Chuquisaca

About Chuquisaca

Chuquisaca is located at the southwest part of Bolivia, the departments capital is Sucre, also the constitutional capital of Bolivia where the Supreme Court resides.   Sucre has had different names across its history fist Charcas La Plata y Chuquisaca and currently Sucre in memory of Bolivia's second president Antonio Jose de Sucre.

The city was founded on September 29 of 1538, with the name of Ciudad de la Plata de la Nueva Toledo by Pedro de Anzures during the colony it became the center of cultural and religious life for this region later to become Bolivia.

Also Sucre was the place where the Bolivian Act of Independence was signed been called originally Republic of Bolivar, in honor to their liberator Simon Bolivar, name that later was changed to Republic of Bolivia. Sucre disputes with La Paz the honor of being the first city to raise there voice against Spanish domination in Hispanic America (on 1,809), this fact is disputed by scholars and historian on both sides but the only fact well known is that freedom in Hispanic America was born in Bolivia is irrefutable.

  Sucre is well known for its colonial architecture and art as well for its good weather and friendly people.

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Climate

It has mild and nice weather, with an average temperature of 22 C degrees (or around 70 F degrees).

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How to get here

By air

Everyday many flights depart from La Paz, Cochabamba and Santa Cruz to Sucre's airport, but only local airlines provide service to this beautiful city. See flight availability and airport information by clicking here.

By land

There is no major road to connect Sucre with the rest of the country but you can get to Sucre by bus, there are many bus companies that depart from La Paz.  

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Getting around in Sucre

It's easy to get around in Sucre people are very friendly and eager to help tourist, and you can see most of it by foot or taxi.

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Where to stay

Sucre has a large number of hotels and affordable places to stay, most of them are located in near national parks allowing the visitor to be close to the action find information on hotels and reservations by clicking here.

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What to see while in Sucre

While in Sucre don't miss out the opportunity to see, dinosaur footprint trails that have been found on a limestone quarry near the out skirts of the city where a theme like museum has been established to preserve this amazing finding.

Colonial Art

Visit Sucre, and to know its churches, its wealthy residences from the colonial days, its narrow and cobbled streets, Sucre keeps alive the legacy of its history, cultural art and a luxurious past.

· The Sucre's Cathedral, served as cultural center during colonial times as well as the early Republican days. It has been the scenario for many concerts. In holds a museum with plenty of manuscripts from colonial days.

· The San Felipe Nery Convent built in the century XVII. It is the ostensible expression of the power of the Catholic Church in the flourishing American Society. One can appreciate the imposing view of the city with the one hundred churches built one at every one block during the colony. The spectacle is even emphasized more with the roofs of the houses, all covered with red ceramic tiles and its wood carved balconies, from where bunches of red flowers hang down over the pebbled narrow alleys.

· The Recoleta Monastery founded in 1601 by the Franciscans. An environment of serenity and prayer in the middle of square yards surrounded by corridors roses and geraniums in blossom can be appreciated.

· Other interesting convents are those of Santa Teresa and Santa Clara. Both are exhibit halls with its own wares of everyday life of its feminine enclosed inhabitants.

Museums

The most important museums are:

· The House of Liberty, where the Act of Independence was signed and it was called Republic of Bolivar.

· The Museum of the University with knitting exhibits, archeological artifacts, colonial painting and furniture of the epoch.

Sucre, located in the middle of indigenous communities, it is a city of great crowding of peasants from the surrounding, which fact makes it even more picturesque and attractive for the colorfulness of the costumes of the aborigine populations.

Cultural Events

During the second week of September, Sucre and Potosi host an Annual Art and Culture Festival, It lasts two weeks in which theatrical, cultural and musical displays performed by artists from Bolivia and around the world.

Find tours or tourist guides

Where to Eat

There are many restaurants, pizzerias, karaoke's, hotel restaurants, and discotheques offering great service and food so you have a good culinary experience.   Click here to find more information. Even though things have improved a lot lately, be careful to select a proper place to get your next meal because not all the vendors are known for keeping the highest standards for cleanness and hygiene.

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Do's and Don't in Sucre

The cost of living in Bolivia is very affordable so don't be afraid of going out and splurge there's a lot to see in town or out of it be as adventurous as you can, taking always some precautions. In crowded areas be careful for pickpockets and bags lashers. A common trick is that one person spills something on your clothes, and while you or he wipes it off another person lifts your wallet or slashes your bag.

Be vigilant when checking into a hotel or hostel. Keep a hand on all your bags/belongings at all times. Acting as if they work for the hotel, opportunist thieves will create a diversion and snatch the nearest unattended bag.

If you are approached by police in civilian clothes don't show any valuables or your passport. And certainly don't get in a taxi with them. Undercover police are strictly ordered not to hassle tourists. There have been several cases of muggings and things going missing from bags or luggage after "drug searches". Insist on being taken to the police station before giving them access to your things. If you can, call the 110, which is the Bolivian emergency number.

And the most important there have been several cases of violent muggings in taxis. Don't take unregistered taxis. Lock the doors and don't allow other people to share the journey with you.

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Places near Sucre worth to visit

Chuquisaca department has a series of minor mountain ranges among which we can come across beautiful valleys cut by streams of clear rivers ideal for swimming and fishing.

Around Sucre you can find getaways such as Yotala, ñucchu, La Palma, Chahimayo and hot water springs such as Los Alamos, Huata and Talula. Chuquisaca is full of opportunities to enjoyment the peace and beauty of its countryside.

Monteagudo is one of the tour attraction centers for eco-tourism other attractions are the Milagro Mountain-range, Heredia Canyon rapids, the native settling of Tupiguarani nationalities.

Not for the faint of heart is the annual festival held at Tarabuco (held in May every year) where native people from the surrounding villages engage in hand to hand combat as a ritual to guarantee a better harvest for next year, even though there's police controlling any excess some fatalities have been recorded in the past.

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