Infamously known to “eat men” the mountain Cerro Rico has been notorious for “consuming” all who enter. Many men enter Cerro Rico for the rich deposits of silver, the very silver that has brought the Spain their wealth. As with every trip made by these men, young and old, they inhale dust particles and poisonous gases, resulting in their debilitating health and eventually, death. Cerro Rico’s infamy for taking the lives of men all year round is undeniably scary, yet these men have no fear, continuing to hustle through, afterall, it’s all in a day’s work for them.

Tourists visiting Cerro Rico, fret not! You need not be subject to such conditions, and you surely need not be “eaten” by the mountain! The domineering mountain that looms over the entire town of Potosi is the source of its riches and also the source of the its tourism! With its dominating presence, Cerro Rico has been the “covergirl” of Bolivia’s tourism industry. As you head to the mountain, you will be given an insight to the lives of many locals here, each one with their story to tell. It is absolutely heart-wrenching to see the many young boys, barely finishing school, yet slogging most of their days here, to earn a living. As you make your way here, taking a tour around the narrow tunnels, you are invited for some quiet introspection into your very own lives.