11 Things to Do in Sucre Bolivia: South America’s Secret City
Like most South America backpackers, I booked a Bolivia travel leg because I couldn’t leave the continent without a visit to the Uyuni Salt Flats. But since Bolivia backpacking is no easy feat, I wanted to break up my journey with some (hopefully scenic) stops along the way. Fast forward many Pinterest searches of ‘top things to do Bolivia’ and countless Bolivia travel blogs later, and I finally settled on spending a week unwinding in Sucre, Bolivia — a gem of a town in the heart of South America’s most landlocked country.
Here is my comprehensive guide to the best things to do in sucre and why i think it’s one of the best places to visit in bolivia. Use this helpful sucre guide to design your perfect bolivia travel itinerary.
Sucre is nicknamed Bolivia’s White City thanks to the chalk-white colonial buildings that illuminate the city’s quaint, cobblestoned streets. In French, Sucre translates to sugar – an apt namesake for this adorable Bolivian city. It took just a few days before I was just another local — greeting my local pipoca (popcorn) seller on the way to pick up my regular fix from the coffee shop round the corner.
What’s great about Sucre is that you can actually see all of the city's highlights and still have time to relax without getting any sort of travel FOMO. It provides the perfect blend of sightseeing and relaxation that every savvy holiday-goer or weary backpacker desires. And for those looking to improve their Spanish skills, it also happens to be one of the best places on the continent to take cheap Spanish lessons. And the best bit — you can rock up and book yourself into a Sucre Spanish school on arrival.
But if you’re on tighter timelines and are keen to see multiple Bolivia tourist attractions, you don’t need to commit to a week in Sucre. Three days is plenty to explore this charming town. I flew direct from Santa Cruz to save myself some travel time (it’s a 45-minute flight) but there are buses direct to Sucre from all the major Bolivian backpacking stops including Uyuni, Cochabamba, Potosi, La Paz and Santa Cruz. Just be prepared for rougher travel conditions.
Here are my top tips for what to do in Sucre Bolivia — as known as 11 cool things I guarantee to enhance your backpacking Bolivia experience as well as your adventures through South America:
1. Climb to the top of Convento de San Felipe Neri at sunset: This beautiful church is the highlight of any Sucre trip. If you’ve come across any Instagram shots of the city, they’ve probably been taken from this wonder. And its stunning architectural details and chalk-white fittings — though beautiful any time of day — really come alive at golden hour. It’s a short climb to the top and if you time it right, you can find a private little perch to watch the sun slowly disappear behind its facade. I’d hasten to say this is one of the prettiest things to see in Bolivia.
2. Go on a Sucre walking tour with Condor Café: I booked this my first morning in town to help me get my bearings. And this three-hour tour, which cost around £6, exceeded all expectations. I ended up on a 1-2-1 wander with Brian, a knowledgable guide who escorted me all over the city to check out its markets, eat some of its renowned chocolate, sample all the local spirits and admire its panoramic views. I highly, highly recommend this walk if you want to get a flavour not just of Sucre but of Bolivian life and history in general.
3. Sample a fantastic vegan meal at Condor Café: This café serves up some seriously delicious grub. I devoured two dinners here – both three courses and both sensational. Think creamy quinoa soups followed by savoury spinach and feta tarte tartines with crispy flakes that will literally melt in your mouth.
4. Take a crash course in Bolivian history at the Casa de Libertad: This fascinating museum is right in the heart of the city. You’ll find artefacts from every era of Bolivia’s history. Find out why the city’s called Sucre and how it nearly became the capital of Bolivia. Or why the relationship between Bolivia and Chile is so fragile. Hear the legends about the fearless woman who fought for the country's independence. The tour guides are brilliant. And it’ll inspire you to add a few more places in Bolivia to your South America itinerary.
5. Explore the Central Market: Wandering a local market is literally my idea of the perfect afternoon. And Sucre’s Central Market did not disappoint. You’ll find fruit and vegetable stalls, delicious homemade cakes, raw butchers’ meats on full display (perhaps one to be avoided if you’re vegetarian) and so much more. I nearly fell over when I stumbled across the local beauty kiosks where I bought a beautiful ‘your-lips-but-better’ pink lippie.
6. Savour a sausage sandwich at Las 7 Lunares: Whilst you’re at the market, don’t miss the sausage sandwiches from the famous ‘Seven Moles’ stall. Fun fact: it's named after its female founder, a strikingly beautiful woman with seven distinct facial moles, who knows how to cook up one mean sausage.
7. Step back in time at the Parque Cretacico (Dinosaur Park): This park gets both praise and ridicule. But for the equivalent of what’s essentially £2, I think it’s worth the day trip. The tour itself is lacking in detail and the dinosaur replicas are pretty lame, but you have the opportunity to get seriously up-close-and-personal with some of the largest dinosaur footprints ever found on earth. Oh, and you get to wear a hard hat. Which is just ripe for selfie-taking.
8. Early morning people watching in Plaza 25 de Mayo: With a good cup of coffee of course. Get to this pleasant little square early, find yourself a bench and watch the locals start their day. You’ll spot businessmen, families and fellow travellers doing their thing. I even stumbled across a local celebration one afternoon.
9. Hit up the vibrant Tarabuco Market: If you're spending a weekend in Sucre, it’s worth heading to this Sunday market, traditionally for locals only but now a popular destination for tourists too. However, it still retains its authenticity and, if you’re willing to wander into its depths, you’ll feel like the only outsider there. You’ll find coca leaves, all things alpaca (I picked up an adorable jumper for £7) and more.
10. Sip Chicha and hang with the locals for a tipsy round of Sapo – Chicha is the local spirit (not too dissimilar to beer) made from fermented corn. It’s always the drink of choice so you can use it to bond with the locals. And once you’ve won them over, suggest a game of Sapo, a popular drinking game played in all the local bars.
11. Check out the views from the city's Mirador restaurant: Walk to the hilltops until you reach the glamorous Mirador Restaurant. Here you can enjoy a quiet drink (go for the local Bolivian wine) and watch the city come alive. I spent a glorious evening bonding with a fellow traveller here before heading out to savour Bolivia nightlife.
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