sure to take in a cover for your camera. Both so you can keep the dust off it when not using it and also protect it from knocks and scrapes as you’re scrambling around.

Not found the perfect travel camera yet? We have. The Olympus Tough Tg-6 is waterproof, shockproof, dust proof, crush proof & freeze proof. But best of all it takes awesome photos with very little skill required.

I was filming on my phone and also took a portable power bank in with me. 

Take a buff ( Amazon | REI ) to protect your mouth & nose from the dust. You won’t be able to wear it all the time, especially when running because it’s just too hard to breathe.

Unless your daypack is really small, 10L or less, you won’t be able to take it into the mine with you. Some of the spaces are just too small.

A bum bag is ideal to keep your phone in, or just wear something with pockets. 

You can leave your backpack where you get changed into your protective gear – that’s also where you’ll leave your shoes.

Take some water for yourself, but be aware that there are no toilets in there. If you need to pee you’ll have to just go in a tunnel. So hydrate beforehand, don’t be glugging water in there.

We always travel with a filter water bottle. Not only does it stop us getting ill, but it means we’re not killing the planet or wasting money on plastic bottles. The GRAYL Geopress is hands down the best on the market & makes water from virtually any source safe to drink.

Neither of us wear contact lenses, but if you do, opt for your glasses during your Potosi mine tour. There’s so much dust and debris that gets into your eyes, you don’t want that lodged underneath a contact lens scratching your eye.

Oh and an extra pair of socks are handy too. Either to wear or change into afterwards – your feet get really sweaty in the rubber wellies. 

What To Expect After

Be prepared to feel like shit afterwards.

No only physically aching from the crouching and crawling around, but mentally. We both had awful, vivid dreams the night of our Potosi mine tour. 

The stuff you see will play on your mind and take a while to process. 

It humbles you, but it also made us feel powerless and overwhelmingly guilty.

The Future of Cerro Rico

At an altitude of 4,824 meters above the sea level, the Rich Hill is shrinking by collapsing in on itself a few metres each year.

Pockmarked with dozens of sinkholes, some believe it’s only a matter of time before the whole of Cerro Rico comes crashing down.

In 2011, a huge 700sqm sinkhole opened up atop the mountain.

To stabilise it, a large project involved filling it with a layered mixture of super light cement, polyethylene, sand, metal nets and support arches was undertaken.

Estimates suggest that Cerro Rico only has 10-20 years worth of minerals left to be extracted.

There are regular protests and blockades in this impoverished city, as the residents of Potosi petition the government for investment in the form of factories or other industries.

But another of Potosi’s best hopes for an economically viable future is tourism.

Which is another reason that when the Potosi mine tours are run in an ethical way and not just for personal profit, they are an important part of what lies ahead for Potosi.

If you have any unanswered questions or further worries about doing a Potosi mine tour, hit us up in the comments and we’ll do our best to help.

Films on Cerro Rico Mines

Bolivia’s Child Laborers is a short film made by VICE which, along with other young workers, documents the plight of Potosi’s child miners. You can watch it on YouTube.

The Devil’s Miner is a longer film that examines the lives of a few of Potosi’s miners, in particular a young boy and his brother. You can watch it on YouTube.

The BBC also has an interesting short documentary which takes you inside Potosi mountain. You can watch that on YouTube.  

Books Bolivia Mining History

Travel insurance for bolivia.

We never go anywhere without travel insurance – and neither should you.

This particularly goes if you’re planning to do any of the more adventurous activities above. World Nomads is our preferred choice for great cover and a no bullshit approach.

Plus you can buy a policy even if you’ve already set off on your travels. Grab yourself a quick quote below:

Pin Me For Later…

Yorkshire born & bred, Sarah is a professional blogger who loves to travel. Pushing her boundaries with new adventures is her jam, so you likely won’t find her in one place for too long. Also a serious Marmite addict. 

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Hi, we’re James & Sarah

Full time backpackers turned vanlifers.

We’re here to provide you with valuable travel tips, kickass destination guides & serious vanlife inspiration to help you get your travel adventures off the ground!

Potosí Silver Mine Tour at Bolivia’s Cerro Rico

By: Author Dave Lee

Posted on Last updated: November 15, 2021

Thwaaaack! The force of my hard plastic helmet smacking against a wooden crossbeam in the dimly lit Potosí silver mine tunnel left me momentarily stunned.

Only seconds earlier, Julio, a former miner, and our tour guide had warned us to look up, not down, as we entered a working mine in Cerro de Potosí, better known as Cerro Rico (“Rich Hill”).

GO, GO, GO!

I had no more than a few seconds to regain my composure and appreciate the fact that I wasn't gushing blood from my forehead before I was urged to continue jogging deeper into the mine.

One-ton steel carts full of rock and ore could come screaming down the rails running through the narrow tunnel at any moment.

Julio had warned us if you're not in a safe place when they do, you're in grave physical danger.

I continued jogging but quickly found myself out of breath.

At 4,090 meters (13,420 feet), Potosí is the world's highest major city.

The mine we were entering was even higher, at 4,200 meters (13,779 feet), with the peak of Cerro Rico reaching  4,824 meters (15,827 ft).

Having spent the previous three days crossing the Bolivian Altiplano and the five days before that acclimatizing in the Atacama Desert , I thought I'd be okay doing the tour after only one night's rest in Potosí.

I was wrong.

It didn't help that we were in a tiny, dark, and enclosed space.

An entirely alien environment to anything I'd ever experienced. Compressed air hissed from pipes bringing oxygen into the mine.

I wasn't aware of it at the time, but a giant sinkhole had developed near the peak in 2011, and geologists warned the whole mountain was at risk of collapse due to how much it has been hollowed out over the last 500 years.

Our guide warned us not to touch anything yet said there was no need for face masks because the mine we were entering was wet, keeping airborne particulate down.

What was I doing inside an active third-world mine so dangerous it had claimed millions of lives?

And more importantly, how long was I going to last?

Table of Contents

Arriving in Potosí

Miner's market, outside the potosí silver mine, inside the mine.

Having missed my flight out of Uyuni , I traveled by bus to Sucre to catch a flight to Santa Cruz de la Sierra .

I was in a rush because my fingertips were still not feeling right, a symptom of altitude sickness.

I'd begun taking Diamox and vitamins the day before to ease my symptoms on a Bolivian doctor's advice. 

While I wasn't feeling immediately better, I wasn't feeling any worse.

Before heading for lower elevations, I decided to squeeze in a night in Potosí, along with a tour of what was once the world's largest silver mine.

The bus arrived in Potosí at 3:30 PM, and I made my way to the colorful Koala Den hostel , where I quickly met some travelers who'd heard good things about Greengo Tours.

Within an hour of my arrival, I went with several of them to book a tour for the following day.

I then spent the remaining hour of daylight walking around Potosí, a UNESCO World Heritage Site , and back in the 17th Century, one of the wealthiest cities in the Western Hemisphere.

Old churches showed signs of the Potosí's former grandeur.

Today, Potosí is the capital of the poorest department of South America's most impoverished country.

The following day, I enjoyed a big breakfast courtesy of the hostel before heading out to the Greengo Tours office with several others at 9 AM.

There, we met our passionate Bolivian guide, Julio César Morales Zambrana, a former miner with the 10 de Noviembre miner's cooperative, operating in the Pampa Oruro mine.

In 1989, he began learning English and transitioned from working in the Potosí silver mine to working as a tour guide and translator.

We boarded a local bus to the Miner's Market, a place where miners can shop for their tools of the trade, as well as their vices.

They can buy everything from coca leaves and cigarettes to electric headlamps and dynamite.

We were all aware ahead of time that we'd need to chip in and buy the miner's “gifts” at the market.

Julio was a character, but it was clear he cared deeply about miners and their welfare.

Julio explained the importance of coca leaves , which the men chew religiously both inside and outside the mine.

The documented benefits of this Andean tradition are numerous, including help with high altitudes, appetite suppression, improved digestion, and boosts in energy.

I'd tried chewing coca leaves during the Salkantay trek to Machu Picchu but didn't care for it.

He also showed us the cheap cigarettes the guys like to smoke in the mine.

As if inhaling asbestos, arsenic, and other cancer-causing agents aren't harmful enough, many smoke tobacco.

Another favorite is plastic bottles filled with 96% alcohol. Yes, the miners drink almost pure alcohol during their breaks in the Potosí silver mine.

And that leads us to dynamite, the essential explosive for blasting new tunnels through the increasingly hollowed-out Cerro Rico.

In one of the shops, we learned dynamite in and of itself is neither delicate nor dangerous. To prove this point, I stuck a stick in my mouth for a cheeky photo.

I asked Julio about buying face masks, but he said the mine was low enough and wet enough to be necessary.

This sounded strange to me, but with nobody else worried about masks, I didn't go out of my way to buy one.

[ Sidenote: Theoretically, it makes sense, but given the trouble I had breathing sans mask, if I'd bought one, I'd probably have taken it off once inside the mine.]

By the end of our trip through the market, we'd all chipped in to buy various gifts for the miners, which we had to carry ourselves.

I made the mistake of paying for a two-liter bottle of soda that Julio suggested. I was then responsible for carrying the heaviest possible object.

I recommend buying the coca leaves or dynamite instead for those who've yet to take the tour.

From the miner's market, we walked to a small staging area inside a dilapidated building.

A room contained the protective gear we would need to wear before entering the mine.

Everyone in the group put on oversized pants, green jackets, rubber boots, and a plastic helmet attached with a battery-powered electric headlamp.

We were each given a bag to carry our gifts, plus bottled water and cameras.

Due to the dust in the bags and mines, you must bring a protective case or bag for your camera.

Alternatively, use a dust/shock/waterproof camera .

We also had the chance to use the bathroom here, which I recommend doing as you may be spending several hours in the mine without another opportunity.

At a quarter to noon, we arrived at the 27 de Marzo mining cooperative. If ever there was an entrance to Hell, this was it.

Old mining carts littered the grounds; garbage was everywhere. Brisk winds whipped up clouds of dirt.

Llama blood was splattered on the buildings and smeared thickly across a sign above the entrance, offerings by the miners to Pachamama (“Mother Earth”).

The remains of those llamas, some bones and hair, could still be seen in metal buckets on the ground. Julio explained there'd been a sacrifice recently.

The primarily Catholic miners believe in God above ground.

On the other hand, Cerro Rico, known colloquially as “the mountain that eats men,” is ruled by a demon called Tío.

In addition to consuming the coca leaves, cigarettes, and alcohol themselves, these items are also given as offerings to appease Tío inside the mountain.

It is believed that if you make Tío happy, he'll reward you with the discovery of a large mineral deposit (silver if you're lucky).

But if you do something to upset or anger him, Potosí silver miners are injured or killed in accidents such as cave-ins.

Cerro Rico was once the largest silver mine in the world.

The Spanish used slave labor to extract tens of thousands of tons of silver, with three to eight million people dying in the process.

Today, little silver is left, leaving the miners to risk their lives searching for less precious metals like tin, lead, zinc, and copper.

Those who survive accidents and cave-ins in the short term remain are at risk for Silicosis and other respiratory illnesses in the long term.

It's a well-known fact that everyone who works in the mine is trading an income two to three times the minimum wage for a reduced life expectancy.

Many career miners die by the age of 40.

Unfortunately, there are few other employment options for these hardworking and courageous men.

Before entering the mine, we briefly sat around, chewing some coca leaves with miners.

Like chewing tobacco, I find it a nasty habit, though given these men spent most of the day inside the mountain, I can't blame them for doing anything that helps take the edge off their work.

Julio gave us a final safety briefing before we entered the tunnel, warning us about the need to run when we first go in as there's nowhere for us to go if a mining cart comes flying down the tracks toward the exit.

Even the men “controlling” it would be unable to entirely stop such a heavy moving object before it was to hit any of us. 

We had to depend on Julio timing our entry correctly.

At the very least, it's possible to hear an early warning sound made by the vibrations of the cart against the rails.

Here that sound, and you need to find an alcove, lest you be run over immediately.

Once Julio ushered us inside the Potosí silver mine, the race was on.

The sunlight faded quickly, and we were left with the light from our electric headlamps and some lights the miners were using.

Within meters of entering the mine, I ran straight into that crossbeam.

Had I been given a cheaper helmet, I'd have been knocked flat on my ass.

Thankfully, that wasn't the case, and I was able to continue jogging deeper into the mine, though now hunched down as low as possible.

Thirty seconds later, we were able to stop and catch our breath. I was breathing heavily.

I've never hyperventilated in my life, but I imagined it must've felt like what I was experiencing.

Before I was ready to continue, Julio urged us on.

There was a second guide who was following up on the rear for safety reasons.

I quickly fell behind as we made our way further into the mine.

In every nook where we stopped, Julio would explain a little more about the inner workings of the mine, but I couldn't take my mind off my breath.

Julio said that if any of us were having problems for our safety and that of the miners, let him know, and the other guide would lead us out.

He looked at me specifically, and I acknowledged his warning.

But what my mind wanted, my body did not, and after 30 minutes in the mine, I turned to the assistant guide and waved the white flag.

Until that point, to his credit, he had been very supportive and encouraging.

My fear of having a panic attack (exacerbated by the difficulty breathing due to the altitude) won out over delving deeper.

The assistant guide relayed the message to Julio, and I confirmed my wish to make an early exit.

The assistant led me out the way we came but left me on my own for the remaining 100 meters. It was 100 of the scariest meters I've ever walked.

The fear of a mining cart plowing me down from behind was present in my mind every second and every step of the way.

I felt alone, despite passing a few miners heading in the opposite direction.

I'd only been in the mine for 40 minutes, but seeing the cylinder of sunlight stream through the exit was exhilarating.

My time waiting outside the mine was longer than anticipated.

While the rest of my group was giving out gifts to the miners, listening to their stories, tasting 96% alcohol, and feeling the vibrations of dynamite being detonated, I was left to entertain myself on the outside.

I noticed that regardless of how filthy they were exiting the mine, the miners cleaned themselves up with great care before descending into town.

I spoke with a few miners in Spanish, took photos, and paced back and forth.

I asked to use a bathroom and then regretted having done so after seeing more than one pile of human feces on the floor next to the squat toilets.

Two hours passed, and I was starting to worry. Where was the group? Were they okay? Do Julio's tours usually spend so much time inside the Potosí silver mine?

Eventually, they did come out, much to my relief.

I was beyond bored by that point and wanted nothing more than to get off the wind-swept, trash-filled mountain.

On the bus ride back to central Potosí, Julio apologized for the length of time inside the mine.

He said he got carried away talking to the miners, his friends.

At that point, I didn't care and was almost thankful my time was limited to 40 minutes.

It was enough. I'd entered the mountain that eats men, a verifiable Hell on Earth, and come out to tell the tale.

Child labor is a present-day reality inside the Potosí silver mine at Cerro Rico — another fact I was unaware of when I visited. 

The Devil's Miner is an award-winning documentary about these child workers.

The full version in Spanish is available on YouTube, and the DVD with English subtitles can be purchased on Amazon.

The City of Potosí became a World Heritage Site in 1987.

Click here for the complete list of UNESCO sites Dave has visited during his travels.

Dave is the Founder and Editor in Chief of Go Backpacking and Feastio . He's been to 66 countries and lived in Colombia and Peru. Read the full story of how he became a travel blogger.

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:

• G Adventures for small group tours.
• Hostelworld for booking hostels.

Sunday 25th of October 2015

Interesting story, it sounds very similar to another guy who went using Greengo tours this year (2015) I think. That tour had to wait for a cart to exit before going in. I guess the tour guide tapped on a pipe and got no response so they went in, only to be told to haul ass back out. They made it in finally, but I'm surprised a guide doesn't go in first, then tap the pipe when it's "all clear". In some way it almost seems like this is part of the guide giving an exciting tour, but it seems sketchy.

Was the entrance basically just in the middle of housing, more or less? How far down the track did they have to go to get the ore processed?

Thanks for writing this up!

Andrea MacEachern

Monday 12th of May 2014

Wow...very interesting indeed! This is something I would definitely do!

Sarah Callaghan

Monday 28th of April 2014

Aahh!! I have to go back now!! We just spent Semana Santa traveling from Sucre to Tupiza to Uyuni and by the time we got back to Potosi (a week later), we were so sick of being in vehicles that we opted to skip the mines and go straight to Sucre. Sounds fantastic, though! Ya, that altitude is no joke!!

I liked Sucre, but I only spent a few nights there before flying to Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Will be writing about them next :)

Friday 25th of April 2014

Wow what an awesome adventure!!! Love Bolivia!

Brad Bernard

Thursday 24th of April 2014

Great account of this odd tourist attraction, Dave. I definitely missed out on this when I was there. Coca leaves help. I passed out on a bus to there and awoke to an old lady shoving leaves and that greasy brown stuff in my mouth. If I wasn't delirious, I would have fought her off, haha!

Yuck! Maybe I should've sucked it up and chewed on the leaves more, but what would've helped most is spending a few nights in Potosí first. I learned afterwards that everyone else in my tour group that day had spent at least two nights in the city.

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• Mine Tour Half Day - Potosi

MINE TOUR HALF DAY - POTOSI

This half day tour to the mines in Potosí gives you the unique opportunity to witness the miners' way of living in the world's highest city. The Cerro Rico (''rich mountain'') of Potosí was famous for providing large quantities of silver and other precious minerals for Spain during colonial times. Due to this strong exploitation and harsh climate Potosí is now one of the poorest cities of Bolivia and by taking this tour you are supporting the local economy.

This half day tour to the mines in Potosí gives you the unique opportunity to witness the miners' way of living in the world's highest city. The Cerro Rico (''rich mountain'') of Potosí was famous for providing large quantities of silver and other precious minerals for Spain during colonial times. Due to this strong exploitation and harsh climate Potosí is now one of the poorest cities of Bolivia and by taking this tour you are supporting the local economy. This tour leaves with a minimum of 2 people.

• English-speaking guide
• Equipment (helmet, boots, jacket, headlight)
• Entrance fees
• Accommodation pickup and dropoff
• Meals and beverages
• Gifts for miners (will be purchased on the way to the mines)
• Travel insurance (highly recommended)
• Tips and others not mentioned

Frequently Asked Questions

Please read through these common questions & answers - if you cant find what you want to know send us your questions using the Ask a Question button

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How to book.

Fill in the required details and click "add to cart".You can then continue shopping for more items or click on the "cart" link at the top right hand corner of the page to complete your booking.

You must provide details for each passenger that you are booking for and also ensure that you change the qty box to show the correct amount of passengers that you are booking for.

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Humbled in Potosi, Bolivia: Cerro Rico Mine Tour

What would you do if you knew you’d die at 45?

Would you continue working hard in your job which pays peanuts?

What if your job is the reason you’d die at 45?

What if… there are no other options?

This is the fate of the 12 000 miners of Cerro Rico (Rich Hill) in Potosi, Bolivia. And I had the chance to visit these miners on a tour to the mines.

(Once) The World’s Richest City

At 4090m, the UNESCO declared Potosi is the world’s highest major city and houses the once-largest silver mine in the world, Cerro Rico.

Due to the discovery of the mine, economy boomed in Potosi in the 17 th century, and at one point, was one of the world’s richest city. The wealth and grandeur of the city can still be seen with the old churches and grand architecture near the main plaza.

“I am rich Potosi, treasure of the world, king of all mountains and envy of kings”

With wealth, came the conquerors. The Spanish exploited the mines, and the silver ran out. Spain became one of the most powerful country, and Potosi?

Today, Potosi is the capital of the poorest department of South America’s poorest country.

The Miner’s Market

I booked a tour at my hostel the very night I arrived at Potosi, and got picked up by the guide the next morning. The bus brought us to the Miner’s Market, a place where the miners buy their tools of the trade and supplies like coca leaves, alcohol, cigarettes and dynamites.

Yes, dynamites. The Miner’s Market is probably the only place where you can legally buy dynamites over the counter, and they are used to blast new tunnels in the increasingly hollowed-out Cerro Rico.

It wasn’t written in the tour brochure but we were expected to buy ‘gifts’ for the miners. These gifts are meant to help the miners, or maybe, to alleviate our guilt for visiting distracting the miners while they’re working.

Coca leaves are well known in the Andean region to help with altitude sickness, appetite suppression and boosts in energy. I had my fair share of coca tea and similar herbs in San Pedro de Atacama . The miners chew coca leaves religiously in and out of the mines and are often seen with a huge lump in their cheeks.

• YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Coca Tea! Every morning on the Salkantay Trek!

The miners also drink 96% alcohol during their break time and smoke cheap cigarettes. As if the darkness, narrow tunnels and inhaling sulphur, arsenic and other cancer-causing particles isn’t harmful enough, they also smoke tobacco and drink almost pure alcohol.

Each of us bought a pack of coca leaves and orange juice for the miners (no harmful substances), and a face mask for ourselves.

We went to a small staging area inside a ramshackle building and put on oversized protective gear, plastic helmet, headlamps and rubber boots. It’s funny how everyone else started taking photos like it’s their OOTD. 

Here is also where you should use the bathroom because it would be a few hours later in the mines without any opportunity. Or you can do it “Bolivian style”, like what a German tourist in my group said when urinating in the mines.

Cerro Rico Mine Tour

The outside of the mines looked like an abandoned dumpster: Old mining carts laid everywhere, garbage littered on the grounds, and many small buildings hastily assembled to store the miner’s belongings. It was dirty, smelly and had the winds whipped up clouds of dust.

We formed a single-file and entered the waterlogged entrance, following the narrow wagon tracks into the blackness. Just 5min in, the ceilings went low and we hunched down as low as possible.

Before entering, our guide warned us to look up, not down. “Tock! Tock! Tock!” We took turns to knock our heads against the low hanging wooden crossbeam. That’s what happens when you look down.

Thank god for the helmets, otherwise I’d be gushing blood from my head. “Sorry, the mines were made for Bolivian people,” said our 150m tall lady guide.

The ceilings alternated between low and high, and each time we straightened our bodies, it was a brief respite. Who knew it would feel so good to be walking normally?

The mines were dark and damp, lit only by our headlamps. “The water in the ground is natural,” explained our guide, “It came from the mountains. Cerro Rico used to be a volcano.”

The miners work in groups of 4 or 5, and each time we passed them, we stopped for a chat and handed them our gifts. They were appreciative of our gifts and seemed as inquisitive as us. They got to know where we came from, and we got to know that some of them started work at 4am that day.

“We eat the Mountain… and the Mountain eats us.”

Cerro Rico is known as the “mountain that eats men”. More than 8 million people were estimated to have died working in the mines since the 16 th century. The Spanish used slave labour to extract tons of silver, with miners living in the mines up to 6 months at a time.

“For the powerful emperor, for the wise king, this loft mountain of silver could conquer the world.” 

Working conditions in the mines have not changed much for the past 500 years. In some parts, hastily-assembled wood braces held the walls and ceilings together. In other parts, the ground is waterlogged.

Steel carts full of ores run through the narrow tracks all the time and whoever is unfortunate to be standing in its way, well...medical aid is not readily available. The excessive use of dynamites turned this 4824m high hill into a giant ant hill and declared a hazardous area due to its hollowed structure and imminent danger of collapsing into itself.

What they earn depends on what they find and also on the international market. Many of them do not work for private companies but in cooperatives. A large part of what they earn are used to buy their own equipment and supplies and because of this lack of resources, they mine in old fashioned ways like using pick axes and dynamites instead of drills.

Even when they survive accidents and cave-ins, the miners are at risks for Silicosis and other respiratory illnesses. Many miners die at 45-50 years old. They are trading a hope of an income twice the minimum wage for a reduced life expectancy, and they know this.

It is a world of difference to hear about the atrocious conditions the miners work in and to actually be there to experience it for yourself, to be in the alien environment, to inhale the mineral dust.

“Put on your face masks,” warned our guide. We coughed and the throats burned as we walked past a sulphur-filled section. The face masks were useless for the dust particles.

Near the end of our tunnel was a ‘museum’. Inside were 2 statues of the Devil, El Tio. These mostly Catholic miners believe in a God above ground, but when inside the mountain, El Tio rules them all.

The miners believe that if you do something to upset or anger El Tio, you get killed in ‘accidents’ such as cave-ins. On the other hand, if you make him happy, he’ll reward you with big discoveries of minerals.

The coca leaves, alcohol and cigarettes are given as offerings to appease the Devil himself. Our guide demonstrated by lighting a cigarette and placing into his mouth, pouring coca leaves over the body, and pouring the 96% alcohol; once on both shoulders and both knees, for the 4 directions in the mines, and once on his penis for fertility. “Pure alcohol for pure deposit,” she said.

“Why are there two statues?” I asked.

One was from the colonial period, and one is the modern version – as can be seen from his modern boots.

Each of us took a sip of the alcohol, followed by a macho “ahhh”, like how David Beckham does it in the Pepsi ads. Miners like to be seen as masculine.

At this point, almost two hours in, some of the tourists couldn’t take it anymore and wanted to leave. The narrow tunnels, low ceilings, mineral dusts was starting to take its toll on us. This is definitely not for the claustrophobic.

We made our way back towards the exit – the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel – and felt like a caged bird spreading its wings.

It was only 2 hours but I was ready to leave. I can’t even comprehend how these miners work 10 or 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. I don’t know how they do it but I have the utmost respect for these guys.

(Coincidentally, I met an ex-miner in Sucre and was invited to celebrate his 60 th birthday with him and his family.)

Some people question the ethics of such tours - linking it to a human zoo – and I can see where they come from. Personally, I was glad that I went for it because it was such an educational and humbling experience. Besides being aware that such working conditions still exist, something stirred inside me.

That very night, when I was dining at a local restaurant, a little boy of my nephew’s age – probably 9 or 10 – came in. He played some music and sang with his heart, then went around asking for money. The locals gave him their loose change but I passed him a note. It wasn’t much to us, but it was enough for him to get a meal. I could see his gratitude as he thanked me and left, spirits a little higher.

When I was walking back to my hostel, another kid was sitting by the streets – in the winter cold – playing drums and singing for money. I gave him my drink and he took it hastily.

I can’t change the world but I hope that these boys can at least retire early that night. Given that mining is the heart of the economy of the city, they will probably end up being miners and have the same fate as those before them.

After that night, I was determined to improve my Spanish to connect better with the locals. I enrolled in a Spanish school in Sucre and plan to do some volunteer work, no matter how little difference I could make. I texted my mum and she gave me her blessings.

Tours like this certainly put one’s working conditions/life into perspective and I encourage everyone to give it a go (as long as you’re physically fit and not claustrophobic).

And now, it’s your turn.

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• Potosi Mine Tour

• Destinations
• South America

It is a pretty rough environment with the sun shining brightly during the day and the bitterly cold night rolls in at dusk, in Potosi, one of the highest cities in the world at 4090 meters (13,420 ft) above sea level. The main attraction here is Cerro Rico (or the ‘rich hill’) that stands at 4,824 meters above the sea level.

This dilapidated city was once one of the richest cities in the world. Potosi started booming in 1545, following the discovery of silver reserves in Cerro Rico,  which was mined between the 16th and 18th century and to a large extent benefited the Spanish Empire.

Although the silver boom ended at the turn of the 19th century, mining still remains as the main source of income in Potosi. They extract silver on a small scale as well as tin, zinc, lead, antimony and Wolfram.

Working Conditions:

Around 28,000 miners work daily in frightful conditions to scrape out whatever ore deposits they can. Most work is done by hand and it is still very dangerous. Around 35 miners die every year, mostly from gas explosions or falling rocks and some succumb to silicosis pneumonia within ten years of entering the mines. It’s quite pitiful thought when you consider boys as young as ten working there.

There are many tour companies around the main square of Potosi offering mine tours twice a day. I booked my tour with El Mascaron Tours.  The tours normally leave in the morning and afternoon, it takes 4-5 hours and costs 100 Bolivianos. Almost all tour companies have the same pattern of the tour. They gather at the agency from where the tour guide, an ex-miner would commence the tour.

Our first stop was at the “Miners Market”. This is where the miners buy all supplies they need. The guide explained the uses of each product in their daily life. It was mainly coca leaves, cigarettes, “93%” alcohol, drinks and dynamite … Yes, even we could not believe, that dynamite could be bought for 20 Bolivianos, less than 3 USD.

Our guide briefed us “ Miners work for themselves and have to buy everything they need by themselves ” so to thank them in the mine, we were encouraged to buy a bag containing a packet of cigarettes, coca leaves, a bottle of alcohol and a bottle of beverage for 10 Bolivianos.

We then drove a few blocks away to get kitted out in yellow miner’s uniform complete with a helmet, headlamp and rubber boots.

All geared, we started our journey towards the Cerro Rico. We stopped at a viewpoint to get a glimpse of Potosi while our guide explained us about their routine with a little history to get a complete overview of our next stop and Potosi’s prime attraction.

Inside The Mine

We entered the initial mine shaft, and it was barely moments before we were scrambling along the walls of the narrow tunnel to avoid being hit by a rail-cart full of ore rock that was hurtling on the track towards us in the dark.

Puffing through the narrow tunnel, we paused at the shrine of  El Tio (The Uncle). El Tio is the God of the underworld. At every level, in a relatively quiet and tucked away place, there is a temple of  El Tio . In order to have good luck in the mines, the miners bestow many gifts and offerings to El Tio .

To honour El Tio , each member of our group took a shot of the 93% alcohol, diluted with tea and chewed coca leaves. Before we drank each shot, we had to pour a drop on the ground, for El Tio and Pachamama (Mother Earth). By the end of our session in front of El Tio , we had drunk six rounds of shots in his honour.

After our time with El Tio , we continued through the narrow tunnel sharing our gifts and alcohol, with those miners we encountered.

It was quite a sad sight to witness how people work in such horrific conditions just because they have the potential to earn more money mining than other available jobs in Bolivia.

Things to consider before going on the tour:

• It’s best to acclimatize to the altitude several days before attempting the tours.
• Carry a mask to cover your nose and mouth.
• If you suffer from claustrophobia then it’s not advisable to go down the mines.
• It is physically challenging.

This tour was organised by El Mascaron Tours: [email protected]

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9 comments on “ potosi mine tour ”.

This is the first time I read about a mine tour experience. The thought of children working is quite heart breaking though. All the photos do justice with the experience! Excellent work!

Great tours! Thanks for the advice. Your photos are really beautiful. The shots of the city are great!

This is quite an intriguing experience. It is sad the miners have to put up with so much pain to earn their living. The picture of El Tio looks interesting.

A tour of the mines is really exciting. Reading your post brought back childhood memories of a visit to a gold mine. Still remember the descent into the underground in a lift that seemed to go on and on.

I have been in caves but never a mining one. It sure does seem enthralling but at the same time, I feel sad for those miners. Maybe I should try this to know what it really means for them. Glad you did too and shared it with us.

what a cool experience this must have been! thanks for this, ill have to save this in case I am ever in that area!

The condition of those who work in mine is more or less same across the world. It’s a pity not enough steps are being taken to safeguard their welfare. The most urgent need of the hour is to ban kids from working in these mines.

Yikes! I would definitely not be one to take the mine tour as I don’t appreciate dark places. I would, though, enjoy exploring Bolivia at some point, as they grow some very fine cocoa.

Wow. Thats some place! Minin at 4000 meters plus!

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Potosi Silver Mine Tour

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Potosi Silver Mines Tour “Cerro Rico”  , (Half day)

We’ll pick you up from your hotel at 08:30 for the visit that starts at 9.00 a.m. and lasts 2 or 3 hours (or what you want) and leaves every day. First we visit the miners’ market; you can buy coca leaves, cigarettes, coca-cola, water, dynamite and fuses, which you can take as presents to the miners.

Before climbing the hill we get the equipment necessary to visit the mine and here you can leave anything you won’t need in the mine, everything is left behind locked doors.

You will observe the mine galleries and tunnels, made from stone over 450 years ago. You will pass through over 3 km of interconnected mine tunnels and descend through 5 levels, some 20 to 30 meters apart, entering deep into the heart of the mountain. Just as far as you want, there’s always a second guide if you want to leave halfway.

Our knowledgeable (English) guide will help you gain fascinating insights into the lives of 980 working miners. You will also experience the excitement of a dynamite explosion and listen to accounts of the history of the mines, their economy, the miners’ culture and working conditions.

We advise to eat a good breakfast before leaving. Wear old clothes and take a handkerchief to filter the dusty air. For extra energy (you’ll need it) take water, soda, chocolate bars, bananas and other snacks

• Group Service of 8 or 10 persons
• Specialized Mines Guide Spanish/English
• Mining equipment (helmets, rubber boots, raincoats and lamps.)
• Part of the fees go to Miners healthcare project

NOT Included:

• Gifts for miners
• - Guides with passion and enthousiasm
• - Our team speaks English, Spanish and Dutch
• - CERTIFIED GUIDES
• - Our teams and client to guide ratios are kept small
• - Discover the highlights as well as authentic Bolivia
• - Our work is our greatest passion, this is also reflected in the positive feedback on Tripadvisor

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Discover Potosi, a historic city in Bolivia filled with architectural wonders and fascinating tales. Nestled in the highlands, Potosi was once a thriving silver mining hub that left behind a rich colonial legacy. Marvel at Cerro Rico, a majestic mountain that was once a source of immense wealth. Explore Casa de la Moneda, a fascinating mint showcasing the coin production process and mining heritage. Wander through the UNESCO-listed Historic Centre, adorned with beautiful churches like Catedral de Potosi and Iglesia de San Lorenzo. Don’t miss Mercado Central, a bustling market offering traditional textiles and handicrafts. Venture outside the city to witness the surreal landscapes of Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt flat. Potosi invites you to step back in time, uncover its mining history, and soak in the captivating blend of culture and natural wonders. Start your Potosi adventure today!

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Descending into the Potosí Mines, Bolivia

At the end of last year, I was travelling with Peru Hop from Lima to Cusco to La Paz . I arrived to La Paz in the beginning of December without any plans really.

I only knew that I wanted to see more of Bolivia than La Paz. Yes, it’s the biggest city in the country and it has breath-taking views, but it is also loud and chaotic.

I quickly decided to visit Uyuni and the jungle but then I read an article about Potosí that caught my attention. So I changed my plans and took a night bus from La Paz (approx. 10 hours). The next morning I arrived to one of the highest cities in the world, located at a breath-taking  4000m above sea level .

Potosí City

On my way to the hostel I was very surprised about the city itself. It has more or less two parts; a quite beautiful old town which is “up the hill”, and the new part which is “down the hill”.

There are lots of small markets all over the city. Because I was used to the altitude, from my time in La Paz and Cusco, I immediately did a sightseeing walk but if you come from a lower region, you might have some problems with the altitude in Potosí, so take your time and and allow yourself time to acclimatise: “drink a lot, slow down and chew coca leaves”.

The old city which is mostly a few blocks around the Plaza de 10 Novièmbre has a lot of beautiful colonial houses and some nice churches like the Cathedral of Potosí or the Church of San Agustin .

Don’t expect them to be as big as in Cusco for example but they are definitely worth a visit. It is also a good option just to walk around the city and explore it without a plan. As long as you stay in the central part it is easy to navigate and i my experience quite safe.

I would definitely recommend exploring all the streets around the central market . There you can find nearly every type of shop you could imagine. For me, visiting the markets is always a fixed part to exploring a city. Here in Potosí they are different from La Paz for example. I did not see a lot of tourists there so you have a nice local experience.

If you’d like you can eat cheap meals or buy DVDs or pick up some warm clothes (which will come in particularly useful if you are planning to continue to Uyuni (like I did), it is a good option to buy them here for a lot more reasonable price thant the inflated tourist prices you will encounter in Uyuni.

Christmas Time Potosí

A very special extra before Christmas was the, most likely , highest “Christmas market” in the world . Of course it’s not comparable to the huge European Christmas markets of Berin but it was a nice intimate market with lots of Christmas lights.

If you miss home and the Christmas feeling, go there in the evening. With the low temperatures it actually feels like a northern hemisphere Christmas, a rarity in South America given December here falls in summer season. It was located around the Plaza de 10 Novièmbre and some also in the Calle Sucre and there were a lot of locals enjoying the sweets or buying some small presents from the street sellers.

For me it was very unexpected and therefore so beautiful. You can also do some hiking around the city or visit the hot springs which are quite near and relax there for some time. There really are plenty of things to do in and around Potosí if you decide to spend some time there.

Cerro  Rico

Besides all the nice things in Potosí, there is a big shadow cast over the city. The “ Cerro Rico “, which literally means rich mountain. It contains a lot of silver and other ores, Potosí has based it`s whole economy here on the mining that was commercialised by the Spanish as far back as  the 1600s .

The mountain is a blessing and a curse at the same time. The mine is one of the biggest silver mines in the world and has brought wealth in the city’s past (rumours say the dollar sign originated from Potosí). But the mine has also brought economic turbulence as the minerals became exhausted.

Today the mountain is still being mined on a very small scale but also visitors and organised tours are allowed to enter. This might strike you as a very touristic experience and a form of poverty tourism, and in a way you are right. I thought the same but visiting the mines made me think differently very quickly.

Preparing for our tour

I can strongly recommend a visit to the mines. Lots of travel agencies and hostels offer a tour for different prices. I paid approx 20usd for a guided tour. Check out some options  here.

The tour started at our hostel where we got our clothes on and dressed up. After this we went to a small shop where all visitors are encouraged to buy some presents for the workers in the mines. We were able to buy genuine  sticks of dynamite  (!!!!) and other explosives at this small street shop.

The pacifists among us bought some juice, coca leaves or pure alcohol . Because the presents are more or less obligatory, bring some extra money for this.

With the explosives or pure alcohol in our hands and a strange feeling in our stomachs we went to the mines. Exiting several meters above the city you have a quite nice view.

But the view is the only beautiful thing there. We were immediately walking around in mud and puddles of colourful water and we saw some workers emptying a wagon with their hands instead of using tools.

Into the mines

Before entering the mines we had to ‘request’ a safe visit from the Saint of the mountain using the alcohol and coca leaves we bought. After a few minutes into the mine, we knew why this was necessary.

The tunnels in the mountain looked incredibly simple and unsafe. The broken struts and beams were the proof of that. There was no electricity and no ventilation but a lot of dust, asbestos fibers and water drops containing toxic heavy metals .

Nevertheless, the workers didn’t wear any protection besides their helmets. It gave me a tight feeling in the chest going and crawling around in the tunnels with the knowledge that the average life span of the workers after starting their work there is only 15 years. Because of the toxic dust in the mines most of them get serious problems with their lungs.

We saw the workers at their real work and how hard it is for them to work under these circumstances and also how dangerous it is. But of course we also did some real tourist stuff like setting off a dynamite explosion, which was just for us.

After reaching the daylight again, which was one of the best feelings I’ve had for a long time, our guide told us that just a few days previous two miners had died because of carbon monoxide poisoning .

The worst thing about it is that this is normal for the miners. It belongs to their daily life and work. That is the price they pay to feed the demand on cheap electronics and jewellery.

So of course it is a (strange) touristic thing to visit the mines. But the mines are so much a part of Potosí’s identity, that you should do it anyway. Otherwise your visit here is not complete. It is an experience you will never forget and maybe it will change your mind. All in all, Potosí is definitely worth a visit.

Author bio: Stefan Schindler is a German backpacker that is travelling around the world. Currently he is backpacking through South East Asia.

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THE 10 BEST Potosi Tours & Excursions

Potosi tours.

• Multi-day Tours
• Sightseeing Tours
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• Private Tours
• Historical & Heritage Tours
• Cultural Tours
• Archaeology Tours
• Up to 1 hour
• 1 to 4 hours
• 4 hours to 1 day
• 5.0 of 5 bubbles
• 4.0 of 5 bubbles & up
• 3.0 of 5 bubbles & up
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• Likely to Sell Out
• The ranking of tours, activities, and experiences available on Tripadvisor is determined by several factors including the revenue generated by Tripadvisor from these bookings, the frequency of user clicks, and the volume and quality of customer reviews. Occasionally, newly listed offerings may be prioritized and appear higher in the list. The specific placement of these new listings may vary.

1. 3-Days Tour to the Uyuni Salt Flat and Colored Lagoons +Sunset+Mirror Effect

2. 2-Days Uyuni Salt Flats including Laguna Colorada

3. Uyuni Salt Flats Private 3 day tour (Palacio Sal 5* & Tayka 3* hotels)

4. Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche

5. Potosi - Active Mine Tour - Half Day -

6. Standard Uyuni Salt Flats 3 Days with Spanish-speaking driver

7. Half-Day Potosí Active Mine Trip to Cerro Rico

8. Private 3 Days tour Uyuni Salt Flats and Colorful Lagoons from Uyuni

9. 3 Days Uyuni salt flat and colored lagoons from Uyuni

10. Standar 3 Days Uyuni Salt Flats and Colorfull Lagoons

11. Uyuni Salt flat fron San Pedro de Atacama, (In Hostels)

12. Active Mine - Potosi Half Day

13. Salt Flats of Uyuni in 3D-2N

14. Private Tour to Salar de Uyuni from San Pedro de Atacama, Chile (VIP)

15. Active Mine And Surroundings Combo Tour

16. Active Mine And Surroundings Combo Tour _ Private

17. Active Mine_private

18. Museums In Potosi Half Day

19. Potosi And Surroundings Half Day_private

20. Adventure Through Toro Toro National Park. 4 Days 3 Nights. English Guide

21. Private transfer Sucre - Uyuni, stopover in Potosí Mines

22. 3-Days Uyuni Salt Flats with English Guide, private accommodation

23. 4 Days Uyuni Salt Flats from Tupiza

24. Private Day Trip to Laguna Colorada from Uyuni with Bilingüal Guide

25. Private Tour Uyuni Salt Flat from S.P. Atacama Chile.

What travelers are saying.

• 3-Days Tour to the Uyuni Salt Flat and Colored Lagoons +Sunset+Mirror Effect
• Uyuni Salt Flats Private 3 day tour (Palacio Sal 5* & Tayka 3* hotels)
• Potosi - Active Mine Tour - Half Day -
• Parque Nacional Torotoro Tour 2 Días y 1 Noche
• 2-Days Uyuni Salt Flats including Laguna Colorada
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South America

Spend a day in the silver mines of bolivia (dynamite included).

High in the colorful mountains of Bolivia sits the town of Potosí, a colonial era mining mecca placed at a breathtaking 13,000 feet. To set the scene, stucco roofs blend seamlessly into the red terrain of the Altiplano in what was once one of the most prosperous cities in the Americas. The landscape is striking, yet many residents of historic Potosí rarely glimpse the natural wonders of their homeland.

A Look Back

Potosí thrived by resting upon the greatest silver deposit ever known to man. Capitalizing on this good fortune required a labor force far beyond the capabilities of the Spanish conquistadors. As a result, millions of indigenous people and African slaves were forced to work the mines, often spending weeks at a time below ground. The workload was unbearable and few returned to the surface alive.

While the mines of Potosí now produce tin instead of silver, and slavery has been replaced by willing laborers, it is crazy how little else has actually changed since colonial times. Travelers are able to take a trip back in time as well as absorb Bolivia’s present on a tour of a working mine in Potosí.

The Experience

Be aware, this is not a tour for the masses. Life underground is dirty, hazardous, and more than a little claustrophobic. The authenticity of the experience kicks in right from the start, when guests trade their street clothing for shabby jumpsuits, rubber boots, and a hard hat complete with headlamp. Safely above ground, this seems more like a fun photo opportunity rather than the first step of a grim daily routine for most locals in Potosí.

The tour begins with a short stop at the miner’s market. Visitors are encouraged to buy “gifts” for the miners they will encounter. Coca leaves for a caffeine boost and drinks for hydration make a lot of sense, but others gifts raise a few eyebrows. Cigarettes are a popular choice, though lighting up four stories beneath the Earth’s surface seems rather foolhardy. Bandanas are work to “filter” the air you breathe. (Note: most miners die before age 40 from inhaled substances.) And the most troubling of all: live dynamite. A considerate tour guide will offer to carry it for you, which may make you feel only marginally safer.

Groups then visit a refinery plant to learn how metals are processed; while your guide barks information over the deafening roar of machinery. Guard rails and caution signs are noticeably absent. This is your next clue this tour will be unlike any other cave jaunt you may have experienced.

The entrance to the mine is a gaping black hole with rail tracks disappearing into the darkness. You half expect Snow White’s dwarves to appear, singing “hi-ho, hi-ho, it's off to work we go." Instead, a mine cart shoots out at breakneck speeds and you recoil, realizing just how close the walls are. There's barely enough space to save your toes and the thin rubber boots are no longer so amusing.

Once underground, the air is thick with dust and the temperature rises to almost unbearable levels. It is tough to decide whether to breathe through the bandana for filtration or without it to suck in more of the much needed oxygen.

A Working Holiday

Miners appear in the shadows to claim their gifts, loving posing for pictures. Females be wary, they can get a bit handsy. Everyone is given the opportunity to work the mine. This is when it occurs to you that you paid good money to do hard labor on your vacation. Pickaxe in hand, you swing away at the layers of rock, while saying a silent prayer to anyone and everyone that this isn’t the wall that will cause it all to come tumbling down.

The miners know who you are praying to. They will gladly introduce you to El Tio , the uncle, a devilish figurine that supposedly safeguards the mine. Miners make frequent prayer offerings to El Tio: coca leaves, cigarettes, and even baby llama fetuses.

How to Do It

There are a few companies in Potosí offering mine tours, but one we recommend is Cerro Rico . Once again, this is not a tour for the claustrophobic or those who are particularly concerned about safety. But if you are able to overlook the heat, the dust, the dangerous environment, and the flirtatious men, this is a cultural experience that will open your eyes to a reality of what many locals experience everyday. Mining is an important industry throughout South America, and working conditions still have a long way to go.

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World Literature Festival: Minerita: Celebrating World Literature Festival

This event is an online event. 

In the harsh mining district of Cerro Rico in Potosi, Bolivia, life is a constant struggle for survival. Men risk their lives in the dangerous mine shafts for silver ore, while women face even greater dangers, often falling victim to violence, including sexual assault. Through a powerful documentary, we meet three extraordinary women - Lucia, Ivonne, and Abigail - who bravely share their stories of living in a world plagued by violence.

This event will be for Adults (18+).