Sucre is in Bolivia. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. La ciudad blanca", Sucre is a white-washed, pristine city with many grand buildings, dinosaur footprints, a free theatre and an excellent choice of fruit due to its proximity to the lowlands. The movement for independence in Upper Peru, which became Bolivia, centered in Sucre and it is the constitutional capital of Bolivia. Sucre has lost the administrative and legislative branches of government to La Paz, but it remains the judicial center and seat of the Bolivian Supreme Court. With one of Bolivia's most important universities, it has a lively student culture with cafes, galleries, bars and discos catering to young people. Much lower in elevation than La Paz, but much above the torpid climate of low elevation cities like Santa Cruz, it has an almost ideal climate, fairly dry with cool nights and comfortably warm days.
PLACE TO VISIT
Cal Orkco is a collection of dinosaur footprints impressioned on a 70 degree wall of a cement quarry, which used to be a lake floor. To visit it take the Dino Truck at 9:30am, 12:00am or 2:30pm from the corner of Plaza 25 de Mayo. The guided visit takes about 2 hours and cost 30 Bs.
La Casa de la Libertad on the Central Plaza is housed in a well restored and maintained convent from the colonial era. The chapel was the meeting hall where Bolivian independence was declared on 25 May 1825. The museum includes a number of paintings and objects related to Bolivian history, especially to the independence movement and the struggles breaking away from Spanish domination.
Museo Textil Etnografico ASUR, Calle San Alberto 413, . Mon- Sat 0830- 1200; 1430 - 1800. Regional textiles, some works for sale. 16 Bs.
WHAT TO DO
Ride a lion at Plaza 25 de Mayo.
Sucre is a popular place to learn Spanish and to volunteer, due to it's temperate climate compared to the rest of Bolivia. There are many Spanish schools and volunteer projects including the Fox Language Academy, which is a useful place to learn Spanish, or volunteer as an English teacher. Fifty percent of the study fee at Fox goes towards paying for Bolivians to learn English. Fox are well connected and can also put people in touch with other language schools and other volunteer projects, such as orphanages and hospitals.
Several agencies offer tandem paragliding at Bs 450 - 900 (depending on the size of the group). It is a 2 hour very bumpy ride each way to the take off spot. In essence, you will spend the whole day for a 10 minutes flight.
Cine Universal, 25 de Mayo #34, is the local cinema.
Walk up Calle Grau from the square to the Recoleta church. Beautiful views, a cafe and a restaurant.
Stroll in Parque Bolivar, the city´s favourite lovers´ hangout.
SHOPPING
Sucre is famous for it's tapestries, which are sold at Tarabucco market and shops all around the town. Different tribes or family groups from the villages that surround Sucre all have their own unique style, which is shown in their work by using different colours or symbols. Some tapestries can take up to a year for one person to make, depending on size and complexity. Travellers can help support this tradition by purchasing the tapestries from Tarabucco market, or - at a cheaper price - from the many shops in the town. The best tapestries are sold in Fair Trade stores and at the ethnographic museum.
Locally knitted sweaters, scarves and related items are a good bargain, especially those made from alpaca wool.
Sucre is also famous for its chocolates, and those sold by Para Ti are probably the best. It will not put the finer chocolate shops of Brussels out of business, but Para Ti chocolates are a tasty souvenir available at several shops near the central plaza and at the airport.
HOW TO REACH
By Bus - The bus terminal is about 2 kilometers from the city center. A taxi cost 5 Bs. There are buses to all major cities in Bolivia.
Hourly buses to and from Potosí (4 hours, 20 Bs). You can also opt for a shared taxi (2,5 hours, 30 Bs).
A range of companies has 6-7 PM departures for Cochabamba (10-11 hours, bumpy and cold, 40 Bs). Trans Copacabana has a semi-cama leaving at 7:30 PM, 60 Bs.
By Plane - Since the government of Bolivia pulled the plug on the national carrier, Lloyd Aero Boliviano, no international airlines currenlty serve Sucre's Lajas Tambo airport. Aerosur, a domestic carrier, operates flights to Santa Cruz, La Paz, and Cochabama. Aerosur Route Map.
The airport is about 10 km from the center, and the only reliable transportation to the center is by taxi. The airport is notorious for closures in inclement weather. Sometimes no flights arrive or depart for several days! It is always worth checking ahead before arriving as the airport has limited waiting areas. It does have several shops, including a shop selling the chocolate the city is locally famous for.
