Potosí City

The silver city at 4,000 m, whose Cerro Rico mines once bankrolled the Spanish Empire, with colonial churches and the National Mint on the World Heritage list.

Potosí lies on the high plateau of southern Bolivia at about 4,070 m, making it one of the highest cities in the world. Vast silver deposits were discovered in 1545 in the cone-shaped Cerro Rico south of town, and for more than two centuries Potosí was the richest city in the Americas, at one point more populous than London or Paris; in Spanish, "vale un Potosí" (worth a Potosí) still means priceless. Behind the wealth lay the deaths of countless Indigenous and African enslaved workers in the mines. The City of Potosí was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1987 (and is now on the List in Danger because of conservation concerns). A visit centres on two things: joining a Cerro Rico mine tour to experience shafts that are still being worked, and exploring the old town's National Mint, the Santa Teresa convent and Andean Baroque churches such as San Lorenzo and San Francisco, then climbing the cathedral or Jesuit bell tower for views across the red-tiled roofs. Nearby, you can swim in the hot-spring lake of Ojo del Inca or hike among the Kari Kari lakes. The best time to visit is the dry season, Apr–Oct, with sunny days and nights that often drop below freezing; the Nov–Mar rainy season brings frequent afternoon showers. It's about 3 hours by road from Sucre and about 4 hours from Uyuni, and Potosí is a common stopover between Sucre and the Uyuni salt flat. Take it easy on arrival to acclimatise to the altitude, avoiding strenuous exercise and alcohol; coca tea can help with altitude sickness. Allow 2 days.

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