Sucre

• Bolivia: A Local's Guide to a Country You Have to See to Believe · Juan Flores, our Bolivian friend, on the salt flats, La Paz, Sucre, Lake Titicaca and Santa Cruz — with the hotels and tours we'd book.

Where should I stay?

Where we'd stay in Sucre

From our Bolivia guide, with advice from our Bolivian friend Juan Flores.

1. Parador Santa María La Real (Colonial courtyard hotel):
2. Mi Pueblo Samary (Boutique):
3. El Hotel de Su Merced (Boutique, rooftop views):
4. Hotel Boutique La Posada (Small colonial boutique):

Where should I eat?

• Mercado Central · Centro · Bolivian market food: The central market has cheap stalls for fresh fruit juices, salteñas and local dishes like mondongo chuquisaqueño.
• El Patio · Centro · Salteñas: A long-running salteñería known for its juicy baked salteñas, served mid-morning until they sell out.
• El Huerto · Centro · Traditional Bolivian: A garden restaurant serving classic Chuquisaca dishes such as chorizo chuquisaqueño and picante de pollo.
• Condor Café · Centro · Vegetarian: A vegetarian café linked to the nonprofit Condor Trekkers, good for simple set lunches and arranging hikes.
• Joy Ride Café · Centro · International: A long-standing traveler hangout near the main square with international food, drinks and a busy evening scene.
• Chocolates Para Ti · Centro · Chocolate shop: Sucre is Bolivia's chocolate capital, and this local chocolatier sells bars, bonbons and hot chocolate.

What should I do?

• Casa de la Libertad · Plaza 25 de Mayo: The colonial building where Bolivia's independence act was signed in 1825, now a museum of the country's founding.
• Plaza 25 de Mayo · Centro: The leafy main square, framed by the cathedral and whitewashed colonial buildings, is the center of city life.
• Mirador de La Recoleta · La Recoleta: An arcaded lookout beside a Franciscan convent on a hill, with the best view over Sucre, especially at sunset.
• Museo de Arte Indígena (ASUR) · La Recoleta: A museum of Jalq'a and Tarabuco weaving where you can see the textiles and watch weavers at work.
• Convento de San Felipe Neri · Centro: A former convent whose rooftop terraces give close views of the city's domes and bell towers.
• Parque Cretácico · Cal Orck'o: A park overlooking the Cal Orck'o quarry wall, which holds thousands of dinosaur footprints.
• Trek to the Maragua crater · Cordillera de los Frailes: A one- to three-day guided hike through the Cordillera de los Frailes to the red Maragua basin and Jalq'a villages.