Potosi Attractions
Mines of Cerro Rico idol © Ahron de Leeuw
Cooperative Mines of Cerro Rico
Entering the mines is like a step in to the past. It is a
demanding, shocking yet memorable experience. Visitors can
experience conditions much the same as when the Spanish used Andean
peasants as slave labourers to work the wealth from the mines.
Guided tours lead groups along the narrow tunnels and up rickety
ladders, stopping along the way to chat to the miners at work.
Working conditions are primitive, shafts are poorly ventilated and
safety provisions barely exist. The miners work by hand, chipping
away at the rock and hewing out rough shafts in which to place
their dynamite. An occasional blast shakes the tunnels and deafens
the ears. Thousands of miners work their way through the mountain
with no overall control or plan, chewing their way through bags of
coca leaves to fend off hunger and exhaustion, in the hope of
hitting a rare vein of silver.
Address: The mines are located in the outskirts of Potosi
