Sucre: The prettiest city in Bolivia

Sucre (also called Chuquisaca) which was the constitutional capital of Bolivia until it was dethroned by La Paz at the end of the 19^th century, is now a peaceful provincial town with a population of 350,000. It has, however, kept the grandeur of its colonial architecture and is certainly the prettiest city in the country. Its historical center is, incidentally, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

It is also a city of medium altitude (which is of course relative being Bolivia, the altitude is still of 2750 meters!), which offers hotels and restaurants of a superior level to those which can be found in the neighboring cities of Potosi and Uyuni. Sucre is therefore a very pleasant city which makes for a very relaxing stop, before or after the harshness of the Andean plateau.

What is there to do in Sucre?

We recommend a half-day’s guided tour of the historical center, which will take you to the Recoleta Convent, the textile museum and the Casa de la Libertad, where Bolivia’s independence was declared, and which is now a museum dedicated to the country’s history.

Another half-day to explore the city at your own pace will be ideal. You could visit the San Felipe de Neri Convent, or simply stroll around the peaceful colonial center.

You could also take a taxi over to the Cal Orcko paleontological site, 5 miles away from Sucre, where you can find one of the biggest natural dinosaur footprints exhibits. The site includes a museum and life-size dinosaur reconstructions.

40 miles away from Sucre, the village of Tarabuco is famous for its Sunday market. In a region where there is a strong indigenous population, this market will be your chance to get to know the local traditional fabrics, and an ancestral trade where bartering is still very common.