There
is a lot of grandeur in the quaint colonial city of Sucre.
The people, their culture, the city’s atmosphere,
and its amazing architecture provides for a comfortable
Spanish immersion experience. Sucre is the constitutional
capital of Bolivia which gives its locals a sense of importance
for their city even if Bolivia’s government offices
are now located in La Paz. Sucre holds the Universidad Mayor
and other Universities, which give the city a vibrant intellectual
and youthful atmosphere.
Upon entering the city
you will see that it exhibits some of the greatest colonial
architecture in Latin America. All buildings are whitewashed
with red tile roofs by order of law. The city holds claim
to an extensive colonial past, but still has great Indian
influence which can be seen by visiting its large markets
with the number one item being handcrafted weavings. There
are many splendorous churches and museums to carouse. If
you are a big fan of archaeology then you must get out to
see the dinosaur tracks that were found about 5 km north
of the city at the cement factory. The Plaza 25 de Mayo
centralizes the city and all amenities of the city can be
found within a few blocks.
Sucre
has much to offer being a safe, small, and easily navigable
city. The city has a grid based road system and most locations
of interest are within walking distance. For those that
don’t have time to walk, there is a reliable bus service
that costs about 25 cents to any location. Due to the many
University aged and Spanish students that make Sucre their
home, there are many internet cafés, multi-cultural
restaurants, and discos. Many afternoons can be spent studying
on a park bench or chatting with locals or other Spanish
students while sipping coffee. The nightlife can be upbeat
to some, but is not extremely extensive due to the laidback
culture of the locals. Karaoke and dancing at discos is
a popular activity for locals and tourists alike.
Sucre can be touristy,
but is a more off the beaten path then other well traveled
destinations. If you are focused on learning Spanish then
you will not have any problems finding welcoming locals
to help you practice your Spanish and become immersed in
their culture. If you want the full immersion experience
and travel the to the beat of a different drum, then Sucre,
Bolivia will offer you a relaxing destination. After seeing
the major sites of Sucre and becoming acquainted with your
new home, our partner school will help you with weekend
arrangements to visit neighboring towns to allow you to
have a well rounded Bolivian adventure.
