BO
Potosi
One of the world’s highest cities, built on silver from the Cerro Rico mountain
One of the world’s highest cities, built on silver from the Cerro Rico mountain
The 18th-century Royal Mint is one of South America’s finest museums, with original coin-making machinery, colonial paintings and silverwork. Visits are by guided tour.
Photo: Azulazul5, CC BY-SA 4.0
The main square is surrounded by the cathedral and colonial buildings.
Photo: Mario Falcetti, CC BY 4.0
The mountain is riddled with mine shafts. Tours led by former miners visit working cooperative mines, where conditions remain hard and dangerous.
Mine tours involve dust, heat and narrow tunnels; think carefully before going.
Photo: Consulnico, CC BY-SA 4.0
Narrow streets are lined with colonial houses with wooden balconies and baroque church façades, such as San Lorenzo.
Photo: Parallelepiped09, CC BY-SA 4.0
Try salteñas (baked empanadas) in the morning, kalapurka (a soup heated with a hot stone) and tawa-tawas (fried pastries).
The central market has cheap meals.
Potosí is about 3 hours by road from Sucre and 4–5 hours from Uyuni. Overnight buses run to La Paz.
The centre is compact, but the altitude makes walking tiring. Citizens of the EU, the UK and many other countries do not need a visa for a tourist stay. In December 2025 Bolivia also announced the removal of the visa requirement for US citizens and several other nationalities. Check current rules before you travel.
Bolivia uses the boliviano (Bs). It is one of the cheapest countries in South America, but in recent years there have been fuel shortages and a shortage of US dollars, so bring cash and check the current exchange situation.
Prices are approximate.
Silver history and the city.
Take the guided tour of the Casa de la Moneda, see the main square and churches, and walk the colonial streets.
Visit the mountain on a responsible mine tour or view it from the city’s viewpoints.
Much of Bolivia’s highlands lie above 3,500m. Ascend gradually, drink plenty of water and take altitude sickness seriously.
Nights are cold year-round; bring warm clothes.
Choose a mine tour run by former miners that supports the community.
Casa de la Moneda tours run at set times; check the schedule.
Quick answers for planning time in Potosí.
About 4,000m above sea level, one of the highest cities in the world.
Yes, the City of Potosí was listed in 1987.
It carries real risks, including dust, heat and narrow tunnels. Go with an experienced former-miner guide, or skip it if you have health concerns.
By bus or shared taxi, in about 3 hours.
April to November, the dry season.
Offline maps are essential on the Altiplano, where there is often no signal.
Free
Spanish is the main language; Quechua and Aymara are widely spoken in the highlands.
Free
Planning a wider trip? Our Bolivia travel guide covers getting there, costs, when to go and more.