Capital city in Chuquisaca Department, Bolivia
Photo: Patrick Kursawe, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Sucre is a city in Chuquisaca Department, Bolivia. It is the official capital of the country, though most of the government is based in La Paz. Its center is a UNESCO world heritage site, and it is a pretty city with welcoming people and a peaceful atmosphere.
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Parque Cretácico
More than 5,000 dinosaur footprints imprinted on a 70 degree sloping wall of a limestone quarry, which used to be a lakeshore. This is the world's largest set of dinosaur tracks, and includes many different species (though contrary to rumors, none of them are T. rex, which only lived in North America). To visit the footprints and the museum that accompanies them, you can take the Dinobus at 09:30, 11:00, 12:00, 14:00, 15:00; return times 10:00, 11:30, 13:30, 14:30, 16:00, 17:00. This red double-decker bus leaves from the front of the cathedral at Plaza 25 de Mayo (Bs. 15 round-trip, 30 min) - come a few minutes early and you'll see it waiting there. Or take Bus 'H' or Bus number '4' that leaves every 5 minutes and returns every 5 minutes from the dinosaur park and to the city (Bs. 1.5, 45-60 min). You can take this bus from Arenales street at the corner of Junin street, one block from 25 de Mayo square. Alternatively, you can get there by taxi at whatever time you want for a bit more money. A guided visit takes about 1½ hr and is included with admission. Only the guided visits at 12:00 and 13:00 get to go down into the quarry to see the footprints up close; otherwise you'll just be able to look at them from a distance. You need closed shoes to go down the quarry. The park also includes two museum exhibits, a cafe, and a collection of pretty good life-size dinosaur sculptures.
This museum is 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.
The heart of Sucre, surrounded by the cathedral, the office of prefecture, the town hall, the historic Casa de la Libertad, as well as a swag of restaurants and bars. Get a shoe shine (don't think that wearing flip-flops you will deter the shoe shine kids), use the free Wi-Fi, grab some snacks, or just watch the world go by. The lion-flanked statue is of Mariscal Jose Antonio Sucre, Simon Bolivar's right hand man and the first president of Bolivia.
Castillo de la Glorieta
Fascinating place with a fantastic story behind it. The castle was home to Francisco and Cotilde, the prince and princess of Glorieta, as proclaimed by Pope León VIII in 1898. The pope was so impressed by the couple's reputation for charitable and humanitarian works that he named them prince and princess. The pink castle is hard to miss, with its imposing towers, each reflecting a different architecture and mood. The "Prince's Tower" reflects Russian themes, the "Princess's Tower" reflects Chinese themes with its pagoda-like structure, and the third, presumably shared, is a Gothic structure. Influences of other European styles are found in different areas of the castle. Guided tours are in Spanish and are available each hour except 13:00.
Museo Histórico Militar de la Nación
The military museum has a big collection of Bolivian and international weaponry. It is really interesting if you know a thing or two about weapons and if you can understand some Spanish. They do not offer guided tours. In their collection they have a jet engine, airplanes, miniatures, typewriters, a parachute, engines, all sorts of artillery including very rare ones. They also have a room dedicated to their combat history. During the Pacific war, Bolivia lost its access to the Pacific Ocean. In the last room, you will find a roll with thousands of letters from children asking their sea back.
The museum's valuable collections show the history of silver and gold in Bolivia, and the evolution of the famous jewelry from Sucre. The museum has a section dedicated to the mining and jewelry of the “ametrine”, a beautiful gem that only exists in Bolivia. The museum also has a store with some good values.
Its construction started in 1551 and took almost a century. Ecclesiastical painting in adjacent rooms and a pleasant small plaza past the entrance into the museum.
Iglesia San Francisco de Asís
One of the oldest in the country.
Aguas Danzantes
Tourist attraction with water, lights, and sound, making the water look like it changes color and moves to the music. Located in Parque Bolívar.
The oldest surviving church in Bolivia, built in 1544.
The main cemetery of the city, with the mausoleums of many Bolivian political and military leaders.
An old church, built between 1581 and 1630.
Displays various art forms of the indigenous groups in the region. Quite interesting. Everything is translated to English in a booklet offered by the staff. Make sure you drink enough coffee because there is a lot of information to read.
Walk up Calle Dalence ("Pantaleón Dalence"), Grau, or Calvo ("Daniel Calvo") from the central plaza to La Recoleta, a spot up on a hill with a plaza and old buildings. Although there are often events here, as well as a monastery (Convento de la Recoleta), church and museum, the main attraction is definitely the view of Sucre from the Mirador Cafe. The drinks and food here are of European price level. Adjacent Hotel Kolping also has excellent views and a lunch buffet. If you don't want to pay, there are nice views from the plaza itself. At the entry to La Recoleta there is a small but rich market where native people sell weawings and handicraft.
Take a stroll in the park, the city's favourite lovers' hangout. Just don't step on the grass. You can watch people (nice people there), watch street performances, eat. People have their small Eiffel tower there, just next is a big playing park for kids. At the upper end of Parque Bolivar stands Bolivia's supreme court. At the lower end is Estacion Aniceto Arce, Sucre's train station which is not in use. If you don't get your fill of old trains in Uyuni, there is another one within the station precinct. Ask permission from the token security guard before you enter, as there is a guard dog here (although she is usually playing with her puppy).
The day the city came alive. Sucre was where Latin America’s fight for independence started, at least that’s what we were told. The parade around the city make you feel proud, even if not close to being a Bolivian. This is also the reason for the naming of the main plaza: Plaza 25 de Mayo. Today, the plaza is full of families and couples, and it’s a fantastic place to sit and watch people go by, preferably with an ice-cream in hand.
Festival Internacional de Cine de los Derechos Humanos
Known as the "Seventh Eye", a bi-annual film festival organized by PUKAÑAWI has occurred 20 times in Sucre. The festival recognizes films that focus on human rights in 3 categories: in Bolivia, in Latin America, and around the world. The festival was held in 2023 and the next one is being planned for 2025.
Go for a hike to the 7 waterfalls. Take a taxi from Sucre to the tiny village of Alegria for Bs. 20 (or catch the red 12 micro bus to the last stop for Bs. 1.50), then walk the remaining 3 km. Or negotiate for the driver to take you all the way. Take food, water, towels, bathing suit, sunscreen as there are no services nearby. The waterfalls make for a pleasant day-trip. You can hike around (wear sandals not shoes, as the path crosses streams) and swim in the natural pools. This attraction may be better in wet season.
Besides frequent robberies in this area in the past, as of 2016, it was a very popular spot with locals and tourists, and seems very safe. While the waterfalls are almost entirely dry in April and May, it is still a beautiful place to swim and jump from the cliffs.
Update 2026: spoke to a local who says this is now inside the city as it has expanded. He said you can still go, but path hard to find and less safe than it was before! We didn't go to confirm, but looks correct as village is inside the city now
On foot and navigation
Sucre is a small city and the center is very walkable. For the most part, you won't need to move more than five blocks from Plaza 25 de Mayo, the main square.
By taxi
Sucre has plentiful taxis. Within the centre, do not pay more than Bs. 5 per person.
By micro
Sucre has small buses (micros, really not much bigger than vans) that run set routes.
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Sucre · International · SRE
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