Potosi Silver Mines Tour

El Tio - Potosi silver mines
Koala tours
Cerro Rico - Potosi silver mines
Exploring tunnels in the potosi silver mines
Miners - potosi silver mines
El Tio - Potosi silver mines
Koala tours
Cerro Rico - Potosi silver mines
Exploring tunnels in the potosi silver mines
Miners - potosi silver mines

Potosi Silver Mines Tour

  • A worthwhile experience to learn about the Bolivian mining culture

  • Over 300 mines to explore around and lots of miners willing to share their anecdotes

  • Our guides are also ex-miners, this adventurous tour takes place in Cerro Rico

Join us and visit the colonial mines in Potosi - it will almost certainly be one of the most memorable experiences that you will have in Bolivia. Meet the miners themselves, hear the anecdotes they have to tell, and explore the labyrinth where these people spend most of their time.

AVAILABILITY

All year round

DURATION

Half day

START LOCATION

Koala Tours's office, 3 Ayacucho St. Potosi

END LOCATION

Koala Tours's office, 3 Ayacucho St. Potosi

OPERATOR NAME

KOALA TOURS

Start Time

08:45/ 13:30

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

IMPORTANT:
- There aren't miners in the mines on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.
- This tour is not possible to operate for children under 12 years old, or adults over 70 years old. Claustrophobic people and those with asthma or other medical conditions should not enter the mine.

We will meet at the office. Our first stop will be in our ware house, where all the equipment is provided, including rubber boots, overpants, waterproof jackets, helmets and electric cap lamps (leaving your hands free). The Miners' Market will be our second stop, where coca leaves, cigarettes and dynamite can be bought as gifts for the miners.

You’ll next visit the ore mill (refinery plant). In this place, minerals that are brought from the Cerro Rico are purified, using chemical products and crusher machines. We’ll stop at the highest viewpoint of the city to see Potosi and Cerro Rico. We’ll then continue to the Candelaria Mine, where you can crawl around inside this terrifying but awe-inspiring labyrinth, in which many miners are working. You will have contact with the workers, and see El Tío, who is the lord of the mines.

Note: Part of your ticket price is forwarded to the miners in the form of food and other necessary supplies. For those passengers who will be without a hotel, we offer a free hot shower in our ware house after the mine tour.

Departures:
08:45 hrs
13:30 hrs

TOUR TICKETS (MAY VARY BY DATE)
Ticket Price(USD)
ADULT 25.00 (USD)
TOUR ITINERARY

08:30 / 13:15

Meeting point at Koala Tours' office


08:45 / 13:30

Depart for the warehouse in Cerro Rico to pick up the safety clothing and equipment


09:20 / 14:00

Stop at the Miners’ Market


10:30 / 14:30

Visit a refinery plant (ore mill) and a viewpoint


11:00 / 15:00

Visit the Candelaria Mine


13:00/ 17:30

Return to the office


INCLUDED

- Spanish and English speaking guide
- Private transport
- Equipment (rubber boots, overpants, waterproof jacket, helmet and electric headlamp)
- Free hot shower

NOT INCLUDED

- Tips
- Personas expenses
- Gifts to miners (not obligatory)

RECOMMENDED

- Camera
- Mask (for the dust)
- Comfortable and sturdy clothes
- Handkerchief / headscarf handy
- Walking shoes
- Camera
- Bottle of water
- Extra cash

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

HOLIDAY PRICES:
On January 1st, February 27th-28th, August 6th and December 25th, there will be an increment of 50% on the tour price.

EXCLUSIONS:
This tour is not possible to operate for children under 12 years old, or adults over 70 years old. Claustrophobic people and those with asthma or other medical conditions should not enter the mine.

CANCELLATION POLICY

Cancellation or changes of this tour:

CHANGES: It is FREE to change the tour date before 5:00 pm (La Paz time) the day before the tour begins.

No Shows & Cancellations of this tour - If you cancel before 5:00 pm (La Paz time) the day before the tour or earlier, a 40% administration fee (+ the card fee). After this time, there is a 100% no show or cancellation fee.

You must email bookings@findlocaltrips.com (include the name of the tour and the reservation number) to cancel this tour or to make any changes.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  1. What should I bring to the tour?

    You should bring your camera, a bottle of water, extra snacks, extra money (for tips and personal expenses), walking shoes, and have a handkerchief/ headscarf handy. Take comfortable and sturdy clothes, such as waterproof clothing, a thermal shirt, a rainproof/windproof jacket, and long pants/trousers.

  2. What kind of weather can we find in Potosi?

    Potosi has a cold and dry climate, typical of the mountains, with occasional snowfall. On average, the warmest month is November, the coolest month is July, and the wettest month is January.

  3. Who can do this tour?

    Everyone, except for children under 12 years old, or adults over 70 years old, claustrophobic people, and those with asthma or other medical conditions.

  4. When is the best time to go?

    The dry season is the best time to travel to Potosi (from May to October) due to the better road conditions, generally sunny skies, and warm day time temperatures (but really cold at night). Also, note that on Sundays and holidays there is less mining activity, which is the main attraction of the tour.

  5. Will I have problems with altitude sickness on this tour?

    Altitude sickness can catch many travellers a little bit off guard. Not everyone gets sick in high altitudes, and it is difficult to predict who is likely to be badly affected by it. For most people, it is nothing more than a headache and a dizzy sensation that diminishes over a short period of time, 1 to 2 days for most people. If you want to limit your chances of getting sick, there are a few things you can do. Firstly, do not fly directly into high altitude - proceed slowly, allowing your body time to acclimatise as you ascend gradually. However, for many that is not possible, so it’s important to drink lots of water, and to slow down! This sounds simple, but both of these things are very important. Your body is struggling because you don’t have enough oxygen, so avoiding any strenuous activity is a good idea. Chew some coca leaves - the native people of South America have been chewing coca for centuries, thanks to its ability to alleviate mild altitude sickness symptoms. Coca leaves can be bought in any supermarket, and even souvenir shops or street stalls. Take altitude sickness pills (Soroche): these are sold over the counter all over Peru and Bolivia, and are just a few dollars. If you are flying straight into altitude over 2500 metres without spending any time at an intermediate elevation, and you’re worried about getting sick, you can ask your doctor for more specific and stronger altitude sickness medication in advance. In the rare case that your symptoms are more severe than a headache and mild dizziness, you should descend in altitude and seek medical assistance.

  6. Why book with FindLocalTrips.com?

    Apart from our low-price guarantee, with us you can be 100% assured that your booking is made. We provide instant email confirmation, and have live spaces and availability for each tour. You are in the capable hands of our team here on the ground, with 20 local experts who speak perfect Spanish and English, always ready with a quick response to any of the questions you might have. Tour operators are experts at operating their tours, and we are the experts at reservations, organisation, and assistance with your plans for these tours.

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