The 7 things to do in Potosí

Visit Potosí: what are the best things to do and see in the city of money? Discover our selection of incontournables.

The town of Potosí in Bolivia is located in the south-west of the country, 150 km from the property Sugar . It is located on the Salar road in Uyuni and is therefore often a step on a trip to Bolivia. The capital of the state of the same name, Potosí is known to be the highest city in the world with its 4090 m of altitude and thus often gives the impression of lack of air.

At the beginning of the 16th century, the Conquistadors discovered important sources of money in the hill overlooking the city. This is named from "Cerro Rico" or "Mountain Rich". For years, mining has enriched the Spanish Empire and has made Potosí one of the richest cities in South America. Today, the exploitation of this hill, exhausted in silver and zinc, still makes many inhabitants work in the city, especially for tin. This work, now unprofitable, is a risk to the rest of the city. The collapse threat of Cerro Rico helped to include Potosí on the UNESCO World Heritage List at Risk in 2014.

Visiting Potosí, it is therefore to venture into a city bathed by a particular atmosphere, which cannot leave indifferent. Looking for what to do in Potosí during your stay? Here, to help you, a selection of points of interest that will mark your trip.

1. Old town

What to do in Potosí? Start by surveying its pedestrian streets cradled by colonial houses with warm colours. These houses testify to the prosperous history of this mining city, as well as its painful past. You can start with the visit of the central square which constitutes the heart of the city and swirl around its buildings and churches and let you carry in the old city, to discover its local shops and its singular heritage.

2. La Casa de la Moneda

For centuries, the prosperity of the Spaniards in Potosí was ensured by the work of the money, recovered in the mines, to transform it into coins. This hard-working craft was provided by slaves forced into forced labour. Casa de la Moneda retraces the past of the city around this industry. The rooms are numerous, the museum is interactive and the guided tours are very interesting.

In addition, the colonial building that houses the Casa de la Moneda, dating from 1753, is the largest ever built by the Spanish. This gives the Casa de la Moneda the reputation of the country's most beautiful museum. When we look for what to do in Potosí, it is an activity not to be missed.

3. The Convent Santa Teresa

The visit of the convent of Sainte-Thérèse allows to discover a superb building rich in history, which has welcomed hundreds of young women throughout the years to lead a religious life, with very strict rules. During the guided tour, the various parts of the building are arranged while learning the details of the convent’s operation. Santa Teresa is a nice place to visit in Potosí.

4. The Cathedral of Potosí

Cathedral the city, dating from 1808, was built in stone and brick in a neo-classical style. It is characterized by a large cupola and three naves inside, as well as a superb German organ. If you are looking for what to do in Potosí, do not miss this discovery as well as that of its many churches. There are more than eighty in the city.

5. The Cerro Rico

The main interest of a passage through Potosí is the discovery of this precious mountain that has fuelled centuries of history: the Cerro Rico . This hill owned one of the world’s largest silver farms. From the top of its 4786 m you can discover a panoramic view of the city, but also on the surroundings like the Kari Kari Cordillera, the Tahuaco Nunu and the volcano Nuevo Mundo . Visiting Potosí without seeing the Cerro Rico closer would be a real sacrilege.

6. La lagune de Tarapaya

Only 26 km from Potosí, you can discover the Ojo del Inca which is a natural site with healing thermal waters. This circular lagoon attracts visitors for the benefits of its water, the temperature of which is between 25 and 30°C. The beautiful landscape around it does not ruin the experience. If you spend a few days in Potosí and ask that you do after seeing the city, do not miss exploring this sweet region.

7. Uncontournable or avoidable? Potosí silver mines

In order to visit Potosí, must it necessarily pass through its silver mines?

In spite of the years, the work of minors is still current in Potosí. This, while the silver ore is empty and the tin is now exploited, much cheaper. Every day, minors, adults and children work in a dark corridor to collect this precious material. This by pushing carts of several hundred kilos, in a dusty environment, where deaths are unfortunately common.

An exciting and dangerous work that the tourists passing through Potosí are invited to discover on the tour. The interest is of course to compensate for the hardness of their work and to help them with donations.

Voyeurism? Tourism of poverty? Maintenance of a corrupt system? However, all of these questions arise when we consider visiting the Potosí mines.

During the visits, you will be invited to have fun in the galleries, playing with the dynamite or pushing the trolleys a few minutes, while next to them, the workers make this experience without a break, forced to live often on the spot, while being underpaid and not reaching the retirement age. Each will therefore make the decision based on its feeling. Does this contribute to fuelling this mining and human exploitation or does it provide a real benefit to miners?

How to get to Potosí?

Potosí is not necessarily a dreamed step on a trip to Bolivia, but its strategic location makes it very visited by tourists. Indeed, going in the direction of the Salar d’Uyuni or Sucre, we will necessarily go through Potosí. There are therefore many means of transport between these two cities, including buses from Uyuni or Sucre (take 3 to 4 hours).

Even if there are flights to Potosí from France, we advise you to fly to Sucre for example, and then to Potosí by train or bus (for this first step, optimise the flights at the best prices by taking a look at our partner’s website Ulysses ). On Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from the El Tejar train station, several trains provide the Sucre/Potosí route: the opposite direction is assured on the remaining days of the week, off Sunday. In addition to discovering beautiful landscapes throughout your trip, you have the assurance of opting for an economic means of transport to reach Potosí.

Where to stay in Potosí?

Whether you're in Potosí for a night-stage or you'd like to really enjoy the city, you'll find establishments adapted to your desires to visit Potosí, especially depending on the city. neighbourhood of your choice . Small budgets will find well maintained and comfortable hostels. Koala Den especially is very well known from backpackers, like other affordable housing to find on this Compare hotels

If you want to sleep at home or enjoy the comfort of an apartment for your stay, you can also turn to the site Airbnb which offers a wide choice in Potosí.

You now know that to make in Potosí, a rather discreet and yet popular destination for travellers. Did you ever visit Potosí?