Sucre is the white city of Bolivia. What to see in Sucre: main attractions of Sucre Bolivia

If you decide to visit a country like Bolivia, the country's capital certainly shouldn't be left out. The city of Sucre, also known as " White City", is not only famous for its historical places and buildings, but also has a relaxing atmosphere, thanks to which many travelers stay here much longer than planned.

In the 17th century, when Bolivia was in Sucre, the first attempts to fight for independence began. This city was a center of progressive thought. In 1825 it became known as the capital and Bolivia finally gained independence. Later, in late XIX century, the seat of government was moved from Sucre to La Paz. Now the city remains the constitutional capital; it is also the center of the Catholic Church of the state.

Today the capital of Bolivia is relatively small town with white colonial buildings with red tiled roofs and all kinds of balconies from where you can see secret nooks and crannies. It is home to a large population of indigenous peoples who maintain their customs and culture. It is also a major agricultural center of the country.

The heart of Sucre is the 25 May Square, located in the very center of the city. It is surrounded by the cathedral, regional and city government buildings and the historic Casa de la Libertad, which now houses a museum. All other attractions are located no more than five blocks from the square. The capital of Bolivia invites you to visit:


The capital of Bolivia is also popular place for learning Spanish. There are many Spanish schools and volunteer projects in Sucre, the main ones being Sucre Spanish School and Fox Language Academy. There are also alternative courses that involve exploring the city and learning a language along the way.

Sucre will delight you wide choice places to eat well, from street cafes and market stalls to elegant restaurants. The capital of Bolivia is a city characterized by a large student population, so there are many inexpensive establishments offering cheap and tasty lunch.

The city of Sucre is the official capital of Bolivia. Nice historical city with colonial architecture.

After the dirty, shabby La Paz, overrun with merchants and various suspicious characters, the city of Sucre seemed to us simply incredibly clean and beautiful.

It was pleasant to walk here: it was warm, the sun was shining, the altitude was only about 2900 meters above sea level, there was no wind, and the sidewalks were not cluttered with dirty Indian traders and their rotten vegetables. It's like it's not in Bolivia!

There are many white buildings, which is why Sucre is nicknamed the White City (Spanish: La Ciudad Blanca).

In 1991 old central District Sucre was included in the UNESCO list of historical heritage.

In Spanish and English: Sucre. Stress on the first syllable.

The word "sucre" is translated from Spanish as "sugar", but the city is named so not because of sugar, but in honor of Antonio José de Sucre - Grand Marshal of Peru, one of the leaders of the struggle for the independence of the Spanish colonies in Latin America in 1810-1826, President of Bolivia in 1826-1828, national hero of Bolivia and Ecuador.

Currency: Boliviano. Mostly cash is used; cards are rarely accepted.

The city of Sucre is the capital of Bolivia according to the country's constitution, but most government institutions are located in La Paz.

Population: 300 thousand people.

What to see in Sucre: main attractions

central square called Plaza 25 Mayo: there are some nice buildings here.

Did you notice the star? Only the hammer and sickle are missing :)

I really liked it Museum of Ethnography and Folklore(Etnografia y Folklore). It is free, open Mon-Fri 9:30-12:30, 14:30-18:30, Sat 9:30-12:30. There were amazing ceremonial masks, a photo exhibition of Indian feather products, paintings depicting various birds, an ethnographic hall: (how people lived, utensils, etc.) Visiting time - less than half an hour;) It’s a pity that photography was not allowed, only in the courtyard .

We accidentally came across corridor with historical comics at the Hostal Colonial on the main square.

Templo de San Francisco: ceilings!

Museum natural history (Historia Natural) is wonderful! It is free, open Mon-Fri 9-12:30, 14:30-18:30, Sat 9:30-12. It is not located where on the Mapsme map, but on San Alberto street between Aniceto Acre and España, the entrance to the courtyard under the Spanish Lessons sign. You can take pictures. Lots of interesting skeletons and stuffed animals. Skeleton of a snake, Siamese twins, shark jaw, skeleton of a stingray and turtle, dinosaurs, fossils. Lots of stuffed animals, birds, fish, lizards, snakes, insects. We really enjoyed:)

Snake skeleton.

Siamese twins.

Shark jaw.

Turtle shell.

Some kind of scary prehistoric beast.

All sorts of stuffed animals.

And this is generally a terrible miracle! Its diameter is 4-5 centimeters, it was in the section of all marine life. Imagine, you are swimming, and such a meat grinder meets you. Brrrrrrr!

Or this “bunny”.

War Museum(Militar). 10 bolivianos ($1.5), photos allowed. Open Mon-Fri 8:30-12, 14:30-18, Sat 8:30-12. All sorts of military weapons, an airplane, a complete military history Bolivia in Spanish, military uniform, navy, etc. If you don’t have time, then you can skip it.

On this map we see that Bolivia used to have access to the sea, but then this territory was seized by Chile. Now the Bolivians do not miss the opportunity to cry that if they had access to the sea, they would be so bad, but the bad Chileans do not give them the sea, and the poor Bolivians do not develop because of this.

The Chileans told us that they built at their own expense a special road from Bolivia to a specially designated for Bolivians seaport, but Bolivians do not use this goodness. It’s easier to whine and blame the Chileans for everything.

WITH Recoleta observation deck there is a view of the whole city.

Recoleta is a pleasant place in itself.

Main Cemetery of Sucre(Cementerio) - very a nice place. Family crypts and "high-rise buildings", as in. At the entrance you can rent a staircase for those who have someone buried on the upper floors.

Many cells have locks. Theft?

Entrance Mon-Fri 8-11:30, 14-17:30, Sat-Sun 8-17:30. You can leave later.

More photos from Sucre

Phone booths in the shape of dinosaurs.

And this is sold on the market, in half of the butcher shops. I don’t even want to think what they are preparing from this.

Excursions in Sucre

There are no Russian-speaking guides in Sucre.

Video from Sucre: dance festival for city day

On the last day there was a dance festival - the procession of dancers lasted from six in the morning until two in the morning, music thundered, very similar to, but with even cooler costumes.

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Accommodation in Sucre

All the main attractions are located in the center, so it is also better to stay in the center.

There are also more than 200 Airbnb accommodations, ranging from cheap rooms to luxury apartments and houses with a pool. Prices from $10.

If you haven't signed up for Airbnb yet:

We lived there by couchsurfing; out of two dozen applications, only one host responded. He lives in a 250-year-old house, it’s like a museum there :) We talked with his whole family :)

We cooked borscht together. In Bolivia, in general, there is such a cuisine that when a local family tried borscht, the mother ran to write down the recipe, and the aunt offered to cook it on the New Year. Everyone really liked it :) In general, Sucre has excellent vegetables and fruits, good meat, but the locals prefer to eat grilled chicken or fried chicken in oil, with French fries.

The father of our host turned out to be a geologist, and at the word “crater” about Maragua he was very indignant and gave us a long lecture on why it is not a crater :) Why you shouldn’t go to Maragua, we will write separately;) Maragua is a valley, where there are some dinosaur tracks.

How to get to Sucre

Flights to Sucre

Sucre Airport is called Sucre Airport (IATA code: SRE), but there are few flights there.

Do not confuse it with Ecuador's Mariscal Sucre Airport (Aeropuerto Internacional Mariscal Sucre, IATA code: UIO)!

How to find cheap flights

To find cheap flights, I usually compare prices using several aggregators. They all have the same principle - they search for tickets in the databases of hundreds of airlines, but their databases may differ, so the price will be better in one or the other - check everything at once.

  • - incredibly flexible search, and there is a guarantee of a connection, even if you are flying low-cost airlines and the first flight is delayed!
  • - best prices for tickets from Russia and Kazakhstan, convenient calendar low prices.
  • - there are people here good prices for tickets from Ukraine.

By the way, KIWI gives 20 euro coupons for air tickets to new users, but they can only be received by email. If anyone needs it, I can send you an invitation.

Get 20€ on kiwi.com ➜

Calendar of low prices for air tickets:

Buses in Sucre

It is cheaper to get to Sucre from other cities in Bolivia by bus:

  • Potosi 4 hours,
  • La Paz or Cochabamba 12h,
  • Santa Cruz 14h,

For long distances it is better to travel by night bus, but keep in mind that it can be VERY cold at night (!), you need to dress warmly and take a blanket or sleeping bag with you, especially if it is October-November, and not December-February.

It is best to buy bus tickets at the bus terminal: and prices different companies you can compare, and you don’t have to overpay travel agents.

Trains Potosi - Sucre

The train journey from Potosi to Sucre will take 8 hours - it will be faster to travel by bus.

Where is Sucre on the map of Bolivia

The city of Sucre is located in southern Bolivia, in the department of Chuquisaca.

Distance Sucre - La Paz 700 km, Sucre - Uyuni 360 km.

Weather and climate in Sucre

The temperature here is pleasant all year round: an average of 14-17 °C. There is little precipitation and the air is dry: from May to September there is a dry season, from November to March it can rain, but not much, not like in the tropics.

Our review of our holiday in Sucre, Bolivia

We liked it here: a beautiful pleasant city, interesting museums, Sucre is worth a visit during your trip to Bolivia.

The most beautiful Bolivian city, Sucre, is still the official capital of the country, although all government buildings are located in the second capital, La Paz. Locals call Sucre the White City - there are a lot of white colonial buildings preserved here. And to this day, in the historical part it is forbidden to paint houses any other color.

The city is located on a high mountainous part of the white limestone plateau. At such a height you even feel dizzy - but not from high blood pressure, but from the beauty you see. Tourists are attracted here by the rich architecture, beautiful quiet streets and relaxed atmosphere.

How to get to Sucre

There are no direct flights from Moscow to Sucre; moreover, you can fly only with two transfers - in Madrid and Santa Cruz de da Cierre. Aeroflot and Air Europe operate flights from Sheremetyevo to Alcantari airport. Travel time is at least 30.5 hours, round trip tickets cost from 3,270 USD. Prices on the page are as of December 2018.

From airport to city

The airport is located 5 km from the center of Sucre. You can go to the city by minibus (they are on duty here around the clock) for 7 BOB or by taxi for 90-115 BOB.

Search flights to Sucre

Transport

The only and very popular look transport in Sucre - minibuses (Micros): cramped, nimble, cheerful. Almost all of them start from the Central Market. Each one has a sign indicating the route in Latin. Tickets are not purchased from the driver - each bus has its own “controller”, who at each stop leans out of the window and shouts out the names of the stations. And at the same time he sells tickets. Fare: 2 BOB.

I don’t want to travel in a crowded and “fun” way - we take a taxi, there are simply no other options here. You can catch the car with a wave of your hand or call by phone (they are indicated on the car). Payment is only in cash, it is better to agree on the price in advance; the cost of a trip around the city starts from 10 BOB.

Rent a Car

Not for the faint of heart: the roads are bad, local drivers drive as they please and wherever they want, and are not known for their polite manners. In general, the city is small, you don’t even need a car here, it’s easier to walk. However, there are a lot of offers, so renting a car is not a problem if you have an international driving license, two years of experience and are 23 years old.

Sucre Hotels

There's not much to roam around; all the hotels and hostels are located in the historical center. But you shouldn’t be afraid that it will be full of people, noisy and too fussy - on the contrary, it will be quiet and calm. City center - pl. On May 25th, the farther from it, the farther from civilization - restaurants, cafes and all sorts of other establishments.

There are many hostels in Sucre, and therefore many students. A bed in a dormitory room costs from 110 BOB with breakfast. For decent “three rubles” and “fours” closer to the center they ask from 400 BOB (with breakfast) for Double Room. Well, have a blast in a 5* hotel, in some old mansion in the very center, for 1200 BOB for two.

The shops

The main place of attraction for those wishing to buy fresh produce, meat, unknown fruits and vegetables is the colorful Central Market in the Old Town (Junin 366, Sucre). Vegetarians can go to the Drogueria Natural store in the main square (N°2, Plaza 25 de Mayo, Sucre, closed on Sundays). And finally, there is a large Pompeya supermarket nearby (Espana, Sucre), where prices are even lower.

Those with a sweet tooth simply need to try the local chocolates from the Para Ti and Taboada brands.

There are plenty of souvenirs in street shops scattered throughout the center. Tourists usually bring knitted items from Sucre: sweaters, scarves made of alpaca wool, as well as beautiful tapestries by local craftsmen at very high prices. reasonable prices. They say that the production of the latter sometimes takes a whole year.

Traveling around Sucre

Cuisine and restaurants in Sucre

There is all sorts of cuisine here: local, Italian, French, Arabic, Mexican. So steaks, burgers, spaghetti and pizza, and even shawarma with pancakes will be prepared here.

The basis local cuisine- national Indian dishes with a Spanish touch. Every day's menu includes meat: pork, beef, alpaca, as well as potatoes and corn. Some people still cook and eat... guinea pigs. And they wash it all down with the main drink here - chicha corn beer.

Fried salteñas pies filled with chocolate are very tasty.

Dinner at a mid-level restaurant will cost 75 BOB for two, a combo at McDonald's will cost 25 BOB, and a light lunch in a cafe will cost 15 BOB.

Entertainment and attractions

All the main attractions of Sucre are in one way or another connected with the colonial past of the city. From the Spaniards, luxurious mansions and palaces remained here - today many of them house museums and hotels. However, you shouldn’t look for the best thing and walk according to the list: it’s impossible to get lost in the historical center - all roads lead to the central square.

Plaza 25 de Mayo (25th May Square) is the most visited place. Here are Cathedral and the town hall, there is a monument to Jose Antonio Sucre, the second president of independent Bolivia. There are always a lot of people here, there are shops, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops.

The Cathedral is the holy of holies of Sucre. The magnificent interior decoration amazes with its beauty.

Casa de la Libertad (House of Freedom) is one of the main attractions in all of Bolivia. It was here that the country's Declaration of Independence was signed. Open here today Historical Museum, where the original declaration, state seals and documents from the first years of independent Bolivia are kept.

The Church of St. Miguel, located in the Old Town, was for many years considered the starting point for missionaries to Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina. From here began the path of Christians who preached in South America. It is the oldest existing church on the continent.

The main feature of the Church of St. Miguel is that Viti, a student of Raphael, worked on its decoration.

Among the museums, the Treasure Museum (office site in English) is very interesting, occupying a magnificent building on the main square. Here you can learn about the precious stones of these lands, methods of their extraction and processing. The Ethnographic and Folklore Museum (Espana Street 74) will amaze with its collection of ethnic objects and carnival Bolivian masks.

Perfect for a relaxing walk green Park"Bolívar", famous for its smaller copies of world landmarks, including the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. And you can take in the whole city with your gaze observation deck La Recoleta, at the very top of the hill. From the city center it is only 20 minutes on foot.

Weather

The climate is excellent, the weather is almost the same warm all year round. There are no seasons or off-seasons. The weather is predominantly sunny; it is rarely cloudy. Rain and winds occur in both summer and winter. In general, there is no difference when to go to Sucre - all seasons are good.

Sucre the most beautiful city Bolivia, a symbol of patriotism and courage of the people of this country. The independence of the state was declared here, and although La Paz government buildings are located, Sucre still remains the official capital of Bolivia. The wealth of colonial architecture, the beauty and tranquility of the streets of this city most attract tourists here. Bolivians often call the state's official capital La Ciudad Blanca (The White City) due to the abundance of white colonial buildings in the city center. Every building in the center is still painted white; their owners do not even dare to think about painting their houses, for example, black. On December 13, 1991, the historical part of the "White City" was included in the list World Heritage UNESCO in recognition of the richness of history and colonial architecture.

Sucre – general information

During colonial times, Sucre subsisted solely on silver mining in the nearby mines. Potosi. Rich locals often boasted: “My mines are in Potosi, but I live in Ciudad de la Plata” (the old name of Sucra, translated as the Silver City). The original name best reflects the enormous importance of silver in the development of the city. Those who could afford it preferred to live in this city, 162 km from Potosi. On relatively low altitude(2706 m), there was a mild climate and a pleasant atmosphere. Ciudad de la Plata was considered a prestigious place to live; its wealth attracted many Europeans. In 1624, St. Francis Xavier founded a university here. The second oldest university in the Americas is still in operation and is one of the best in the country. The presidents of Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, Uruguay, and, of course, Bolivia were educated there. Today, out of a total population of about 250 thousand inhabitants, more than 30,000 are students, many of them studying medicine and law.

But Ciudad de la Plata was famous not only for its wealth, prestige and abode of knowledge. He wrote himself into the Bolivian history book. The movement for the country's independence was born here. In 1825, patriotic revolutionaries gathered and signed a declaration of independence for Bolivia. At the same time, the name Ciudad de la Plata was changed to its current name in honor of José Antonio Sucre, a hero of the War of Independence of the Spanish colonies in Latin America. Then the city became the first capital independent republic. These days, Sucre is the capital of Bolivia only on paper; the executive and legislative branches of government have long been registered in La Paz. However, it remains one of the most beautiful, calm and attractive cities Bolivia, the center of the Catholic Church, is located here Supreme Court countries.

Bolivia is a South American country that has preserved much of the pre-Columbian culture and customs of various Indian tribes, in particular the Incas and Aymara. Ancient traditions are clearly visible throughout the country, but are much less obvious in Sucre. In fact, this is the main difference from another capital city, La Paz. Sucre is the cultural center of the country with an emphasis on strong Spanish traditions. This does not mean that Inca influences are not here, but they are much less pronounced than in the rest of Bolivia.

Although the main attractions are the colonial architecture, what is most attractive about Sucre is its laid-back atmosphere, which keeps many tourists longer than they intended. One day will be enough to explore the city center (or two if you want to visit museums, churches, cafes and restaurants). In addition, tour operators will offer you to visit attractions in the vicinity of the official capital of Bolivia, hike in the mountains, see traditional villages and dinosaur tracks recently discovered by archaeologists in the surrounding area.

Sights of Sucre

Plaza 25 de Mayo is the center of Sucre, surrounded by the cathedral, city hall, Liberty House Museum, other colonial buildings, offices, banks, restaurants, bars, souvenir shops. In the center is a statue of José Antonio Sucre, the right hand of Simon Bolivar and the second president of independent Bolivia. The square is always full of tourists, local residents, beggars and boys who make a living by shining shoes as people passing by. A pleasant place to sit on the benches under the palm trees and watch the scenes of city life pass by.

La Racoleta Museum

From the central square of Sucre you can walk to the La Recoleta Museum located on a high hill. The museum is located in a monastery built by monks of the Franciscan order in 1601. Throughout its history, the building served not only convent and a museum, but also a barracks and sometimes a prison. Inside you will see a rich collection of colonial art, sculpture and paintings from the 16th to 20th centuries. The museum has many exhibits from the life and work of France's Assisi, the founder of the Franciscan Order. Here you will get an idea of ​​how monks lived and prayed in the 17th century. You can, for example, visit the priest's room, a very simple room with one blanket and a whip (used for self-flagellation as a sign of repentance). A visit to the museum will take about an hour, but the main attraction of this place is the beautiful panoramic view on the city of Sucre from the top of the hill.

Freedom House Museum

The main symbol of the struggle for freedom and independence of the United States from Great Britain is the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. Bolivia has the same symbol - Museo Casa de la Libertad (Liberty House Museum). The building, which is inconspicuous at first glance, is considered the most important historical monument country, because it was here on August 6, 1825, that Bolivian freedom fighters declared independence from Spain. You can sit in the room where the revolutionaries met, now hung with their portraits. The most important exhibit of the museum is a copy of the Declaration of Independence of Bolivia. There is a room dedicated to José Antonio Sucre, the second president of Bolivia. The tour will take 30-45 minutes.

Streets of Sucre

Unofficial capital of Bolivia, La Paz, survived two sieges by the Aymara Indians, which caused widespread destruction to the city. The official capital of the country is as long, but longer peaceful history, thanks to which the old architectural heritage was preserved.

White colonial buildings covered with red roofs best reflect the spirit of the era. Spanish rule in Bolivia, wandering along them is a pleasure. The poorly planned, crooked streets of Potosi reflect the chaotic nature of urban planning during the silver rush, while the orderly and elegant streets of Sucre are the result of the wealth generated by the silver trade. The city is easy to navigate thanks to a convenient layout system with streets intersecting at right angles - a legacy of the Spanish colonists. The city center is best explored on your own, wandering on foot along the white colonial streets of the 18th and early 19th centuries, with many beautiful churches. The resemblance to a small medieval Spanish town is striking.

Tarabuco Market

A day trip to Tarabuco (about 65 km from Sucre or two and a half hours drive) is one of the region's top attractions. This small mountain town is the most famous center of the Yampara Indian culture.

The main attraction of Tarabuco is the market open on Sundays. Every Sunday, the colorful market attracts not only local residents from nearby villages, but also tourists. Many wear traditional Yampara Indian costumes, which not only emphasize their identity, but also indicate their specific village of residence. Everything from textiles to medicinal plants, fresh vegetables, fruits, and coca leaves are sold at the Tarabuco market, with many vendors displaying their wares on the streets. Some goods on the market are not sold for money, but are exchanged through barter.

The Tarabuco market is known for its abundance of handicrafts and traditional textiles. Many Sucre travel agencies offer organized day trips on Sunday.

In March of every year, Tarabuco widely celebrates the Pujllay festival. Various indigenous communities of the region gather here for liturgy, parade in their colorful national costumes, drink a lot of chicha, dance, have fun (in Quechua, "pujllay" means "to play or dance", another meaning is "happiness"). In March 2011, Bolivia nominated the Pujllay Festival in Tarabuco for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List as an important part of cultural heritage humanity.

Hiking the Inca Trail

The non-profit tour operator Condor Trekkers offers one-day or multi-day mountain treks in the surrounding area of ​​Sucre. Starting in the morning, you will travel into the Andes along the ancient Inca trail, past dinosaur tracks, waterfalls, Quechua Indian villages and the beautiful Maragua Crater. The path will lead to hot thermal springs. Three days of impressive landscapes, unexpected adventures and pleasant fatigue are guaranteed.
The hike to the Maragua Crater is one of the most popular tours in the vicinity of Sucre. The crater is not volcanic, but is formed by the movement of tectonic plates. About 100 families live there. Local kids look for fossils of seashells, of which there are many in the crater, and then sell them to tourists. You can spend the night in a village inside the crater. The living conditions are simple, but the impressions will stay with you for a long time.

If you are planning to go hiking in the mountains, it is advisable to take a guide with you. The trail is often difficult to find; the area is inhabited mainly by Quechua Indians, and not all of them can speak Spanish.

Cal Orco

While in Sucre, take the opportunity to visit Cal Orck'o, the largest dinosaur paleontological site in the world. Here, in 1994, workers cement plant discovered a nearly vertical wall of hardened limestone containing approximately 6,000 dinosaur tracks.

A visit to the paleontological site, 6 km from Sucre, takes you back in time and gives you the opportunity to see the oldest traces of life on Earth, when dinosaurs were one of the most numerous species on the planet. Dinosaur tracks at Cal Orco date back 68 million years to the last period of the Mesozoic era, when most of these animals lived shortly before their complete extinction from the face of the earth. Approximately 68 million years ago, volcanic eruption Millions of cubic meters of ash were thrown into the sky with enormous force. The falling ash covered the fresh tracks of the huge animals with a thick layer and protected them from erosion, which would otherwise have erased them in a matter of hours.

 

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