Half-Day Potosí Active Mine Trip to Cerro Rico
Potosí, Bolivia
- 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Descend to the atmospheric depths of active mine, Cerro Rico, on a 3-hour private tour from Potosi. First, enjoy a brief sightseeing tour of Potosi — one of the world’s highest cities — before you visit a mining market to see tools and materials used by miners. Then, alongside your personal guide, you’ll observe the harsh working conditions that the mineral miners are subject to as you explore the galleries and chambers of Cerro Rico. Receive undivided attention from your guide on this private tour.
- Private 3-hour tour of the Cerro Rico mine in Potosi
- Embark on a sightseeing tour of Potosi, one of the highest cities in the world
- Visit a traditional mining market to see the materials used by the miners
- Descend to the chambers and see the harsh working conditions of the miners
- Receive undivided attention on this private tour
What's Included
- Transportation
- English-speaking guide
- Gifts for the miners (can be purchased before going to the mine)
- Suggested tip for the guide ($10 Bs)
- Food and drinks
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Plaza 10 de NoviembreC66W+7HX, Potosi, Bolivia
Plaza 10 de Noviembre (In front of the Cathedral)
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
Greet your guide at a centrally located spot and embark on a short sightseeing tour of Potosi. At an altitude of 13,420 feet (4,090 meters), Potosi is one of the world’s highest cities and boasts a scattering of cultural monuments.
During a visit to the mining market, you’ll observe mining materials and be given to opportunity to buy small gifts — such as dynamite, alcohol and coca leaves — to give to the miners.
Don protective clothing and a lamp on arrival at the mine, and then descend to the subterranean depths of Cerro Rico. During the Spanish colonial rule, more than two billion ounces of silver was extracted from Cerro Rico, which translates as Rich Hill; as you explore the galleries and interior levels of the mine, you’ll listen to history rich commentary from your guide.
See the statues that miners pray to for protection; marvel at the chemical formation of mineral unique the Cerro Rico; and interact with miners as they go about their backbreaking work.
When your tour comes to a conclusion, return to your original departure point in Potosi.
During a visit to the mining market, you’ll observe mining materials and be given to opportunity to buy small gifts — such as dynamite, alcohol and coca leaves — to give to the miners.
Don protective clothing and a lamp on arrival at the mine, and then descend to the subterranean depths of Cerro Rico. During the Spanish colonial rule, more than two billion ounces of silver was extracted from Cerro Rico, which translates as Rich Hill; as you explore the galleries and interior levels of the mine, you’ll listen to history rich commentary from your guide.
See the statues that miners pray to for protection; marvel at the chemical formation of mineral unique the Cerro Rico; and interact with miners as they go about their backbreaking work.
When your tour comes to a conclusion, return to your original departure point in Potosi.
1
Potosi
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
2
Cerro Rico
3 hours • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Minimum age is 7 years old
- Not wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
3.7
based on 3 reviews
Hardy_R, Dec 2024
Horrible experience with Viator, the tour organizer Bamba and the local operator Andes2Amazon. I booked the tour one day before going to Potosí from Uyuni. There were two tours available, 8:30am and 1:30pm on December 13. Since I got a bus in the morning that day from Uyuni to Potosí I booked the 1:30pm tour, which was available and after I booked it CONFIRMED. Then, in the evening before the day of my tour, I was more than short-noticed notified that there was only the 8:30am tour. Obviously I missed that one. I tried the whole day rescheduling the tour to the following day at 8:30am, which was my last option since I had a limited time in Potosí. Bamba didn’t reply at all, neither via WhatsApp nor email. Viator supposedly reached out to them but couldn’t help me either. THEN I reached out to the 3rd (!) party for this tour which was the local operator Andes2Amazon. I asked whether I could join the following-day tour at 8:30am. They told me that it wasn’t possible and that my reservation the prior day was declared as a NO-SHOW, after such a short-noticed and unannounced change to my reservation! Then I asked if I could just pay them cash for the tour at the meeting point and would request a refund through Viator/Bamba. Also that was denied!!! As if they want to get rid of their customers. I was more than excited to go to Potosí, see the mines, and working practices. However, this whole thing destroyed the whole trip.
From $56.00
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
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Current
Half-Day Potosí Active Mine Trip to Cerro Rico
3
3 hours 30 minutes
Free Cancellation
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$56.00
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