Hotel Cima Argentum

It is safe to say that the mining town of Potosi, more than 13,000 feet up on the Bolivian altiplano, is not over-endowed with chic pieds-à-terre, and Cima Argentum is as good as any other among a pretty motley bunch. Near the Santa Teresa Convent and six blocks from the Casa de Moneda, the hotel’s collection of 20 modest but large rooms and nine suites are spread over three floors, and all come with en-suite facilities, TV and a balcony overlooking a glass-domed central courtyard. While rooms are rather somberly decorated and in need of some modernisation, the beds are comfortable.

At this altitude, where nights usually dip well below zero, it is reassuring to know that the hotel is centrally heated, and the staff are welcoming and efficient. There is a restaurant, fairly sterile in character, but serving up decent enough local and international dishes.

From Cima Argentum it’s easy to explore Potosi. Highlights include the Casa de la Moneda or Royal Mint, which during the Spanish colonial period was the largest building in the Americas, more than 35 baroque churches and Cerro Rico, mined for silver and tin, and filling the coffers in Madrid for 500 years.

When to go

April to November is the best time to visit. December to March is the rainy season with January and February typically the rainiest months.