The little town that’s the only place in world where you can legally buy dynamite

A little in South America famous for its silver mines is the only place in the world where you are legally allowed to buy dynamite. Potosí, a town in , offers dynamite over the counter, and tourists and miners can purchase it at just £1.45.

In this historic mining town, tourists can purchase dynamite from local vendors in the mining market, just as local miners do.  This is part of the Cerro Rico mine tours, which take visitors deep into the mountain to witness the harsh conditions that miners endure daily. Dynamite is commonly sold as part of these tours because visitors often buy it as a gift for the miners, alongside coca leaves, alcohol, and soft drinks. 

These gifts are a way to show support for the workers, many of whom operate independently, digging for silver in dangerous conditions. 

Some tours even allow tourists to handle the explosives—although actually detonating them inside the mine is now technically banned due to past accidents.

Jhonny Condori, a Potosí mine tour guide, told CNN: “For the miners, the most essential thing is dynamite. If you don’t know how to handle it, it’s dangerous.”

Placed above 13,000 feet above sea level, Potosí is one of the highest cities in the world. Founded in 1545, the city became one of the wealthiest cities in the world during the Spanish colonial era, supplying vast amounts of silver to Spain.

One of the tourists who went to the town wrote on TripAdvisor forum: “An insightful trip to Cerro Rico, starting at the Miners Market with the purchase of Beer, Coca Leaves and Explosives.

“Then onto the Co-operative Processing Plant. Finally, the trip into a dark cavern, watching carefully where we walked, ducked, and stepped. Working practices unchanged for nearly 500 years and a real eye-opener as to conditions facing the Miners extracting a living.”

Another one wrote: “This mine is of world-historical importance (as it financed Spanish colonialism in South America and thus enabled the ethnic and cultural genocide that took place) and for that reason alone worth visiting, but I have to be honest, I did not feel comfortable nor safe during the tour.

“My recommendation is to visit only during the weekend when there is no work done in the mines. Secondly, try to organise a private tour so that you can ask your guide to turn around when you feel uncomfortable. This being said, our guide was extremely knowledgeable and kind. He did turn around early for us, after about one hour (apparently, most tours last two hours). That one hour was more than enough to get an idea if the horrible conditions in the mine.

“We also were able to visit the Devil statue. For the rest of the time we explored the mountain outside, the views over the city, the mineworkers machinery, etc. which was equally interesting and much more photogenic.”

While the experience is unique and adventurous, it is also controversial due to the risks involved. The mines are dark, dusty, and prone to cave-ins, and the life expectancy of miners is significantly lower than the national average.

Nevertheless, the tours offer an eye-opening look into an industry that has shaped Bolivia’s history for centuries