Landmark
Cerro Rico
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Cerro Rico, or 'Rich Mountain,' towers over Potosí as the source of immense silver wealth that funded the Spanish empire. This UNESCO World Heritage site offers a raw, eye-opening experience: visitors can tour working mines where miners extract silver, tin, and zinc under harsh conditions. The mountain's reddish slopes are dotted with mine entrances, and guided tours include a visit to the miners' market and a chance to meet the miners. It's a powerful reminder of the human cost behind the city's historic riches.
Don't miss
- Tour an active mine and see miners at work in narrow tunnels.
- Visit the miners' market to buy coca leaves and other supplies as gifts.
- Take in panoramic views of Potosí from the mountain's lower slopes.
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Cerro Rico
You can usually visit on your own. A tour is worth it for transport, a guide, or combining nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inSacred Valley Tour Vip Chinchero Ollantaytambo and Pisac4.9★ · 123 travelers11–12 hoursFree cancellationFrom$28 per personSee dates →
Best full dayExcursion to Rainbow Mountain Palcoyo from Cusco4.7★ · 182 travelers~13 hoursFree cancellationFrom$33 per personSee dates →
Private & flexiblePotosi: Cerro Rico of Potosí Silver Mine Guided Tour4.8★ · 37 travelers~4 hoursFree cancellationFrom$29 per personSee dates →More attractions in Potosi