Top 10 Mines in Peru: Colonial Silver and Modern Megamines
Peru is one of the world's great mineral nations — silver, copper, gold, zinc — and its mining heritage stretches from pre-Inca times through Spanish colonial wealth to today's open pits.
Cerro de Pasco
A working open-pit polymetallic mine that swallowed a town of 70 000 people; one of the most extreme mining landscapes in the world.
Hualgayoc Silver District
Colonial silver workings in northern Peru, with hundreds of small adits dotting the puna.
Yanacocha Gold Mine, Cajamarca
South America's largest gold mine, with a small interpretation centre at its perimeter.
Casapalca Silver Mine
A working high-altitude silver mine that occasionally opens visitor tours.
Quiruvilca Polymetallic Mine
La Libertad district; closed and reopened several times, now a partial museum.
Toquepala Copper Mine, Tacna
A 1959-era open-pit copper mine with a public viewing platform — the deepest pit in Peru.
La Oroya Smelter Town
A heavily polluted but historically important polymetallic smelter site with industrial-heritage interest.
Huancavelica Mercury Mine (Santa Bárbara)
The colonial mercury supply for Potosí silver — UNESCO-listed since 2024.
Madre de Dios Gold Trail
Modern artisanal-gold tourism in the Amazonian basin; a difficult ethical destination.
National Geology and Mining Museum, Lima
A serious museum maintained by INGEMMET in San Borja.
Planning your route
These ten sites span very different climates, languages and accessibility levels. Group them by region, allow a full half-day for each underground descent, and dress for mountain conditions — many of these sites sit at high altitude where nights and underground workings alike are cold. Local guides are often retired miners — their commentary is the single best part of any visit.
Plan your next trip
Every site mentioned here, with opening hours, accessibility notes and links to nearby attractions, is on our interactive map.