5 Ideas on What To Do When You're in Sucre, Bolivia

Few tourists seem to make it to Bolivia, even though there is plenty to see, do and eat in this South American country. For those looking to get off the beaten path of typical holidays, I would recommend a trip to Sucre, Bolivia. Sucre is smaller than cities such as La Paz or Cochabamba, yet its size makes it more welcoming than the aforementioned larger, more intimidating cities. For those interested in the white city, here is a mixed list of five attractions and restaurants that you should be sure not to miss:

1) Parque Cretacico

Located slightly outside of Sucre, Parque Cretacico is home to the largest collection of dinosaur footprints in the world! Thousands of tracks were discovered in the 1990's; the tracks were first uncovered by workers from the nearby cement factory who were mining for materials. Parque Cretacico provides a clear view (unaided or with binoculars) of the numerous tracks criss-crossing the vertical cliff wall opposite the park. The park itself contains a museum with additional fossils and footprints, and life size models of various dinosaurs can be found in the museum and throughout the park grounds. The park can be reached by joining up with the Dino Tour (which leaves several times a day from the center of Sucre and will provide transport in their Dino Truck) or, for the more independent, by taking the #4 micro out from Sucre (make sure to get on the micro when it is going the right direction). Tours are available in English and Spanish.

2) Parque Bolivar

Of all of Sucre's public parks, Parque Bolivar was by far my favorite. The park is large, well manicured, and has plenty of sun, shade and seating. There are numerous ice cream vendors in the park, offering delicious, affordable treats; I highly recommend trying the tumbo flavored variety. At the center of the park stands what appears to be a miniature version of the Eiffel Tower, which visitors can climb to get an elevated view of the park. The park also puts on a spectacular fountain light show on Sunday nights; onlookers can watch (and listen) for free as the water and lights follow a choreographed pattern to several classic tunes. Visit Parque Bolivar for an afternoon stroll, a relaxing lunch spot, or an evening show.

3) Joy Ride Tours and Café

Joy Ride is a company that provides numerous tours and activities (paragliding, horseback riding, mountain biking, etc) as well as running a great bar/restaurant. The tours may seem a little pricey (at least when looking at them in Bolivian currency, in U.S. terms they run about $40) but from my experience they are well worth it. My fiancé and I took the horseback riding tour and definitely got our money's worth. We met our horses and guide on the outskirts of town (Joy Ride helped us get there by taxi) and from there embarked on a 3 hour ride to a small town, Yotala, outside of Sucre. Upon reaching Yotala we were treated to chicha, fresh bread and goats cheese by a friendly, cheerful woman named Doña Nena. From there we took a trufi back to Sucre where our complimentary drink (we had our choice of over a dozen alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages) awaited us at the Joy Ride Café. In addition to providing transportation to our meeting sight, a packed lunch and a free drink, Joy Ride also gave us free tickets to their movie screening and, after partaking of some scrumptious pique macho at Joy Ride Café, we enjoyed a night of Bolivian comedy with Who Killed the White Llama? Although a little pricier than other attractions, Joy Ride provides a fantastic service that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a good meal and a bit of adventure.

4) Pica Buey

Tucked off on a side street, Pica Buey is a hidden gem of a restaurant. I must warn you, however, that these meals are not for the faint of heart. Pica Buey is a fantastic steak restaurant that really gives you your moneys worth in terms of quantity and quality. One steak is easily large enough to feed two, especially considering that it comes with a large salad (large platter containing at least half a dozen varieties of vegetables), fries (so big that they make American steak fries look like toothpicks), and cheesy rice. Outdoor and indoor seating is available, the service was great and the food was to die for.

5) Museo de Arte Indigena

The Museum of Indigenous Art contains roughly a dozen rooms of weavings and weaving related artifacts. For those who cannot read Spanish, an English guidebook is provided that translates the information to be found in each room. Visitors can take their time exploring each room, learning more about the Bolivian art of weaving and the history of this talent. Countless weaving specimens are provided, including one of the oldest surviving pieces of cloth (with original dye still intact). For those interested in watching the art take shape live, there is usually at least one weaver at work on sight. For those who really become enamored with the art, there is also a gift shop on sight with an extensive array of works.

There are many other sights worth seeing in Sucre (Casa de la Libertad, the Recoleta, Plaza 25 de Mayo, etc) and many other restaurants worth sampling (New Hong Kong, Café Amsterdam, Café Abis, Napolitan, etc); the above list is merely a sampling of those sights that you should not miss. I encourage you to go explore Sucre not only to enjoy the sights listed but to discover new gems as well!