Potosi Travel Guide

Getting There

By Plane -- There is a small airport in Potosí but only small charter planes from Cochabamba land there. The nearest airport with scheduled flights is in Sucre. From there, you can take a taxi or bus for the 162km (100-mile) ride to Potosí.

By Bus -- The Potosí bus station is on the edge of town at the end of Avenida Universitaria (near the intersection of Av. Sevilla). The 12-hour ride from La Paz costs 50Bs ($6.25) for a normal bus, 80Bs ($10) for a bus cama. Buses from Santa Cruz go through Cochabamba or Sucre. The 2-hour ride from Cochabamba costs 30Bs ($3.75). Buses depart from Sucre in the morning, midafternoon, and early evening (around 5pm). The 2 1/2- to 3-hour ride costs 15Bs ($1.90). Buses depart from Uyuni at 10am and 7pm. The 5-hour ride costs 25Bs ($3.15).

By Taxi -- You can also take a taxi from Sucre for 150Bs ($19) for four people. Contact Expreso Infinito (tel. 0104/6422-277).

Getting Around

Plaza 10 de Noviembre and Plaza 6 de Agosto (they are adjacent to each other) are in the commercial heart of Potosí. From here, you can easily walk to all the banks, travel agencies, hotels, and major attractions in town. If you get tired of walking, it's easy to find a taxi; rides to most points in the city don't cost more than 5Bs (65¢). To visit the mines on Cerro Rico, I recommend taking a guided tour.

Visitor Information

The main tourist office is located in a kiosk on Plaza 6 de Agosto. It's open Monday through Saturday from 9am to noon, and Monday through Friday from 2 to 5pm. No maps are available here, but the staff is knowledgeable and helpful. For more specific information about Potosí and the mines, contact Koala Tours, Calle Ayacucho 5, right in front of Casa de la Moneda (tel. 0102/6224-708; www.koalatoursbolivia.com). The office is open daily from 8am to 7pm.The owner speaks excellent English and knows Potosí like the back of his hand.

Fast Facts -- You can exchange money and traveler's checks at Casa Fernández on Pasaje Boulevard 10. (It's on the pedestrian street that passes by Plaza 6 de Agosto.) Casa Fernández is an all-purpose store, not a bank, but it will indeed change traveler's checks. The city's most reliable ATM is connected to the Banco de Crédito on the corner of Bolívar and Sucre. Hospital Daniel Bracamonte, Avenida Japón (tel. 0102/6243-928), is the best hospital in Potosí. If you need a pharmacy, try Farmacia Nazareth, Bolívar 900 (tel. 0102/6225-854), or Farmacia Copacabana, Bolívar 712 (tel. 0102/6222-347). The post office is located at Calle Lanza 3 between Cobija and Chuquisaca. You can take care of all your laundry needs at Limpieza La Veloz on Calle Quijarro at the corner of Matos. You'll find Internet cafes on all the side streets that lead off the plaza; my favorite is Ciberblue on Pasaje Boulevard (the pedestrian street) and the corner of Linares.