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All 9 Potosi Attractions »

Cerro Rico

Potosi, Bolivia
Ranked #1 of 9 attractions in Potosi
4.5 of 5 stars 43 Reviews
Type: Mines, Historic Sites
Description: This silver mining site dates back to the Spanish colonial era.
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43 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
    25
    13
    3
    1
    1
Date Rating
Rio de Janeiro
Top Contributor
55 reviews 55 reviews
Reviews in 27 cities Reviews in 27 cities
39 helpful votes 39 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 11, 2012

I just had a friendly taxi driver from Sucre, who took me to the Cerro Rico gates. I had talks with the miners and their their families. Then one young man - a freelance guide Freddy, a former miner, offered to take me inside the mine. I was given my helmet and light. This was perfect for my tight schedule.... More

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Eccleshall, United Kingdom
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 2 cities Reviews in 2 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
5 of 5 stars Reviewed April 21, 2012

We booked our tour though our hostel which was Casa de Huespedes La Vicuña and our guide Antonio gave us a great tour. The conditions down the mine are very tough so if you don't think you could handle it you probably couldn't. For me it was an unforgettable experience. More

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Townville, South Carolina
Top Contributor
131 reviews 131 reviews
Reviews in 74 cities Reviews in 74 cities
51 helpful votes 51 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed March 1, 2012

This is not a tour for the light hearted. You crawl at times, for over a KM of the tour you are hunched over shuffeling along with 3' heights. You trudge through water. The breathing is very difficult. It is really hot! like 95 F. To finish it all off, there are no miners for the two weeks around Carnival. More

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Contributor
20 reviews 20 reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed January 5, 2012
1
person found this review helpful

We decided to go with GreenGo and were very happy with our decision. Jorge brought us into Tudor mine and really gave us a great tour. The safety gear was great, the mine chosen was a wet mine so less dust. Jorge gave us amazing insights into the the mines & especially into the life of the miner's. We energy... More

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La Paz, Bolivia
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
4 of 5 stars Reviewed December 13, 2011

great value there is a problem with the security gear, too old and dirty More

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See 2 more reviews by Rodrigo S for Potosi
Sydney, Australia
Senior Contributor
24 reviews 24 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
9 helpful votes 9 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed November 10, 2011
1
person found this review helpful

Just completed my tour of Cerro Rico having returned from Sucre to complete. I had food poisoning the first time in Potosi and as I had paid, the boys at the real deal said I could return to do the tour. 3 weeks later I walked into the office and they remembered my name and where I was from. Reynaldo... More

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Portlaoise
Top Contributor
90 reviews 90 reviews
Reviews in 28 cities Reviews in 28 cities
35 helpful votes 35 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed November 6, 2011
2
people found this review helpful

The main reason people go out of their way to visit Potosí is to visit here. It is a remarkable experience. From the moment you meet the guide who brings you down the mine there are just constant surprises and shocks which both thrill and scare you in equal proportions. We met our guide who brought us down to a... More

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London
Top Contributor
84 reviews 84 reviews
Reviews in 39 cities Reviews in 39 cities
57 helpful votes 57 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed October 9, 2011
2
people found this review helpful

After all the hype about how horrible this was going to be and reading all those reviews we were pretty wound up by the time we arrived. Yes we did do the full trip, yes we did go through all those levels, but it in all of that it was difficult to shake the feeling that we tourists are being... More

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See 3 more reviews by elsiek for Potosi
Scottsdale, Arizona
Senior Reviewer
8 reviews 8 reviews
Reviews in 8 cities Reviews in 8 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed September 20, 2011
2
people found this review helpful

We spent a little extra to go with a recommended tour company and I am glad that we did. Koala Tours limits their groups to eight people, though we only had five. We were given pants, jackets, lights, boots, and hard hats. All equipment was in good condition. They also provided bandanas to cover your face. The only other equipment... More

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UK
Top Contributor
85 reviews 85 reviews
Reviews in 44 cities Reviews in 44 cities
59 helpful votes 59 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed September 9, 2011
2
people found this review helpful

Despite our guide being good, this is rather a dismal experience. It shows well enough the extremely hazardous, arduous and medically-dangerous lives that the miners live. From what we were told, their health is bad after only a few years in the mines. But whether it's really necessary to view this, I doubt. Potosi seemed an interesting city and a... More

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