Contrary to popular belief, the capital of Bolivia is not La Paz, but Sucre. And Sucre is one of the most beautiful cities in Bolivia. You can stroll for hours through the colonial center and visit the many churches, white houses, courtyards, monasteries and museums. You should also not miss the beautiful surroundings, with local markets, viewpoints, villages and the mighty Andes mountain range. Because tourism in Bolivia is still low, compared to neighboring Peru, you have most of the sights all to yourself. I have been visiting Sucre many times and always love being there. In this city guide you will discover the best things to do in Sucre Bolivia, including tips for restaurants, hotels and tours in the surroundings.
- Welcome in Sucre Bolivia
- Things to do in Sucre Bolivia – 25 tips
- Convento de San Felipe de Neri – best things to do in Sucre Bolivia
- Museo de Arte Indígena Asur
- Orígenes show – cultural things to do in Sucre Bolivia
- Plaza 25 de Mayo
- Viewpoints – scenic things to do in Sucre Bolivia
- La Recoleta monastery
- Explore the colonial center and its things to do in Sucre Bolivia
- Visit the churches of Sucre Bolivia
- Buy jewelry
- Museo del Tesoro
- The local market of Sucre Bolivia
- La Casa de La Libertad
- Cementario Municipal Sucre Bolivia
- Parque Bolivar
- Things to do in Sucre Bolivia and surroundings – tips
- Mini travel guide + tips Sucre Bolivia
- More about Bolivia
Welcome in Sucre Bolivia
Before we go into this list with things to do in Sucre Bolivia, let’s start with a bit of background information. Sucre was founded by the Spaniards as La Plata in 1538 and the first official city in the country. Independence was declared in 1825 and Sucre was named after Antonio José de Sucre, the independence fighter and first president of Bolivia. Despite its provincial character, Sucre is the official capital of the country. However, La Paz is often seen as the capital because the parliamentary and administrative bodies are located here.
Things to do in Sucre Bolivia – 25 tips
Sucre is known as la Ciudad Blanca (the white city), because of its many white buildings. And there are still strict building rules to maintain this appearance. Sucre is situated at 2800 m above sea level and has a pleasant climate. Therefore it is also called city of spring. In the Bolivian winter, from April to October, you will find a clear blue sky with the sun shining the entire day. In the evenings temperatures drop and it can get cold, sometimes even below zero, so you have to be prepared. Sucre in Bolivia has around 300,000 inhabitants and is a nice city to stay for a few days and explore its many things to do.
Convento de San Felipe de Neri – best things to do in Sucre Bolivia
One of my favorite things to do in Sucre Bolivia is to visit the Convento de San Felipe de Neri, a 17th century monastery that is nowadays a primary school. The roof is open to the public, offering beautiful views of the city. The best time is to go at the end of the day, when the city gets its magic glow. Just keep in mind that you might have to ring the bell several times to be let in.
Museo de Arte Indígena Asur
A museum about handicraft and weaving art may not sound appealing to everyone. However, you should not skip a visit to the Museo de Arte Indígena Asur when you are in Sucre Bolivia. Especially if you are planning to visit one of the surrounding markets. This museum has managed to exhibit the local weaving art and traditional weaving techniques in a fantastic way, by using light, video, music and design.
Beautiful rugs, traditional costumes and musical instruments are displayed on the walls. Also rituals and sacrifices, that take place before the weaving process, are explained. On top of that you will learn in which village or municipality a piece was made based on patterns, motifs and use of color. But also what is involved in producing one piece of cloth.
Orígenes show – cultural things to do in Sucre Bolivia
One of my tips for the best cultural things to do in Sucre Bolivia is the Origines show. In an almost two hour music and dance show, you will be taken on a journey through Bolivia. The dancers are professionally trained and the costumes are impressive. Of course this show attracts tourists, but due to the setting and the large number of Bolivian guests, it remains its local character.
Plaza 25 de Mayo
There are so many things to do in Sucre Bolivia, but it is just as nice to take a seat on one of the many benches and observe daily life. Plaza 25 de Mayo is a gathering place for locals all day long. If you speak a word of Spanish, you can quickly have nice conversations here.
Viewpoints – scenic things to do in Sucre Bolivia
For a great view of Sucre and the surrounding area, go to Plaza Pedro de Anzures. Here you will find a café with a large terrace and a view over the entire city. The place changes ownership regularly, including its name – currently it’s Coffee Bike. Another place with beautiful views is Qhawarina. This hotel has a restaurant where you can have lunch and dinner, but the nicest spot is the small roof terrace at the top right, with only a few tables and chairs. Here you sit in the sun and often have the entire place to yourself.
La Recoleta monastery
La Recoleta is a 17th century monastery, located on Plaza Pedro de Anzures, known for its gardens, collection of paintings and a cedar tree that is more than 1000 years old. The monastery is open to visitors in the morning, but you mainly go there for the beautiful view of Sucre.
Explore the colonial center and its things to do in Sucre Bolivia
The colonial center of Sucre Bolivia has been on the UNESCO cultural heritage list since 1991 and offers many things to do and see such as colonial squares, patios, white houses, churches and monasteries. Because the city is built in a chessboard pattern you will not get lost easily. Plaza 25 de Mayo in Sucre Bolivia, with its palm trees, the cathedral and La Casa de la Libertad, is the center of the city, and a good starting point to explore its many things to do. Don’t forget to visit the roof of the cathedral. Here you also have a view of the entire city.
Visit the churches of Sucre Bolivia
The Catholic faith still plays an important role in Bolivia. Something that an be seen in the many churches in Suce, such as the Iglesia San Fransisco, Santo Domingo, San Lazaro, Santa Teresa, La Merced and Santa Clara. It is worth to have a look inside when they are open. You have the best chance after 5 p.m., but it varies per church. During the weekend, churches are often wedding locations and you can observe the festivities from a distance.
Buy jewelry
I have had a thing for jewelry for as long as I have been traveling in South America. Near the monastery of La Recoleta there are often artists selling their works on the streets and there is a small shop called Artesanías Kaypi Samay with handmade items. If you like jewelry, you will definitely want to take a look here.
Museo del Tesoro
During a visit to the Museo del Tesoro in Sucre you will be taken on a journey through the different minerals that Bolivia is rich in. There are also miniatures of Bolivian mines on display. The museum can be visited with a guided tour and is a great preparation for a visit to the mining town of Potosi in Bolivia.
The local market of Sucre Bolivia
There is no better way to mingle with the locals than at a local market. Every morning there is a market behind the Basílica de San Francisco where all kinds of things are sold. Nice to take a look and take in the smells and colors.
La Casa de La Libertad
One of the best things to do in Sucre Bolivia, when you are interested in the history, is to visit La Casa de La Libertad. This is the place where Mariscal Sucre declared independence and founded the republic of Bolivia in 1825. The first constitution was established and many presidents took their oath of office here. La Casa de la Libertad consists of different historic rooms, explaining about the road to independence. There are tours taking place on a daily base.
Cementario Municipal Sucre Bolivia
If you walk all the way down Calle Bustillos, you will arrive at a typical South American cemetery, the Cementario Municipal of Sucre, with tombs and mausoleums of prominent Bolivians. It is an important place for the locals who regularly gather here to honor the deceased. Worth visiting.
Parque Bolivar
One of the nicest places in Sucre Bolivia to relax is Parque Bolivar, a family park, a few blocks away from Plaza 25 de Mayo. Especially on weekends, local familiesgather at one of the food courts or around the mini Eiffel Tower. On weekends there is also a small light show taking place at the fountain.
Things to do in Sucre Bolivia and surroundings – tips
Hike the Bolivian Inca Trail
Do you like to hike? Then you want to walk part of the Bolivian Inca trail. Ulike the Peruvian Inca trail, this is a day tour and easily doable by anyone with a normal physical condition. You hike 5.5 kilometers through the Andes mountain range from the church in Chataquila to the village of Chaunaca. Most of the route is downhill and depending on your pace, it will take you 2 to 3 hours. You will be hiking on original Inca paths and enjoy the most beautiful views. It is recommended to get used to the altitude before you start this tour. The trails starts at 3600 meters.
Do you also want to hike the Bolivian Inca Trail? In the next article I will tell you more about the Inca trail in Bolivia.
Tarabuco market
One of the best things to do on a sunday is to visit the market of Tarabuco, located 1.5 hours from Sucre Bolivia. Tarabuco is a small mountain village with houses of brick and red roof tiles. Men in Tarabuco often wear black helmet-like headwear with ornaments, including striped ponchos. Women wear wide skirts. Tarabuco is known for its exceptional weaving techniques, called the Tarabuco style.
The sunday market is one of the most famous ones in Bolivia. And even though it became a tourist place, it is still local, and people come from far to sell. From weaving, vegetables, fruit, cattle, souvenirs to electronics and cheap sportswear: You will find all kind of goods here. Around the Plaza there are many souvenirs but at the very back of the village you will find the area for the local people. A fascinating place to walk around and explore.
Pujillay in March
Are you the third Sunday in March in Sucre in Bolivia? Then you can’t miss Tarabuco, because of the annual Pujillay. A colorful harvest festival and also the commemoration of the Battle of Jumbate, fought during the Bolivian War of Independence. The celebration begins with a Catholic Mass in Quechua, an indigenous language in Bolivia, followed by parades with more than sixty surrounding Bolivian communities showing their traditional costumes and local dances.
The highlight is the dance around the pukara, a ceremonial tower, covered with fruits, bread, meat and other foods. This tower is an offering to the Pachamama (Mother Earth) to ask for a good harvest, as this time marks the end of the rainy season in Bolivia. Pujillay is a colorful spectacle that you will not soon forget. Just make sure to book your travels and hotels in advance.
Pujllay commemorates the Battle of Jumbate, fought during the Bolivian War of Independence. On March 12, 1816, villagers from Tarabuco attacked a battalion of Spanish soldiers. It was the liberation of the city that killed all the soldiers. According to legend, the villagers ate the soldiers’ still-beating hearts as a sign of victory. A statue in the main square of Tarabuco, of a warrior holding up a dripping heart, is still reminiscent of this.
Dinosaurs at Cal Orcko
One of the most important paleontological sites in the world is located only 5 kilometers from Sucre in Bolivia. Cal Orcko, which means mountain of lime in the indigenous language Quechua, consists of a limestone wall of no less than 1500 meters long by 110 meters high. More than 12,000 dinosaur tracks from eight different species have been found here and can nowaways be viewed. In the adjacent Cretaceous Park you will learn more about the region, the migration and extinction of the dinosaurs and see replicas of the largest species. Special dinosaur trucks drive from Plaza 25 de Mayo every day to transport you back and forth to the site. Be sure to check the opening hours in advance. The wall can only be admired up close at certain times of the day.
Mini travel guide + tips Sucre Bolivia
Tips for tours in Sucre Bolivia
Are you looking for more tips and things to do in Sucre Bolivia? This is an overview of tours in Sucre Bolivia.
Hotel tips in Sucre Bolivia
I always look out for beautiful and unique places to stay, especially boutique hotels. These are some of my tips for hotels in Sucre Bolivia.
Restaurant tips Sucre Bolivia
In Sucre Bolivia you will find many nice places to eat and drink. Curious? These are my tips for restaurants and cafés in Sucre Bolivia.
- You want to go to the hip Paradiso Bakehouse for cakes, coffee, tea or a bagel.
- Metro and Cosmo Café are great places for a tasty lunch.
- At La Taverne you can enjoy Bolivian dishes with a French twist. Delicious.
- For the best Salteñas, Bolivian fried rolls filled with meat, chicken, egg and vegetables, go to Salteneria El Patio. They only open in the morning.
- Coffee Bike is a small Bolivian chain with several branches in Sucre Bolivia. You can drink great coffee here and in some places sit down for lunch.
- Somos, as the name suggests, serves good coffee and croissants.
- What about a lunch or a drink in a church tower? At the very top of the tower of Cafe Mirador San Miguel, there are small tables with a grand view of the city.
- You can enjoy lunch and dinner in a lovely courtyard of Hotel La Posada.
- For chocolate in all shapes, sizes and flavors, Chocolates Para Ti is the place to be.
- On the edge of Parque Bolivar you can have a drink and something to eat at Café Time & Coffee
More about Bolivia
Did you enjoy reading this article with tips for things to do in Sucre Bolivia? Let me take you on a journey along the most beautiful destinations and places to visit in Bolivia. In the next articles you will find my Bolivia travel guides with lots of inspiration and tips.
- Things to do in Bolivia – 25 destinations and tips
- Salar de Uyuni Bolivia : A trip on one of the biggest salt flats
- Discover Tiwanaku, a pre-inca site in Bolivia
- A visit to the mines of Potosí
- The best things to do in Copacabana Bolivia
- The Bolivian Inca trail – everything you want to know
- Potosí Bolivia – the highest city in the world
- Best time to visit Bolivia
- How safe is Bolivia – tips for your visit
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