Experience and insights from a guided tour of the Potosi Mine
In the heart of Bolivia, the city of Potosi maintains an air of decaying grandeur, with fading, colourful colonial buildings and ornate church facades. Nestled amidst this historical backdrop lies Koala Tours, a highly-rated tour operator that offers immersive mine tours, connecting visitors directly to the local mining heritage.
Established by ex-miners, Koala Tours continues to thrive in 2025, holding the top-rated position on TripAdvisor. For 100 Bolivianos, tourists can embark on a half-day tour, providing an insightful exploration of the harsh realities faced by miners in Potosi.
The mine tour offers a close-up look at the working conditions of the miners, who labour in challenging environments. Visitors witness the actual working processes inside the mines, often interacting with miners and gaining valuable insights into their daily struggles and risks. The conditions are rough and can be dangerous, reflecting the real-life hardships miners face, including manual labour in confined, dusty, and potentially unstable tunnels.
Safety concerns are inherent due to the nature of the work, but the tours are conducted under the supervision of local cooperatives familiar with mining hazards, aiming to balance authenticity with visitor safety. The tour includes wearing protective clothing, such as large plastic trousers and jackets, thick rubber boots, and a battery pack and helmet with a headlamp.
The mine tour also includes a visit to a processing plant where mined minerals are pulverized, washed, and chemically treated to separate the minerals. Other highlights include crossing huge, black drops on thin planks of wood or climbing up steep, rocky areas.
The city of Potosi, located at 4090 meters above sea level, is one of the highest cities in the world. Despite the harsh working conditions, miners in Potosi earn between 2000 - 6000 Bolivianos a month, significantly more than the average wage in Potosi. However, many miners go all day without eating due to their demanding work schedules, which often last ten or twelve hours a day.
Ronald, a former miner and current tour guide, shared his experiences, describing the difficult working conditions of the miners, whose average life expectancy is 40-50 years. Many miners start working at a young age, often taking over from fathers who are too sick or have died.
At the end of the tour, tourists can visit the Miners' Market, where they can buy dynamite for 20 Bolivianos, along with other old-fashioned tools used by the miners, such as hammers and chisels.
Koala Tours offers an engaging but sobering experience, highlighting both the cultural importance of mining to Potosi and the difficult realities miners endure. Visitors are advised to prepare appropriately and follow guidance carefully during the tour.
- Koala Tours, with its top-rated position on TripAdvisor, offers immersive mine tours in Potosi, providing a close look at the harsh realities faced by miners while connecting visitors to the local mining heritage.
- The mine tours guided by ex-miners like Ronald offer insights into the daily struggles and risks faced by miners, including manual labor in challenging environments, which reflects the real-life hardships they endure.
- After the mine tour, tourists can visit the Miners' Market, where they can buy dynamite and traditional tools used by miners, offering a glimpse into the lifestyle of Potosi's mining community.
- Adventure-travelers seeking a mix of culture, history, and lifestyle experiences should consider Koala Tours in Potosi, where they can explore the beauty of this historic city through the lens of its challenging yet significant mining industry.
