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Visit the Potosi Royal Mint

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Visit the historic mint that once overflowed with the wealth of South America's richest city.

Potosí’s narrow streets and crumbling colonial architecture attest to a very different period in its history. This declining mining town surrounded by ravaged plains was once the richest city in the whole of South America, pouring out a river of silver from the mines of Cerro Rico (‘Rich Mountain’).

The UNESCO-listed Royal Mint occupies an entire block, and while its coffers have now run dry there is an excellent museum on the site. Abandoned once the Spanish left, the mint came to be used as a prison, fortress and even an HQ for the Bolivian army during the Chaco War. A visit will demonstrate the mint’s many-faceted history and give an impression of the opulence of Potosí during its heyday.

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    Sally Dodge - Travel Expert

    A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.

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    Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Expert

    Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our London-based Tailor-made and Group Tours sales team.

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    Hannah Donaldson - Travel Expert

    Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is a much valued Travel Expert in our Tailor-made Holidays and Group Tours sales team.

  • Juliet
    Juliet Ellwood - Travel Expert

    After graduating with a degree in Anthropology and History and having been fascinated by Latin America since childhood by the book featuring photos of Nazca, Juliet first visited the region in 2003. Since then, Juliet has visited the majority of countries in Latin America but has particularly extensive experience with Peru, a country she loves for many reasons but not least, its incredible archaeological richness and delicious food!

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  • Kathryn
    Kathryn Rhodes - Travel Expert

    Kathryn backpacked across Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru before joining us. She has a degree in Philosophy and French and is a keen netball player.

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