Experiencing the Authenticity of Potosi Mine Tour
Nestled high in the Andes, the city of Potosi in Bolivia offers a unique blend of history and modernity. Once a thriving centre of silver production, the Potosi mine now attracts tourists from around the world, despite no longer producing silver. One local tour operator, Koala Tours, offers a half-day tour of the mine for 100 Bolivianos, led by ex-miners.
The tour begins with a visit to the Miners' Market, where you can purchase old-fashioned tools like hammers, chisels, and even dynamite for 20 Bolivianos. The market serves as a glimpse into the traditional methods still used by miners in Potosi.
As you descend into the mine, you'll notice the conditions are far from ideal. Miners chisel rock by hand, sort mineral-rich rock pieces from worthless rubble, and push heavy carts filled with rocks out of the mine, uphill all the way. The work is dangerous, with illness, poisoning, cave-ins, and accidents being real risks, especially with the use of dynamite.
Despite these challenges, miners in Potosi are proud of their work. Many start working at a young age, often taking over from fathers who are too sick or have died. They work long hours to support their families, and their average life expectancy is 40-50.
The tour includes protective clothing and equipment, such as plastic trousers, jackets, rubber boots, and a battery pack and helmet with a headlamp. You'll navigate through sections with huge, black drops on thin planks of wood and climb up four-foot clumps of rock. The experience can be intense, and it's not recommended for individuals who suffer from claustrophobia, are uncomfortable in small spaces, in the dark, climbing up rocks, or who are easily upset by poverty.
The tour lasts around four to five hours and includes a visit to a processing plant, where miners take their extracted minerals to be processed and sold. Here, you'll witness the transformation of raw minerals into marketable products.
Miners in Potosi cannot eat inside the mines, and instead, they chew coca leaves for energy and to quell their appetite. The city of Potosi, located south of Sucre and one of the highest cities in the world, at 4090m above sea level, offers a stark contrast to the mine's dark, dusty tunnels. With its fading, colorful colonial buildings, ornate church facades, and hidden notes of beauty, Potosi has an air of decaying grandeur.
Koala Tours, which also offers trips to the Uyuni Salt Flats, has received mixed reviews. While some travelers praise the knowledgeable guides and memorable adventure tours, others have reported issues with overpacked vehicles, language barriers, and problematic payment disputes. Prospective tourists may want to weigh these comments against each other and consider booking through trusted channels or directly with Koala Tours for clearer communication and service quality.
For those seeking a deeper understanding of the Potosi mine and the working conditions there, the documentary film "The Devil's Miner" provides more information. Despite the risks and challenges, the Potosi mine tour offers a captivating insight into a world few will ever experience.
- The Miners' Market, visited during the Koala Tours' half-day Potosi mine tour, sells old-fashioned mining tools like hammers, chisels, and dynamite for 20 Bolivianos.
- Despite the dangerous working conditions in the Potosi mine, miners take pride in their work and start at a young age, often working to support their families, with an average life expectancy of 40-50 years.
- Koala Tours, offering tours to the Potosi mine and the Uyuni Salt Flats, have received mixed reviews, with some praising the knowledgeable guides and memorable tours, yet others reporting issues with overpacked vehicles, language barriers, and payment disputes.
- The city of Potosi, contrasting the mine's dark, dusty tunnels, showcases fading, colorful colonial buildings, ornate church facades, and hidden notes of beauty, giving it an air of decaying grandeur.
