赛罗里科山

The Cerro Rico mine tour was one of the highlights of our trip to Bolivia. We stopped with our guide on the way to purchase some gifts (coca leaves, cigarettes, etc.) and then proceeded to the extensive mining operations area. We had the opportunity both before and after our tour in the mine to talk with several miners and members of their families, which made the experience that much more interesting. The mine itself clearly displayed the dismal conditions in which the miners worked; we were able to see several ore cars being loaded and our grandson helped to prepare an explosive charge that would be used later for blasting. A truly unique experience, all around!! Not to be missed.

I just came back from a tour of Potosi mines with Koala Tours. I highly recommend it. The guides are actual former miners, they are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. The mines can be a bit claustrophobic at times, but they will do all they can to make sure you are safe and comfortable. I loved the tour, it was a really great experience!

First of all, with the predominant machismo attitude in this area, it may be hard to get an objective opinion on whether you should or should not go on a tour, period, no matter who the provider. Be warned about the minimum clearances through the tunnels and make sure you have the ability to walk or crawl through some of these points.We went with Greengo Tours and paid 130 BOB each. I had a meaningful time talking with our guide (and owner) Julio Morales, but it soon became apparent those mines weren't big enough for the two of our egos. He can certainly come across as chauvinist, sexist, crude, etc. but he is self-aware of these traits and will probably tell you himself of his machismo culture, with pride and pants worn high.The tour itself, I felt, was not sped up and we actually spent a fair amount of time inside the mines. Julio was open to discuss everything, and we certainly had a lot of opinionated perspectives to debate. We made a comprehensive travel video to give you an idea of what to expect, check the link here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-NWGsL555oOverall I would recommend going as long as you feel safe doing so. I give it a 3-star rating because I can't really compare against other companies that are highly publicized and offer lower rates (their customers seem happy as per TripAdvisor), and also based on reading a horrible account from another reviewer that resulted in a fall and injury. For us, to be fair, Julio seemed like he took care of our safety as much as he could.

The flyer to tour this mine says it's not for wusses! It is not! To start with, the conditions under which the mine workers are working is shocking. Once you go inside you will have to go up or down levels in places so cramped and dangerous. You can always refuse to not go up or down levels and a second guide follows in case someone needs to get out. Before heading to the mine, you stop at the miners market to buy gifts for the miners. The most immediate need is water or soft drinks and coca leaves. They don't eat all day. They just chew on coca leaves and drink liquids. My group didn't buy many drinks and once we were there, drinks was what they asked for most. We went with Koala tours but I was not satisfied. They said we'd get picked up at the hostel but the morning of a guide showed up and we had to follow him up hills at his pace to the van (Potosi is at a higher altitude than other cities) so this was hard. He then said that on Wednesdays the van was not allowed around the area our hostel was located. It would haveBeen nice to be told on Tuesday when we paid for the tour. I would have walked earlier and at my pace. One of the guides was not very nice so I decided to go with another guide once we split into two groups.

I'm glad I entered Cerro Rico, it was a very interesting experience and a great insight into the lives and hardships of the miners. However, I was happy to be out. This mine did not seem safe, the supports holding up the roof did not look foolproof. Many tours have gone through without problems, as ours did. But collapses are apparently relatively common. The air quality is also very poor and with MOD/SEVERE ASTHMA IT IS A NO GO. Equally, if you are claustrophobic, do not enter...there are sections where you must crawl. As aforementioned, I'm glad I did it, but I won't be returning. Big Deal tours were good operators.

We were travelling as a group and our tour leader made arrangements for a private tour with a guide. When we met with our guide he advised us that when visiting the mine it is nice to take a present to the miners as their working conditions are poor and they don't earn much money. He recommended we purchase coca leaves and soft drinks. We did this and also purchased a few pairs of new gloves for them. When we arrived at the mine it was literally a hole directly in with no supportive framework and did not look at all safe! We went in a small way (about 70m) where we then saw a shrine for the miners to worship the devil. The guide lit up a cigarette and put it in the shrine object mouth and let it burn. While already suffering from limited oxygen it was difficult to breath with the cigarette smoke filling the confined space. We went a little further in (20m) and then saw that the rocks above were collapsing and broken wooden beams were all that were holding them from falling upon us. We immediately exited. Some others continued. When they returned they said it was more dangerous as they went in and were told two months earlier 50tonnes of rocks had fallen and part of the mine collapsed. They also met a 15 yr old boy who was inside working. This disgusted us even more. Not recommended!!!!

We had read countless people and websites online talking about being able to blow up your own dynamite in the mine. Of course we wanted to be able to try this if we were able to as you don't normally get the chance to do this. We went into Greengo Tours to ask about the tour and whether we were able to do this. Well he absolutely went off his rocker and started swearing and telling at us and threatening jail, saying he knew our faces now. Fine as it turns out he is against this but there was no need to react the way he did. A simple no would have sufficed.In the end we went with Koala Tours who were great and while you may used to have been able to blow up your own dynamite you can't do this anymore, although you do get to watch the miners prepare it and then listen to it from a safe distance.

My boyfriend and I had an unforgettable experience in the mines! We paid a fair price 90Bs/person for a tour in Spanish (only the 2 of us) and 50Bs more (both) in the miner's market which was totally worth it (30Bs on coca leaves - really help at 4200m! - bolivian whiskey, cigarettes and soda - half for the miners and other for us and 20Bs in dynamite). I`ve read some bad comments about this extra shopping but we were very pleased to give the stuff to the miners (some do 24h shifts) and to experience ourselves the rituals of a miner.Carlos, the guide, was marvelous! I was a bit scared at the beginning as I`m claustrophobic but he calmed me down and the rest of the tour was very relaxed and even felt very safe! He took us 50m deep and 500m into the mine. We visited 4 tios (devil), did all the rituals, shared experiences, stories and jokes! Carlos never rushed us, we even sat at the last Tio for a couple of hours, drinking and chewing and more importantly, listening to his stories! Some even got us emocional! He does this amazing 2 minute moment where he asks you to turn off the lights and keep silence, to feel the real deepness and darkness of the mountain! Wow! Unforgettable!!! Yes the alleys are a bit narrow but not that much, you`ll have to climb and crawl and cross holes but I think anyone will manage it! Probably an elderly person out of shape won't but I think that if you can walk up and down in the world's highest city you can also go into the mines! More than a visit to the mines, it's a day in the life of miner! We definitely recommend this agency, especially after reading the comments here!

I went with one of the tour companies recommended in Lonely Planet run by ex-miners. He spoke good English, and it was a small group--just me and a couple from Vancouver. Don't go into the mines if you're claustrophobic or out of shape. You have to walk over a mile through the mountain, and at one point climb a couple stories up a sketchy ladder. It's quite an experience! Probably the only thing worth doing in Potosi, really.

We did potosi mines with these guys it was great. The guides were funny and experiences and could answer most of my questions as they had experience working in the mines theirselves. They spoke good english. also the restaurant on the top floor was about the only place with wi fi in the city and had good service and food so thanks guys!

We had a great experience with koala tours. They were very serious and carefull. The group was small and Ronald was a very good guide. He was patient and speaks english very well. Comparing to other tours it is cheaper but i believe it is the best option. Overall i will defenitely recommend this agency!

We are a couple who wanted to visit one of Potosi mines. At first we had a bit of apprehension, fearing too feel too intrusives. We went to ask at several agencies about what they proposed and we finally decided to go for Marco Polo which had great review both in Trip Advisor and a Fench guide (le routard). We were not deceived : Willy is very knowledgeable about the history of Potosi, about the mines and the minors. We were only 2 during the expedition and so, were lucky to have a private tour. We went deep into the mines, had the occasion to discuss with some minors and see the way they worked.It was a really impressive experience and Willy managed to decrease this feeling of intrusiveness we had. We definitely recommend him and Marco Polo !

I did like the tour but I must say it is dangerous and quite exhaustingI start to feel like it might have been a mistake when they take you to the 'market' and people buy dinamites and take it (on the bus) to the mine...I mean...come´on guys...where is the safety in taking explosives with you in a bus???At least, buy it when you get to the mine...Walking inside the mine is not that frighting but it is REALLY exhaustingFirst of all, you can´t walk normally...you have to duck a lot and you have to give way to the miners coming in and out the mountain...Add to that all the dust in the air and the high altitude and you have a very tiresome tourOh, and you´ll get all dusty and your feet will get wet for sure

We did a mine tour with koala tours. First went to get dressed, then the miners market to buy some dynamite, a raffinement plant and last but not least a trip inside the mines. It all looked pretty safe for the tour we did, not for the faint hearted though. At the market the guide just disappeared for no apparent reason. When he got back he said he went to eat something.... That was not very nice to leave without notice. When we made it to the end of the mine, the exit was also blocked by a closed gate. We had to screw the gate out of its hinges to avoid having to trace back the whole way we came from.

Julio is passionate and does not sugar coat the experience of the hard working miners nor the opinion of locals of tourists. Which most operators will glaze over. He will swear at and about you. He will show you a real working mine. And not expect to hold your hand either. He also cared all afternoon, long after the tour ended, for my girlfriend who had been badly knocked around by altitude sickness with a lot of compassion. Cant speak more highly of this man and his ethics.